LeithChooses is a mechanism of democratically dispensing grant funding to projects operating in the Leith Neighbourhood Network area, which comprises largely of the City of Edinburgh Council wards Leith Walk (ward 12) and Leith (ward 13).
LeithChooses was started in 2010 (and was known as ‘£eith Decides’ at that point) was pioneered then by Councillor Maggie Chapman and City of Edinburgh council officer Lorraine Duckworth. Leith was a ground-breaker and a leader – £eith Decides was the first example of ‘participatory budgeting’ in Scotland, and amongst the first in the world.
Learn more about what Leith Chooses does.
Learn more about how Participatory Budgeting works.
For more information about participatory budgeting in general, as it is today in Scotland, see PB Scotland and explore the PB Network.
The project is led by the Steering Group in conjunction with the City of Edinburgh Council’s Community Empowerment team.
As of June 2025, the current composition of the Leith Chooses Steering Group are:
| Name | Member of |
| Councillor Susan Rae (chair) | City of Edinburgh Council – Leith Walk councillor |
| Sally Millar | Leith Links Community Council |
| Don Giles | |
| Abi Cunningham | Leith Links Community Council |
| Douglas Tharby | Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Council |
| Bruce Ryan | |
| Councillor Jack Caldwell | City of Edinburgh Council – Leith Walk councillor |
The steering group meet weekly. If you’re interested in joining the Steering Group, please contact us.
