Decision ref
0109 2024/25
Decision date
09/04/2025
Portfolio
Business, Culture and Leisure
Wards
All wards
Title
Community Managed Libraries Fund
Summary
To approve the establishment of a community managed libraries fund to support community groups to offer library services and activities to their communities.
Purpose
St Helens Borough Council’s Library Strategy included a commitment to support community groups who wish to establish a Community Managed Library, be that a fully functioning library or a simple book exchange within their community. This reports seeks approval to introduce a grant scheme to support this strategy ambition
Background
The Council recognises that there are Organisations across the borough who work closely with their communities and residents offering support, guidance and activities that are personalised, local, inclusive, and accessible, and enable people in the Borough to live healthier, happier lives and are best placed to organise and deliver some or all of the services offered by libraries.
The Council also recognises that there are costs associated with establishing a community managed library, these include furniture, IT equipment, training and books.
The Council has established a fund that will be available to groups across the borough who wish work with the Council to deliver its Library Strategy. It has established a fund of £50,000 which will be available until 31st March 2026 for groups to make application too.
Criteria and approach
The fund aims to support groups establish a library offer within their community.
This will be done by offering up to £5,000 of funding to grass roots organisations who are working in our communities (within St Helens Borough).
What is it?
The fund will accept applications from voluntary and community organisations in St Helens Borough who are seeking to establish a Community Managed Library, be that a full library offer or a more simple offer such as book exchange, publicly accessible computers, toy library, book club.
Evaluation Criteria
• Applications with match funding will be scored highly.
• Evidence of outcomes relating to education or training
• Projects that target older people, young people or those with a disability will score highly.
• Projects delivering activity further than 2 miles from a Council run library.
What it won’t fund
• Trips and excursions
• Uniforms
• Long term employment contracts
• Expenses
• Applications where planning permission hasn’t already been agreed (where applicable)
• Projects that have already been funded or already been delivered.
• Project planning and consultant fees
• Running costs including utility bills.
Who can apply?
• Community organisations based in St Helens Borough, particularly small community based local groups, that encourage community spirit, engage volunteers and who need some financial support.
• Joint applications from 2 or more groups coming together will be scored highly.
• Organisations who have a community bank account with 2 signatories (not at the same address). The account must be in the name of the community group.
• Organisations with a constitution
• Organisations that are not for profit. (All income is used to achieve the organisation’s charitable aims and cannot be paid out to members, shareholders, or owners. Relation to a CIC – a CIC limited by shares is still not eligible as it has shareholders who can draw dividends).
How much can groups apply for?
• You can apply for funds up to £5,000 (of which we will fund up to £500 towards volunteer recruitment).
How will groups receive any funding?
• The grant will be paid in full once awarded and applicants will then be required to provide evidence of expenditure and outcomes within 12 months of award.
• Organisations who fail to provide this information are unlikely to receive further financial support from the Council.
Conclusion
The introduction of the small grants scheme for 2025/6 will support the deliver of the objectives set out in the Library Strategy 2023-2028.
Risk Implications
There is a risk that Community Groups may not use the funds for the purpose stated on their application and as such the funding would not resulted in the agreed outcomes
Measures to Redress Risk
Grants will only be awarded to constituted organisations who should they choose not to comply with the conditions of grant risk no longer being eligible for future grants from the Council.
The groups will also be supported by the Outreach Team to develop and implement their plans so reducing the risk of the funds not being used in accordance with their application.
Declarations Of Interest
None
Equality Impact Assessment
Download
More information
Please contact Dave Boocock on 01744 675408
