This toolkit is an improvement tool covering all aspects of how an organisation operates to improve its cultural and sport services to local people and enhance their quality of life.
Consultation with the sport and cultural sector has revealed a strong desire to create a single improvement tool and rationalise existing service-specific tools. The toolkit was piloted in eight local authorities during 2007 and independently evaluated by IDeA.
The Toolkit has been developed from earlier toolkits that focused on improving individual culture and sport services. It is a response to local government’s desire to see a single improvement tool for the sector. It amalgamates the purpose, function and content of ‘Towards an excellent service’ (TAES), ‘Arts at the Strategic Centre’ and ‘Library peer review’. It is supported by a range of organisations serving culture and sport and has been developed involving them in the planning, piloting and drafting phases.
The Toolkit is designed to underpin continuous improvement and support councils that want to identify their strengths and weaknesses in culture and sport. It is a self-improvement tool and requires only time, commitment, and honesty.