1. Libraries Opportunities for Everyone Innovation Fund
6 December 2016
Libraries Opportunities for Everyone Innovation Fund
Applicant briefing
Brian Ashley, Director, Libraries
Kate Earl, Senior Manager, Libraries
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Graeae Theatre Company’s Iron Man
Photo © Alison Baskerville / Graeae Theatre Company

2. Welcome and introduction Aims and objectives of the fund
Agenda
Welcome and introduction
Aims and objectives of the fund
Levels of funding and timescale
Who can apply
What activity will be funded
Applications
Decisions
Key dates and milestones
Enquiries
Q&A
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3. ‘Libraries are there for everyone, but their special role in helping people overcome disadvantage is second to none. They are the gateway to opportunity.’
Brian Ashley, Arts Council England
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4. To deliver this objective the fund has two aims:
Objective Aims
To enable library services to trial innovative projects that will benefit disadvantaged people and places in England.
To deliver this objective the fund has two aims:
to provide library users and communities with opportunities to remove or reduce their experience of disadvantage
to enable library services to develop innovative practice that meets the needs of people and places experiencing disadvantage
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5. The fund will deliver against the outcomes identified in:
the Libraries Taskforce’s ‘Libraries Deliver: Ambition for Public Libraries in England 2016 to 2021’
stronger more resilient communities
increased reading and literacy
improved digital access and literacy
helping everyone achieve their full potential
healthier and happier lives
greater prosperity
cultural and creative enrichment
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6. The fund will deliver against the outcomes identified in:
the Society of Chief Librarians’ Universal Offers:
reading
information
digital
health
learning
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7. Levels of funding and timescale
How much is available?
£3,900,000 in total towards activity taking place in the 2017/18 financial year:
£2,600,000 allocated for resource (project activity)
£1,300,000 allocated for capital (assets)
How much to apply for
between £50,000 and £250,000
for activity taking place between April 2017 and 31 March 2018
Partnership funding
minimum 10% match funding required in cash or in-kind
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Paul Warriner in The Mist in the Mirror at Oldham Coliseum Theatre, 2015
Photo © Joel C Fildes / Oldham Coliseum Theatre

8. Who can apply
the lead applicant must be a local authority library service in England
this includes organisations commissioned to deliver library services on behalf of local authorities, eg trusts, staff-led public service mutuals, community mutuals and Community Interest Companies
consortium bids will be accepted as long as the lead applicant is a local authority library service or one of the above
the lead applicant can only submit one application as lead applicant but they can be a consortium member on other bids
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9. What activity will be funded?
Examples of activity we might fund include, but are not limited to:
increasing arts and cultural activity through libraries
improving access to and better use of technology
increasing literacy
increasing opportunities for disabled users
increasing children’s access to and use of libraries
supporting employment opportunities
supporting businesses to establish and grow
supporting creativity, use of new technologies and new business opportunities
improving health and wellbeing
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10. What activity will be funded?
Activity must:
be new and innovative for the library service(s) involved
deliver against at least one of the outcomes of the Libraries Taskforce’s ‘Libraries Deliver: Ambition for Public Libraries in England 2016 to 2021’
deliver against at least one of the Society of Chief Librarians’ five Universal Offers
target disadvantage
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11. Innovative? Innovative activity might include:
entirely new activity that benefits the service / sector
new models of partnership working
new methodologies in community engagement
new ways of sharing knowledge and skills
trying proven ways of working in new locations and with new audiences
developing current activity to deliver new and extended project outcomes
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Dean Rodney Singers installation at Southbank Centre by Heart n Soul
Photo © Tim Mitchell / Heart n Soul

12. Disadvantage?
All library services in England conduct activity that potentially impacts on disadvantage; therefore all are eligible to apply.
Evidence should be provided to describe why the proposed activity addresses disadvantage within the geographical and demographic context.
Activity should be responsive to the community needs of the library service(s) involved.
Evidence should be provided to demonstrate how benefits to the identified audiences will be monitored and evaluated.
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13. Capital expenditure buying assets such as furniture and equipment
improving facilities to enhance access for disabled people and those with special educational needs
buying and installing new technologies to improve user experience and /or deliver increased production and broadcast capacity
installing or retrofitting environmentally sustainable technologies
professional fees associated with delivering your capital project
legal fees associated with capital delivery
VAT that you cannot recover from HMRC
Fragile by Motionhouse in Glasgow
Photo © Dan Tucker / Motionhouse
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14. Application
detailed budget for the activity showing proposed income and expenditure broken down by capital and resource (using ACE template)
workplan including milestones and key review dates, demonstrating activity will take place by 31 March 2018
cashflow (using ACE template)
financial statements for previous financial year
latest management accounts
governance documents
list of partner organisations with contact details
published documents demonstrating lead applicant’s strategic commitment to delivery of a sustainable and resilient library service
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15. Decisions
Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:
Meeting the brief (see Applicant guidance sections two and four)
Management of the activity
Financial viability
Assessments will be balancing according to:
Capital / resource spread (we may offer an amount less than the total applied for, eg for capital but not resource)
Spread of projects delivering across Libraries Deliver: Ambition outcomes and the SCL Universal Offers
Diversity
Geographical spread
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16. Timetable Milestone Date Application portal opens
(application portal not Grantium), select ‘Standard application’
5 December 2016 (midday)
Deadline for applications
6 January 2017 (midday)
Assessments and decisions
9 January – 3 March 2017
Notifications prepared
6 – 14 March 2017
Offer letters / reject notifications sent out
15 March 2017
Deadline for return of signed offer letters
31 March 2017
Activity commences
1 April 2017
Deadline for final payment requests
1 March 2018
Activity complete
31 March 2018
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17. Enquiries and further information
Customer Service team
/  
Libraries Relationship Managers can help with questions about the guidance and application process.
Applicant guidance on website:
The Arts Council will be closed from 23 December 2016 until 3 January Please try to anticipate issues before the closure period.
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18. Questions Wifi available #culturematters The Book Hive
Photo © Rusty Squid

19. Thank you Wifi available #culturematters
Having fun at National Maritime Museum Cornwall
Photo © Toby Weller / National Maritime Museum Cornwall