In 2020, Cause4 launched Heritage Compass – a brand new Business Support Programme that was developed in response to the urgent challenges facing the heritage sector in England.
With support and funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and in partnership with Creative United and the Arts Marketing Association, we continued to develop and adapt Heritage Compass, to strengthen the heritage sector’s resilience, building participants’ capability, knowledge and confidence.
Across a four-year period, the programme provided support to more than 400 organisations, developing essential skills in business planning, audience development, leadership and change management, with the aim of creating a better connected, informed and resilient heritage landscape across England.
The result has been profound, and we have supported organisations to:
Develop effective business plans
Supporting organisations to construct business plans, often for the first time, which play an essential role in the organisation’s continued development and success.
Improve financial resilience
Both through funding opportunities and expert training on finances and fundraising, Heritage Compass has equipped participants with the skills and resources needed to thrive in challenging economic times.
Develop or re-invigorate income generation strategies
The combination of our expert mentors, training, and energetic networks, has given participants invaluable advice for reimagining income generation and growing their organisation.
Improve audience development plans
Amidst the cost-of-living crisis, sustaining and expanding audiences has been challenging. Heritage Compass has been vital in supporting participants to reach out to new groups and to cultivate and reengage committed core supporters.
Create networks of support and collaboration that will persist beyond the end of the programme
Providing Networks funding to ensure the programme’s impact extends into the future. These networks are an enduring legacy of the importance of Heritage Compass and the resilience of the heritage sector.
Develop new partnerships on a national scale
The delivery of three national symposiums has been pivotal in creating collaboration, peer connection and shared knowledge, with more than 400 individuals coming together from across England.
Explore Heritage Compass
From 2020-2024, more than 400 heritage organisations from across England took part in the Heritage Compass programme.
Explore a range of articles and publications including the Strategies for Sustainability report series.
Benchmarking is a helpful tool to help improve standards, or to support decision-making.
Explore the case studies written by Kate Rodenhurst and Tamsin Cox at DHA as part of the Heritage Compass evaluation.
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