Libraries celebrate microgrant success
We're thrilled to announced the first recipients of our Arts Council-funded microgrants.
The 15 successful projects include an inter-generational creative programme exploring the history of gaming, a World Book Day costume swap, and a new lending library of screen-free audiobook devices for children.
The microgrants programme, funded by Arts Council England, awards grants of £1-5k to support small-scale projects in public libraries. With a straightforward application process and light-touch reporting, the aim is to build capacity and confidence within the public library 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. The second round of applications is now being considered with a third and final round opening on January 6 2025.
Isobel Hunter MBE, chief executive of Libraries Connected, said:
"Congratulations to all the successful recipients of our first round of microgrants. As always I’m incredibly impressed by the innovative and creative ideas that libraries come up with, all based on the needs and priorities of their communities. The aim of the microgrants programme is to give libraries the freedom and space to test ideas and try new approaches. These projects will make a big impact in their own right, but we hope it will give libraries the confidence to bid for larger and longer-term funding."
Luke Burton, Director Libraries, Arts Council England said:
"We are delighted to be able to provide funding to support libraries to deliver such a wide range of interesting and potentially impactful community focused projects.We hope that the experience of applying for these microgrants will give applicants the confidence to consider applying for other grant funding in the future. Congratulations to all the successful applicants and it will be exciting to see these projects progress."
Full list of microgrant recipients (round one)
| Library Service | Grant Amount | Project | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sefton Library Service | £4,950 | Gaming Together | Using a micro-grant plus £2,200 match funding, Sefton LIbrary Service will create an inter-generational programme which will deliver an exhibition highlighting the history and development of gaming, and wraparound programme featuring workshops and a volunteering/skill sharing strand. The programme will build on the Make Mine Manga exhibition, which saw over 250 visitors who took part in wrap around activities; film screenings, drawing workshops and reading group sessions. |
| Forum Library Wythenshawe part of Manchester Library Service | £5,000 | Introduction to Podcasting and Music Production at Wythenshawe Forum Library | Developing podcast and music production workshops by co-creating with cultural organisations in Manchester. |
| London Borough of Barnet School Library Service | £3,854 | I can see me | Delivering author visits to up to eight primary schools in Barnet, to children aged 3 – 11 years. The aim of the project is to give children from racially minoritised backgrounds the opportunity to experience a school visit delivered by an author of colour. |
| Kirklees Public Library Service | £5,000 | Kirklees Makerspace Engagement | Driving engagement with the Makerspaces in Huddersfield and Dewsbury Libraries funded from UKSPF by commissioning a local artist to plan and facilitate 10 creative sessions, engaging up to 100 participants from diverse backgrounds to collaboratively create artwork using Makerspace equipment, while also gathering community input to shape the future of these spaces and ensure accessibility for all. |
| Plymouth School Library Service | £5,000 | Let's Read Together - Books for Early Years Settings | Supporting early literacy in five nurseries in economically deprived areas of Plymouth by providing book loans for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Through book-sharing at home and nursery, it promotes a love of reading and helps foster positive early literacy experiences, with books selected to be age-appropriate, inclusive, and diverse. |
| Shropshire Library Service | £2,200 | Playtime @ the Library | Providing free, high-quality play resources across Shropshire libraries, offering themed pop-up playsets to support child development and family well-being. Targeting children aged 0-5, including those with autism and neurodiversity, the initiative will tour libraries, promoting inclusivity and accessibility, while addressing rural isolation and poverty. |
| Newcastle Upon Tyne Library Service | £4,500 | Newcastle pop-up library | The flexible pop-up library project will bring Newcastle Libraries’ services to new, underserved areas using mobile shelving and equipment for key service delivery from any Wi-Fi-enabled location. This initiative, piloted at Blakelaw Library, aims to address low car ownership and internet access, promote awareness of upcoming libraries, and engage communities through a roadshow, highlighting the benefits of modern library services and fostering a sustainable customer base. |
| Lewisham Libraries | £5,000 | Yoto Player Lending Library | Establishing a lending library of Yoto Players—screen-free audiobook devices for children aged 3-12—in Lewisham, targeting families who may have limited access to reading resources, including non-native English speakers. Supported by workshops for parents to build confidence in reading aloud, the initiative seeks to enhance children's literacy, language acquisition, and engagement with reading, fostering a long-term love of books within a diverse and often deprived community. |
| Doncaster Library Service | £5,000 | Curiosity crates | Creating modern, high-quality "Curiosity Crates" for Doncaster's primary schools, addressing the shortage of up-to-date books and resources in the area. These crates, featuring a mix of fiction, non-fiction, and tactile learning objects, will support diverse learning styles and curriculum needs, enhancing pupil engagement and educational attainment across varied school settings, including SEND and alternative provision. All local authority schools can access eight crates a year as part of their Primary Membership scheme. Other settings can join this scheme too, or hire individual crates as required. |
| North Yorkshire Library Service | £3,600 | Unlocking Memories: Connecting Lives and Stories for Dementia Support | Providing themed memory bags, filled with familiar and stimulating items, to help people with dementia in North Yorkshire trigger memories and facilitate meaningful conversations, offering cognitive and emotional support. Distributed through libraries, mobile services, and the Home Library Service, the bags will reach rural and isolated communities while also providing a valuable resource for carers, helping to reduce stress and foster connections with their loved ones. |
| Bolton Library Service | £5,000 | Rainbow Connections | The Digital Rainbow Table (DRT) project at Bolton Libraries aims to enhance accessibility and social interaction for adults with additional needs by offering interactive and stimulating group sessions, ultimately fostering a sense of belonging and reducing feelings of exclusion among participants. |
| Lincolnshire Library Service | £1,800 | World Book Day Costume Create and Swap | This project will run costume swaps and creative workshops across 14 Lincoln libraries in the weeks leading up to World Book Day 2025, offering parents practical, low-cost support for creating or borrowing costumes. Building on the success of a 2024 pilot, the initiative aims to reduce the stress of costume-making while promoting the joy of reading, with additional resources like "Quick Win" costume sheets and recommended book lists to help parents and children engage with books and reading. |
| Nottinghamshire Library Service | £5,000 | Ollerton: Then and Now | Documenting the transformation of Ollerton by engaging the local community in photography workshops and the creation of an "art map" with a primary school. Contemporary images and artwork will be added to the Inspire Picture Archive and featured in an exhibition touring Nottinghamshire libraries, preserving the town's evolving landscape while offering public workshops to further engage local families. |
| North Somerset Library Service | £1,800 | Improving volunteer programme to enable outreach to refugee communities | Investing in volunteer management software to streamline onboarding, allowing staff to focus on expanding outreach for refugee, asylum seeker, and non-English speaking communities. This will enhance volunteer-led activities and support a more diverse, inclusive programme, with pilot events to further develop outreach efforts. |
| East Riding Of Yorkshire Library Service | £5,000 | East Riding Libraries SEND | Enhancing the STREAM programme, in partnership with East Riding CYPSIS, by offering tailored activities and specialised equipment for children with special educational and physical needs. Four pilot sites will deliver inclusive sessions, with staff trained to support SEND children, ensuring they have equal access to STREAM opportunities. |
Microgrants