Decision Maker: Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Rotherham Museums, Arts and Heritage has been commissioned by Children’s Capital of Culture to lead on the family learning strand.
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 through an open call application process and the panel has made the final decisions on the allocation of grant funds. A total budget of £67,500 has been allocated to the Family Learning Commissioning Panel to distribute to community organisations throughout 2025 and 2026 through a grants and commissioning programme.
The funding for the panel and grants are 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
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Date of Decision: |
7th July, 2025 |
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Title: |
Children's Capital of Culture Family Learning Commissioning Community Grants
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Decision Maker: (Including Job Title) |
Polly Hamilton, Assistant Director Culture Sport and Tourism |
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Details of Specific Delegation
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Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.
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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 P32
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Decision: |
Award Children’s Capital of Culture Family Learning Community Grants to twelve organisations recommended by the Family Learning Commissioning Panel. |
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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 throughout the Summer season. The opportunity to submit proposals for grants was advertised openly via social media, flyers and an open drop-in grant surgery event where groups could discuss their ideas prior to submitting proposals.
The open call for this round of family learning grants received 26 applications, of which 22 met the criteria and 12 are recommended for approval.
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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.
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Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision: |
No conflicts of interest declared. |
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Dispensations Granted: (If any) |
n/a |
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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. |
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Dispensations Granted: (If any) |
n/a
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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
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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:
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Dated: 7th July, 2025
Name: Polly Hamilton
Job Title: Assistant Director, Culture, Sport & Tourism
If you require any assistance in the completion of the decision record please contact the Governance Team governance@rotherham.gov.uk
Publication date: 14/07/2025
Date of decision: 07/07/2025
Accompanying Documents: