Where are we now?

The last few weeks have seen a considerable shift in the way the government is looking to support change and deliver services. Some of these shifts are about cost-savings. Others are about a very different way of doing business.

Throughout this period, many partners have asked how these changes have affected TMC. This reflects the huge and wonderful web of professionals that drives the programmes we run. It also hints at the considerable commitment in the regions to enhancing children and young people’s lives through creative and cultural activities: a commitment we must all work together to extend. Here goes...

• CCE were asked by Arts Council England to make a £1.6million in-year cut. They have accommodated this within their own budgets (with considerable difficulty). But this means they have not passed the cuts onto TMC and the other organisations delivering Creative Partnerships across the country. This gives TMC a stable Creative Partnerships programme budget for the East Midlands for the current year. We are incredibly grateful to CCE for this.
• MLA asked TMC to make a 10% in-year saving on the Strategic Commissioning Programme we deliver for them in the East Midlands and East of England. We have managed to deliver this saving from programme and administration budgets.
• The closure of Find Your Talent has resulted in the cancellation of some of our projects and the early termination of others. We are still working with the FYT Leicester Shire team to agree a suitable end to this ambitious programme and will be making further announcements with them in due course.

And that’s that... a challenging period for us, but perhaps more so for the many people we work with. TMC’s challenges lie ahead as we prepare for the comprehensive spending review, working closely with CCE, ACE, MLA and other partners to put the best possible case forward. We will also continue working with our Board, staff, partners and young people to explore what happens next on Planet TMC... but that will be the topic of my next post.