Voting

When?

Saturday 1st February 2020, 11 am – 3:30 pm

Who?

You are eligible to vote if you are 8 years old or over, and if you live in Leith, or work in Leith, or study (go to school) in Leith, or volunteer regularly in Leith.

Where?

Voting is at Leith Community Education Centre, New Kirkgate, Leith

How?

In person only. Come in to the Community Centre and ‘post’ your voting cards / ballot paper. There is no online voting this year again, for two reasons;

  1. City of Edinburgh Council has not yet got a fully functional online system.
  2. Many people and community groups in Leith have said that they prefer in-person voting and they think it is fairer. It certainly means that you get the chance to talk to people and find out about all the groups and proposed projects on offer, so you really know what you are voting for.

Support?

We do recognize that some people might have difficulties getting to the Community Centre or voting in person, and we would like to do all we can to support them. If you need help to get to the Community Centre to vote, please get in touch in advance and £eith Chooses will try to provide support with transport.

If you need a quiet space and time, or perhaps a wee seat, we will ‘fast-track’ you through Registration and help you to vote in a quiet room, separately. This will work especially well if you can come early (from 11am) before the crowds get in.

Boost vote

Illustration by Ash Pryce, based on an original idea by Craig Froehle (hat-tip to IISC and Angus Maguire)

In recognition of the fact that black and minority ethnic groups/projects tended in the past to miss out on funding, due to their minority status, the boost vote (first introduced in 2018-19) is designed to promote fairness, as illustrated (the extra box!).

What is a ‘Minority ethnic project’?

Minority ethnic projects are projects specifically concerned with groups or individual members of the Leith community with a different or additional original race, nationality, culture or native language from the majority.

Below, you can see what conditions a project needs to fulfil, to qualify for the extra Boost vote.

By the time voting day comes around, it will be clear which projects have qualified and the Boost votes will have been allocated. Voters just need to choose whether or not to use the extra vote. If you do choose to use it, you just vote it alongside the other projects you are voting for. (You can either vote a Boost vote for a project you’ve already voted for once, or for a different, extra project.)

Qualifying for a Boost Vote

There will be a clear understanding on all sides that co-working with minority ethnic communities must be rooted and long-standing (past & future), and a central feature of the current project, rather than just the last-minute introduction of a new partnership as a quick ‘tweak’ to meet applicant requirements.

To qualify for a boost vote, a project application must meet the conditions in boxes 1 or 2 below. To be considered as a ‘minority ethnic project’, applying organisations need to be able to demonstrate:

ELIGIBLE FOR BOOST VOTE
  1. The applying organisation specifically supports, in particular, one or more minority ethnic communities, and so does the proposed project. And –
    1. Management, staff and volunteers are mostly (that is, 50% or more) from minority ethnic communities, and/or project beneficiaries are also mostly from minority ethnic communities.
    2. If/when necessary, Information and/or project materials are produced in more than one language, and interpreters/translators are routinely provided, or other cultural supports as required.
  1.  The applying organization – or a new and special part of the organisation’s existing work (or a new partnership with another organisation) – is specifically dedicated to including and benefiting members of minority ethnic communities. Supporting one or more minority ethnic communities is a significant/central aspect of the project. And –
    1. Management, staff and volunteers are significantly (that is, 33% or more) from minority ethnic communities, and/or project beneficiaries are also significantly from minority ethnic communities.
    2. Research/outreach work has been carried out to find out more about the needs and barriers faced by minority ethnic communities, and what is needed to overcome them. Work has already been carried out on encouraging minority ethnic communities to become involved in the project.
‘Demonstrating’ the conditions of 1 and 2 above should include:

Providing details of plans/efforts to publicise the project and distribute project information and materials amongst minority ethnic communities, to actively encourage their participation and to consider any special support issues that they may need.

Making provision for translation / interpretation of project information into two or more languages, and /or other cultural support, as needed.

For partnerships

Showing that special efforts have been made to extend the inclusivity of the organization and/or the project by arranging dialogue, resulting in a firm and ongoing partnership with at least two different minority ethnic groups or communities.

Documentation (e.g. designated contacts, minuted discussions, records of meetings) is provided to prove the above, and to prove ongoing and active partnership beyond the immediate scope of this project, along with indications as to how it will be maintained (e.g. formal written documents such as signed Memoranda of Understanding or Service Level Agreements).
NOT ELIGIBLE FOR BOOST VOTE (which doesn’t mean it’s not a great project!)
  1. The project is inclusive in that it is ‘open to all’, including individual members of minority ethnic communities, but no special efforts are planned / made to encourage or develop greater involvement of, or benefit for, minority ethnic communities, specifically.
  1. The project will involve or benefit a specific group of people, but none or almost none of them are members of minority ethnic communities.