1. www.gem.org.uk office@gem.org.uk 01634 853424 @gem_heritage

2. Non-funded sector support membership organisation, across the UK and overseas
Voice for Heritage Learning
Connecting, supporting and championing heritage educators
Annual conference:
11-13 September, Torquay Museum
Connection, Action, Innovation: Forging dynamic and lasting partnerships with communities
Annual training programme nationwide
Bespoke training for organisations
Area and online networks
Resources: online, news, publications
Advice and support
Advocacy and representation for heritage learning workforce
Partnerships across the sector to support and drive development

3. Top tips for learning on a shoestring…

4. Clarify and prioritise
Use your organisation’s mission to decide around 5 core aims or visions
Assess all ideas and plans against this
Cut work that doesn’t serve the mission
Focus on work that best serves the mission and do this to a high standard

5. Build community ownership
Volunteering: grows workforce and shared ownership
Sense of belonging encourages support
Donations of money, time and materials
Word of mouth, repeat visitors
Advocates to local authority, funders and trustees

6. Co-produce
Build programmes collaboratively with schools and communities
Create appealing offers that fill needs
Build reputation for listening and sharing
Encourage long-term relationships
Invest schools and communities in organisation
Source materials and delivery from schools and communities

7. Micro-volunteer Encourages widespread involvement
Mutually meets needs of organisation and volunteers
Reduces waste, and time and management pressure
Facilitates bursts of creativity
More suitable for young and busy volunteers
Wardown House, Luton, Museum Makers

8. Micro-fundraise
Small specific outcomes can drive a mini campaign (e.g. £300 for a loan box)
Community fundraising an opportunity for engagement
Visible progress: Lego building, thermometer, etc.
Display success and gratitude – shared ownership
Set goals and rewards – see Kickstarter, Indiegogo

9. Link up with local businesses
Event, resource or programme sponsorship
Leftover stock and supplies
Space in gift shop in exchange for advertising space
Pop-up exhibitions
Museum marketplaces

10. Share peer support Swap and share resources and spaces
Programmes in partnership
Shared funding, linking small less fundable projects together under a theme
Letters of support to funders
Advice and sounding boards
Wellbeing coffee and cake

11. Reframe Community support Challenge Community empowerment Pressure
Financial sustainability
Community empowerment
Innovation
Prioritisation, honing the mission
Environmental sustainability

12. Rethink What do you already have for free?
What counts as a learning activity?
What do you do well? What could others learn from you?
What could be the upside of your biggest challenge?
Courage! And shuffle the cards…

13. www.gem.org.uk office@gem.org.uk 01634 853424 @gem_heritage

14. Minimum Viable Product
Pick an idea that limited resources have prevented:
What is the core aim/value of the idea?
What is the smallest possible deliverable?
How could that small deliverable be subtly upgraded?
And again?

15. Advocacy practice Elevator pitch
Have room to move up or down in the ambition of the project
Use the organisation’s mission
Have awareness of the funding/sector/organisation priorities and landscape
Build qualitative and quantitative evidence
Use personal stories
Understand impact of programmes on visitor numbers

17. www.gem.org.uk office@gem.org.uk 01634 853424 @gem_heritage