Future Funding webinars

Wednesday, 17 March, 2021 - 13:00 to Thursday, 8 July, 2021 - 15:00

I liked the fact that they weren't afraid of looking at ways of generating income rather than just looking at cutting costs. I was very interested in the different ways they managed to gain income, something to consider!

Over the next few months, our Future Funding programme will be holding a series of webinars aimed at Heads of Service and those with business development responsibility within the library service. The series aims to support library services to develop their income generation streams more effectively.

Part of the Future Funding Programme funded by Arts Council England, the series has been running fortnightly since January, with the first three events open to Heads of Service and Commercial Leads, focusing on strategy development. 

Past events

The opening webinars have demonstrated how library activities and income can be placed in a whole-society context, with strategies built around this. They have highlighted the key areas for consideration when planning income strategies and shared tools which will help library services consider how to build a strategy that enables income generation over the longer term. 

Future Funding Showcase - Thursday 8 July 2021 13:00pm - 15:00pm
This event will show why income generation is so important. You will hear what the next stage of the Future Funding course will cover and have the opportunity to meet the trainer and mentors. You will also hear from the pathfinder group who will share how the training has shaped their own thinking and initiatives in their libraries, and how they plan to use their learning in the future. The session is aimed at Heads of Service, Commercial Leads, Business Development Managers and those with budget responsibility in their library service. 

Webinar 1: Income Generation in Society - a strategic model
Iain Moore, our Commercial Director introduced a 'doughnut' model for development showing how key areas such as health, education, jobs and connectivity can contribute to wider society outcomes. Krystal Vittles, Head of Service Delivery at Suffolk Libraries, then shared the fantastic work the service has been doing in relation to the Health and Wellbeing outcomes in the community in the area of mental health support with a preventative agenda. 

Webinar 2: Developing an income strategy
Sharing insight into strategy development, Jules Hillier, Chief Executive of Pause, a charity supporting women whose children have been taken into care, spoke about how they are evolving from government grant support to a more diverse and sustainable approach. Emma Noyce, Interim Assistant Director of Culture and Information Services, Hampshire Libraries went on to demonstrate the different ways that effective strategies can be developed.

Webinar 3: Partnerships
Dr Carol Homden CBE, CEO of Coram, spoke of the importance of partnership working to deliver purpose and develop the right relationships to achieve this. Jane Everiss, Head of Library Services, Gloucestershire Libraries shared the hugely successful work the service has been doing with their LEP beginning with growth hubs in the libraries, and developing into more extensive innovation labs with a focus on new technologies and skills development, demonstrating how libraries can be an integral part of their council's economic recovery plan. 

To view these first three webinars, please contact your Head of Service who will be able to share the links with you via the Income Generation Network.

Webinar 4: Levelling Up Fund
This webinar focused on what the Levelling Up Fund means for libraries and aims to be a practical first step to creating or collaborating on a large scale bid to the fund. 

Aimed at Heads of Service and Commercial / Business Development leads in library services, we explored the process of bid documentation and how libraries can make their voices heard during the first round of Levelling Up Fund applications which closes on 21 June 2021.

We were joined by Andrew Laird, Managing Director of Mutual Ventures, as well as representatives of the library sector with examples of similar scale project bids. You can watch a recording of this event on our YouTube channel.

Webinar 5: Commissioning
This workshop shed light on the processes around procurement, with advice on how best to approach these, and the ways that library services can engage with commissioners outside the procurement process. It is available to watch back on YouTube.

Webinar 6: Libraries and the Changing High Street
What do the changes to our high streets mean for library services? This webinar provided insights from the High Street Task Force into changes and future trends for different types of high streets. It looked at the opportunities and challenges this provides for library services as we emerge from the pandemic, including the current debate around the levelling up agenda. Watch a recording of this event on YouTube now

Webinar 7: Fundraising from Trusts and Foundations
Charitable trusts and foundations form a major part of the income base of many third sector organisations. For a good deal of these funding sources, public libraries are also eligible to bid - and many trusts would be extremely keen to hear from any organisation with the reach and community impact of a public library. This webinar provided support in locating fundraising in your strategy and making successful applications.