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About Us

Who we are

Inspire: Culture, Learning and Libraries is a charitable community benefit society delivering cultural and learning services across Nottinghamshire. The society is owned and controlled by its members. Members are drawn from the community, and all staff become members of the society when appointed. The society is governed by a board of 12 elected and nominated directors, including a staff elected board member.

All members act in the interest of the society to uphold its objects for the benefit of the public of the Midlands;

(a) the provision or assistance in the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation in the interest of social welfare and with the object of improving the conditions of life for the public at large and for persons who by youth age infirmity or disablement poverty or social or economic circumstances may have need for such facilities;

(b) to advance the education of people who live work or study in or who visit the area of benefit

Inspire delivers the following services:

• Archives and Heritage (includes Nottingham City)

• Arts in the community

• Learning and Skills Service

• Education Library Service (includes Nottingham City)

• Instrumental Music Teaching in Schools

• Nottinghamshire Music Hub

• Public Libraries

• Records Management for the County Council

• Youth Arts

We're an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, which means funding thanks to taxpayers and National Lottery players plays a huge part in supporting our work. 

Inspire became a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) in 2018 resulting in a £1.2M investment between 2018 – 2023 from Arts Council England to deliver a cultural programme through the library service. Inspire are delighted to remain part of the National Portfolio for 2023-2026 and will receive £504,599 each year for this three-year period.

Inspire is also the host organisation for the Cultural Education Partnership (CEP) for Ashfield and Mansfield. 

We deliver services from 67 buildings across Nottinghamshire and 4 vehicles, have over 750 people working for us and have an annual turnover of £17.2M. 

Our Forward Plan 2022-26 outlines the challenges and development we need to focus on over the coming years. The plan identifies the priorities, outcomes and enabling work we need to achieve to ensure Inspire continues to be successful and sustainable. The highlights of the plan and our most recent annual review can be found under the about-us tab.

Our staff are core to the success of the society; to work for Inspire is to work for a charity, membership body and social enterprise. We aim to be professional and friendly. We have at our heart a passion for culture, heritage and learning.