Benarty Decides – participatory grantmaking in action
The Ventient Westfield Benarty Community Fund supports projects in the Benarty Community Council area of Fife. Applications are usually considered twice a year with groups able to apply for a maximum of £2,000 towards their activities.
In 2024, the Community Panel decided to try ‘distributing differently’ by involving the whole community in a participatory grantmaking event – ‘Benarty Decides’. Applications were invited from projects working to improve the quality of life for local residents, promote community spirit and contribute to a vibrant, healthy and successful community.
Funding was awarded based on the results of public voting and recommendations by the Panel with residents were invited to vote for up to three projects each. 
Thanks to a partnership with Fife Council's Community Learning and Development Team, it was possible to combine local authority funding with the Westfield windfarm community benefit income. This allowed for applications of up to £4,000, and ensured that some larger-scale projects could be supported.
A Community Coffee Morning event was held in March to launch the special funding round. Previous grantees gave brief presentations about the impact that funds are making locally and residents were able to find out more about the participatory voting process.
On Saturday 11th May the Benarty Decides event was held at the Benarty Centre. The community was invited to come along and vote for their preferred projects while also connecting with local groups and services who came to showcase their work.
Participatory grantmaking provides an opportunity for community members to demonstrate support for local activities and gives residents a voice in expressing what types of projects they feel would be of most benefit to their local area.
In total, 9 projects were awarded grants totalling £26,378. They were:
- Benarty Community Shop Café: £1,075 to purchase equipment needed for selling hot food items
- Tartan Talkers: £2,000 towards a weekly men’s mental health support group
- Lochore Junior Welfare FC: 2,100 for installing perimeter netting and pitch boundary fencing at the grounds
- Benarty Heritage Preservation Group: £2,500 towards refurbishing 3 heritage information boards at sites of local historical interest
- Re-Employ: £2,703 to support employability training for young people with additional needs
- Benarty Astros FC: £4,000 to purchase a new ride-on lawn mower, to support with grounds maintenance
- Benarty Community Shop: £4,000 to support the Shop Manager post
- Benarty Gala: £4,000 to purchase new bunting and decoration for the annual Gala
- Save the Cage: £4,000 towards establishing a display of large-scale mining equipment at Lochore Meadows Country Park