Dear Colleague
We thought you might be interested in this opportunity as you have attended training on commissioning and/or outcomes facilitated by TNA recently. I hope it is something which you will consider being involved in.
Expression of Interest: Commissioning Pilot project
As part of a project to pilot a commissioning approach with up to two local authority archive services, The National Archives seeks expressions of interest from Local Authority Archive Services who may be interested in this opportunity.
This will be a “walk through” project to mentor and support the archive services to get ready for commissioning (e.g. with a shaped offer and meetings with commissioners). This is partly to demonstrate active next steps and to probe whether commissioning is a viable route for archives.
As well as testing the waters with services keen to innovate and helping them to navigate a route through commissioning, this project will also look at the value of commissioning as a process to Archives and look to foster a partnership/network of interested services. It aims to promote awareness in the archives sector of the commissioning process, the language and terminology, and to generate thinking around how archives might engage with other public services through commissioning, and so contribute to better outcomes for individuals and communities. The emphasis is on archives being commissioned by other areas of service – rather than being commissioners themselves.
Timescales and commitment
The two participating archive services will agree to work with the expert contractors to develop their commissioning offer in order to meet with and pitch to commissioners.
The support from the expert contractors will include tailored mentoring and support to develop the offer, gain access to commissioners and prepare for the meeting.
The participating service will agree to commit adequate time and resources to dully participate in the project January – April.
The participating archive services will agree to share their progress and experience with a learning set and to be featured in case studies and other learning resources.
Project initiation January 2015
Mentoring sessions Jan-May 2015
Learning set established to observe project Feb 2015
Final reporting on project including case studies June 2015
Submission of an expression of interest.
Services should have a clear idea of a realistic commissioning opportunity which they would like to explore, with a focused outcome in mind.
Services interested in being part of this opportunity should send a short proposal (no more than 1000 words) outlining:
Please send your proposal to [log in to unmask] by 5th January 2015.
Learning set participation
Services who are interested in joining the learning set should email Tina Morton by 30 January 2015: [log in to unmask]
To join the learning set, services do not need to have worked up a commissioning offer, but should have an interest in commissioning and in exploring whether it is a viable option for their service.
Please feel free to give me a call if you would like to talk about the project before submitting.
Many thanks
Tina
Tina Morton | Engagement Manager| Archives Sector Development
The National Archives | Kew | Richmond | Surrey TW9 4DU | Tel: 020 8392 5330 x2303
Mobile: 07909 532673
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archives-sector/leading-archives
My usual working days are Monday to Thursday
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