Decision ref
0140 2022/23
Decision date
20/03/2023
Portfolio
Wellbeing, Culture & Heritage
Wards
Haydock
Title
Permission to accept Libraries Improvement Funding from Arts Council England on behalf of DCMS
Summary
Permission to accept Libraries Improvement Funding as Arts Council England on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), that will provide St Helens Council Library Service with a restricted grant of up to £275,960 towards the costs of creating a SEND friendly library offer in Haydock Library.
Purpose
It is an ambition for the Library Service to establish its first library which moves beyond being Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) friendly to SEND led. Using a co-production approach with children and young people with SEND, as well as relevant partners, lead artist and library designer, funding would enable a sensory redesign of Haydock Library including new furniture, updates to IT provision and sensory specific equipment and activity.
In the spirit of the national SEND agenda, the project will be co-produced with children, young people and families from the outset who have lived experience. All meetings and decisions will be person-centred and will have children and young people at the heart. This project is not just a library refurbishment, nor a tokenistic approach to inclusivity; rather a holistic project with buy-in from the target cohort right at project start. Improving the look, feel and offer within Haydock library for SEND needs will benefit not just this cohort, but everyone who uses the library as it will make the space fully sensory-supportive, inclusive and a lovely place to spend time.
Match funding is available (see financial section for full details) that will enable the provision of a lead artist/s. With ACE Let’s Create at the centre of project planning and by working with high quality artist/s with experience of transforming spaces through collaborative approach, this project has capacity to build communities, contribute to healthier lives, excite, delight and provide children and young people with SEND the opportunity to be creative within a safe, library space. The artist/s will enable a playful celebration of sensory connection with materials, furniture and design of the space through guided, creative workshops. Children will experience benefits from working with the artist/s. Their language learning will be helped by exploring textures, using actions, focusing their attention, hearing words repeatedly. Having a sensory need/disability does not limit creativity. Individuals with profound disabilities can have exceptional abilities when it comes to uninhibited artistic expression.
The provision of a lead artist will support access and inclusion principles outlined in the Library Service NPO business plan. Match funding from St Helens CCG has been provided for this element of the project and access fees built into enable disabled participants to be included in the workshops. It is expected that artistic work linked to the disability strand of the Cultural Hubs Arts in Libraries Programme would take place in Haydock library following the refurbishment, so that the library is seen as the showpiece for sensory and disability inclusion for children, young people and their wider families. Digital filmmaking and photography will form part of the sessions, leaving a project legacy to be donated to the Archive, with the film used in promotion to engage future SEND cohorts and partners.
The LIF will cover all capital expenditure such as re-design of the library space, furniture, fittings and equipment.
Background
In 2019 the Library Service worked in partnership with the SEND and Inclusion Team and Listen4Change St Helens Parent Carer Forum to promote libraries as community resources for children and young people with SEND. The SEND Friendly Library project sought to contribute to outcomes including improving school readiness and preparing for adulthood.
The project was delivered in co-production with parents and children who assessed libraries and provided feedback which was used to improve the service offer. Library staff gained an appreciation of how families used libraries and observed common barriers such as access, layout and lack of appropriate resources that prevented usage.
At that time there wasn’t any funding available to make changes that parents identified as being crucial to sustained library use. The provision of safe, quiet spaces, sensory toys, relaxing furniture, improved digital access were aspirations and unable to be realised. LIF will enable those original aspirations to be delivered.
The SEND Friendly Library project focussed on training and developing library staff so they could assist families better, prepare children and young people with SEND for adulthood by promoting libraries as safe, community resources and developed policies that would widen inclusion. Library staff were trained as “HALOs” – providing Help Around the SEND Local Offer, the one stop shop for information for families on what support is available in the local area.
Conclusion
The Library Services Manager and Designated Clinical Officer have agreed to act as project leads and can dedicate the time to the project period. Together they will assemble all necessary partners, children/young people for the steering group. They will ensure council policies on procurement, risk, budget management are followed. Haydock Library will accommodate steering group meetings, giving a safe, private space for children and their parents to give realistic feedback about current library provision and to work with the artist/s and partners to scope out a vision for the redesign of the space. The meetings and creative workshops will not impact on library operations, however there may need to be a temporary closure of the library when the refurbishment takes place.
Risk Implications
The following risks were identified and provided to ACE on application:
1. Delays and difficulties in artist procurement process resulting in lack of recruitment of an artist with suitable/relevant experience including SEND provision and commitment to co-production.
Mitigation: Opportunity will be advertised on the NW Chest. Promotion through arts and cultural social media/professional press/Arts Jobs/targeted to relevant artist/s. Support given to artist/s to use NW Chest. Adequate time-scales given for applicants to apply.
2. Delays and difficulties in library design procurement process resulting in lack of company with suitable/relevant experience including SEND provision and commitment to co-production.
Mitigation: Opportunity will be advertised on the NW Chest. Promotion through arts and cultural social media/professional press. Adequate time-scales given for applicants to apply.
3. Delays and difficulties in encouraging participation from parent carer forum/Big Chat group in the project and keeping interest throughout the project lifetime
Mitigation: Lead officers will provide detailed information about the project to relevant partners to encourage participation.
4. Consultant or contractor delays
Mitigation: Include late penalties in contracts. Build in and protect lead time in the schedule. Communicate schedule early.
Check in with suppliers regularly.
5. Costs are higher than forecast due to inflation
Mitigation: £31,192 of the contingency budget would cover 12% inflation increase on all goods and services (based on the quotes received from potential suppliers)
Measures to Redress Risk
The mitigations have been outlined in the risk implications section above
Declarations Of Interest
None
More information
Please contact Kathryn Boothroyd on 01744 677486
