When we were working on our guidance for organisations facing financial difficulties no one had heard of Covid-19 and coronavirus was a generic name for diseases that cause respiratory tract infections. In writing the guidance we were responding to growing signs of financial stress among the organisations that we work with but we had no idea of what was to come.
If we had set out to write a survival guide in the world we now find ourselves in some elements would have had greater or less weight, we would have lost some elements and added others but the key messages would have been the same.
- Make decisions and act fast
- Be brave and be honest
- Work together as a team in difficult circumstances
- Manage your stakeholders well
- Acknowledge the stress and pressure you will experience and find ways to recognise and cope with your emotions and those of your colleagues
We are mindful that everyone is very short of time and wants answers fast so to help you use the guidance in this changed world here are our tips.
- Do take a look at Section 2: What you need to consider. Skim the stuff you are familiar with and do read the section on fair process, it’s a crucial but often ignored consideration. Invite your Board to look at and discuss the Key Practical Considerations.
- Spend a few minutes thinking about which level of financial difficulty you face (Section 3.1). Check that the key decision makers are in agreement.
- Ask yourself the three financial questions in Section 3.2 (page 15). If you can’t answer ‘yes’ to all the questions, read on.
- If you need to produce a new plan look at Section 3.3.
- Get your Chair and Chief Executive or equivalent to read Section 3.4 on governing bodies. Talk about any unexpected comments.
- If you are worried about managing your communications and/or stakeholders read Section 3.5. Uses the tables to make the best use of your scarce time.
- Don’t forget Monitoring and Evaluation (Section 4). Read before you submit your application for emergency funding.
- Check whether any of the special circumstances in Section 5 apply to you.
In our next post we will offer some thoughts about how you could use the companion Toolkit. Do let us know what works for you, and what doesn’t.
Dawn and Susan
You can download the guidance from the Arts Council website via this link.