# Ministry of Justice offers £150,000 for democratic participation

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/07/30/ministry-justice-offers-150000-democratic-participation/
- Published: 2008-07-30T14:48:48+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

![](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/files/images/news/Ministry_of_justice_1217429320.
gif)

The Ministry of Justice has launched the Innovation Fund, offering £150,000 worth
of grants for charities, community groups and not-for-profit organisations that 
produce fresh ideas for encouraging people to become involved in democracy.

This is the third time grants of up to £15,000 will be available for up to 10 of
the best proposals for using online tools, face-to-face events or a combination 
of approaches.

Previous winners have included Speakers’ Corner Trust, which established a speakers’
corner and held a day of debate in Nottingham, and the South Kesteven District Council,
which developed a process for online citizens’ juries.

## Advertisement

 [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/)

The FixMyStreet website also won a grant. Developed in 2006-2007, it allows people
to tell their local authority and others in their area about broken civic infrastructure
such as street lights. People can post photos of the problem on the website and 
tag a map to provide its precise location. The website automatically forwards the
report to the appropriate authority.

The Innovation Fund is linked to the [Show Us A Better Way competition](http://www.showusabetterway.co.uk)
run by the Power of Information Taskforce, which is looking for good uses of public
information. The Innovation Fund, however, has a wider remit – looking for all types
of ideas for improving public engagement.

Applications must be submitted by 26 September 2008, and decisions will be announced
in October.

www.buildingdemocracy.co.uk

 * **[Gates Foundation offers $1 million for online public information provision](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/07/30/gates-foundation-offers-1-million-online-public-information-provision/)**(
   30 July 2008)
 * **[Leonardo preparatory visits](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/07/31/leonardo-preparatory-visits/)**(
   31 July 2008)
 * **[Paths to Health](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/08/14/paths-health/)** (14
   August 2008)