URL: https://moderngov.rotherham.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=2020

Decision Maker: Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: Rotherham Museums, Arts and Heritage service requests permission to distribute round two grant funding to community groups to deliver intergenerational family learning programmes for Children’s Capital of Culture.   Rotherham Museums, Arts and Heritage has been commissioned by Children’s Capital of Culture to lead on the family learning strand. The first round of grants were commissioned and approved in July 2025.   The Family Learning Commissioning Panel has been set up by the service to allocate commissions and grant funding to community organisations to deliver creative and play based approaches to intergenerational families in Rotherham.   The funding has been allocated from eligible participants who were unsuccessful in the open call round one. These applicants were invited to submit a revised application for round two, and the panel has made the final decisions on the allocation of grant funds.  A total remaining budget of £75,000 was allocated to the Family Learning Commissioning Panel to distribute to community organisations throughout 2025 and 2026 through a grants and commissioning programme. This report is to allocate the remaining £14,098 of this funding.   The funding for the panel and grants is through the Children’s Capital of Culture Arts Council Place Partnership bid for Rotherham to deliver the festival year in 2025.  

Content: Rotherham Museums, Arts and Heritage service requests permission to distribute round two grant funding to community groups to deliver intergenerational family learning programmes for Children’s Capital of Culture.   Rotherham Museums, Arts and Heritage has been commissioned by Children’s Capital of Culture to lead on the family learning strand. The first round of grants were commissioned and approved in July 2025.   The Family Learning Commissioning Panel has been set up by the service to allocate commissions and grant funding to community organisations to deliver creative and play based approaches to intergenerational families in Rotherham.   The funding has been allocated from eligible participants who were unsuccessful in the open call round one. These applicants were invited to submit a revised application for round two, and the panel has made the final decisions on the allocation of grant funds.  A total remaining budget of £75,000 was allocated to the Family Learning Commissioning Panel to distribute to community organisations throughout 2025 and 2026 through a grants and commissioning programme. This report is to allocate the remaining £14,098 of this funding.   The funding for the panel and grants is through the Children’s Capital of Culture Arts Council Place Partnership bid for Rotherham to deliver the festival year in 2025.     ROTHERHAM METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL   RECORD OF OFFICER EXECUTIVE DECISION   Date of Decision: 15th October 2025 Title: Children's Capital of Culture Family Learning Community Grants Decision Maker: (Including Job Title) Polly Hamilton, Assistant Director Culture Sport and Tourism Details of Specific Delegation   or   Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.   Sub-Scheme of Delegation – Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment   ·       Authorisation of grants up to a value of £25000 according to the Council’s criteria for cultural, leisure and events grants (Pg32) The implementation of any functions associated with any grant/funding regime, including, but not limited to, National Grants/funding, SYMCA funds, Grants & Programmes and European Funding/Grants. (Pg22)     Decision: Award Children’s Capital of Culture Family Learning Community Grants to twelve organisations recommended by the Family Learning Commissioning Panel. Reasons for the Decision: Rotherham Museums, Arts & Heritage Service has been commissioned by the Cultural Partnership Board to deliver a programme of family learning activities as part of its Arts Council England Place Partnership Funding.   The family learning programme includes targeted interventions bringing care homes and early years settings together and two rounds of open grants to support grass roots community organisations to deliver family learning programmes locally programme between major events. This decision relates to the second round of application to spend the remaining £14, 098 of the funding.   The closed round of family learning grants received 2 applications, of which 2 met the criteria and 2 are recommended for approval. The remaining funding will be used for two community network events and targeted commissions. Details of alternative options considered and rejected: Do Nothing – Without the grants programme the Museums, Arts & Heritage service would not be able to deliver a Family Programme to the scale and diversity required by the Arts Council England funding as set out in the original bid proposal. In addition, many of the groups supported would not have the capacity to deliver grass roots activities to the scale and quality proposed in the programmes above. Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision: No conflicts of interest declared. Dispensations Granted: (If any) n/a Conflicts of interest declared by the Decision Maker if they sit as a Cabinet appointed representative to an outside body which relates to the decision: No conflicts of interest declared. Dispensations Granted: (If any) n/a   Reports or parts of reports considered Children’s Capital of Culture Family Learning Grants   Appendix 1   Equality Screening and Analysis Part A & B Appendix 2   Carbon Impact Assessment   I certify that this is a true record of the executive decision to:   Award Children’s Capital of Culture Family Learning Community Grants to twelve organisations recommended by the Family Learning Commissioning Panel.   I confirm that in making this decision, due regard was given to the seven principles of public life.   Signed by the Decision Maker:         Dated:          15/10/25   Name:          Polly Hamilton         Job Title:     Assistant Director, Culture, Sport & Tourism    

Date of Decision: October 15, 2025