Councillors have shown their support for proposals to launch a basic income scheme aimed at fighting deprivation in Weymouth. 

Weyforward, a local community group campaigning for social transformation in the borough, has taken a step closer to putting its plans for Weymouth Basic Income (WBI) into action. 

The group initially sought £1million of funding from Weymouth and Portland Borough Council (WPBC) to launch the scheme which would act as a financial safety net for people hoping to start a new career in something they love. 

Following a private meeting between Weyforward founders Jason West and Baron Miles, and eight members of WPBC, it was decided that the next step for the group is to apply for funding from the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which councillors said they will “give their full support.”

Mr West said: “It went very well. We had an open and honest discussion and we surprised a few people with the idea. We talked about how it would work, finances and how to go about it.

“All eight councillors said they would support it. They said it was an innovative idea and that its time had come.

“I think we did a good job and engaged with them.”

“It’s such an important thing that the levels of deprivation are dealt with. We’ve always seen this as a long term project and getting it off the ground is something we will keep chipping away at.”

The Dorset LEP is aimed at driving economic growth in the county through investments in public and private projects. Since July 2014, it has been awarded £79million from the government’s Local Growth Fund to invest in schemes across the county.

If LEP funding is given, Weyforward will launch the two-stage initiative in the hope of providing a boost to Weymouth’s economy and tackling hardship in the town.

Stage one of the scheme will provide £100 to any resident with plans to launch a new business idea or community project. 

If they develop the idea into a workable project, they will be moved on to stage two of the scheme where they will be handed £500 of WBI a month by Weyforward to keep it going. Any projects or companies that generate profit will pay a portion of their income back to Weyforward to reinvest in the community.

Weyforward state that WBI is not for people to live off completely, but for them to focus on self-development and provide support. 

If the scheme goes ahead, Weyforward is planning that it will be sustainable by its fifth year of operation with around 300 active projects in place. 

Visit weyforward.net