The microgrants programme, funded by Arts Council England, awards grants of £1-5k to support small-scale projects or the early stages of larger initiatives, such as community engagement or consultation. With a straightforward application process and light-touch reporting, the aim is to build capacity and confidence within the sector to apply for larger sums of investment, from Arts Council England and other funders. The programme is open to public libraries in England, including prison and school libraries that are run by public library services.

Application process

Libraries will be invited to submit applications quarterly from 30 July 2024 to 31 March 2025. 

Application rounds will commence on the following dates:

• 30 July 2024
• 1 October 2024
• 6 January 2025

Completed applications should be submitted through the grant-making software.

Each library service may submit one application per quarter. If more than one application is received, only the first one received will be considered.

Public library services and prison and school library services run by public library services within England are eligible to apply.

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Funding 

You may bid for between £1-5k.

Just over £70k will be available each quarter. Libraries Connected will track the amount of money the applications are requesting and applications will close once either 1 ¼ times the funding amount has been reached or one month has passed (whichever happens first). Should there be any funding remaining, this will be rolled over to the subsequent funding round.

As this is an ongoing programme, although the application window will close once certain parameters have been reached, applicants may submit a proposal for the next round (see dates above).

Additional funding from other sources may be included in your proposal. Details should be provided in the proposal.

Grant distribution 

Funding will be transferred within 30 days of acceptance of satisfactory claim forms. Terms and conditions of the grants will be outlined in the claim form. 

Review panel

Proposals will be presented to a review panel for funding to be released for delivery of the proposed service.

The Review Panel will be chaired by a Libraries Connected Trustee and attended by an Arts Council England representative, as well as members selected from a pool of library representatives. Library representatives will be asked to declare any conflicts of interest when reviewing applications.

The Review Panel will review the proposals from library services. Review Panel members may provide ideas and feedback to enhance the proposals based on their knowledge and experience. 

Libraries Connected will be available to provide support to library services.

The review panel will be assessing proposals on their ability to demonstrate:

• Evidence of the need
• That the proposed activity meets the need 
• Alignment with one or more Universal Library Offer 
• Impact of the project on library users, staff, and the broader community
• A consideration of legacy and sustainability, e.g. leading to a larger initiative, scalable national initiatives or continuing with alternative funding.

The Review Panel meetings will be held quarterly following the submission deadlines.  

Support

The Project Manager, Tessa Blades, is available to support library services with their proposals, contact Tessa.Blades@librariesconnected.org.uk.

Evaluation

The grant awardee must comply with the Microgrants Project evaluation (this will include completing surveys and gathering data on audience demographics) in accordance with the timescales.  A copy of the Microgrants Evaluation Plan is available on request.

The completed Microgrants Evaluation should be submitted with any of the following supporting documents:

• Images of project and outcomes, including events and before and after photos please (e.g. from the same location to show the improvements), if applicable. These should be in high resolution, .jpg format and they will be supplied in the expectation that appropriate consents will be used to promote or report on the project.
• Screenshots demonstrating examples of digital outputs, e.g. social media.

Microgrants FAQs

Who can apply for a grant through the Microgrants project?

Public, school library services and prison libraries (delivered by the public library service) within England are eligible to apply.

How much can I apply for?

Libraries can bid for between £1-5k. Each service can apply once per round.

How many funding rounds are there?

There are three funding rounds. The application rounds will commence on the following dates:
•    30 July 2024
•    1 October 2024
•    6 January 2025

Can the grant money be spent on capital?

Yes, the grant money can be spent on capital.

Can the Microgrants support business as usual?

No, the Microgrants are intended to fund new initiatives or the preliminary stages of larger initiatives, not ongoing operational expenses.

Are Arts Council-funded National Portfolio Organisations eligible to apply?

Yes, National Portfolio Organisations are eligible to apply. The proposal must cover activity that is separate from the NPO bid. 

Can additional funding from other sources be included in the proposal? 

Yes, additional funding from other sources can be included. Details should be provided in the proposal.

How will the funding be distributed? 

Funding will be transferred within 30 days of acceptance of satisfactory claim forms. Terms and conditions will be outlined in the claim form.

Who will review the proposals? 

A Review Panel will evaluate the proposals. The panel will be chaired by a Libraries Connected Trustee and include an Arts Council England representative as well as selected library representatives. Panel members must declare any conflicts of interest when reviewing applications.

When will I find out if I have been successful?

You will find out if you have been successful after the Review Panel meetings, which will be held on:

• 17 October 2024
• 29 January 2025
• 29 April 2025

Can Libraries Connected provide support for proposals? 

Yes, Libraries Connected can provide support. The Project Manager, Tessa Blades, is available to assist library services with their proposals. 
Contact: Tessa.Blades@librariesconnected.org.uk

How long should a project be expected to last?

Initiatives are expected to be completed in six months but we would allow you to state a timeframe as long as the evaluation can be completed by six months after the last funding round (25 October). This will be the final chance to provide evaluation input.