WebPlay video case study: managing a cashflow crisis

In this series of six short videos, CEO of arts charity WebPlay, Sydney Thornbury, shares her experience of facing and overcoming a cashflow crisis.

1. Facing a cashflow crisis

In this video Sydney talks about how she went about understanding her problems, planning for the worst, and assessing her ability to fight for her organisation's survival. Watch now

2. Finding short term funding

In this video Sydney talks about how she found short term solutions to her cashflow crisis, including: asking existing supporters for one-off donations, negotiating a re-cashflow of grant payments with funders, and asking for a bridging loan. Watch now

3. Planning for the worst case scenario

Sydney talks about how focussing on the work her organsiation does, rather just the survival of the organisation, helped her to plan for how WebPlay's work would carry on even if they didn't.
Watch now

4. Getting support for difficult decisions

Sydney talks about how she dealt with a board crisis at the same time as WebPlay's cashflow crisis. Many of the people on her board weren't able to keep up with the kind of changes WebPlay was going through, so Sydney talks about what she did to make sure she had the right kind of people in place to support her through WebPlay's difficult times. Watch now

5. How can you do more with less?

In this video Sydney talks about how WebPlay cut costs by moving offices and starting to share back office functions. She also talks about recycling money through the sector by trading with other voluntary and community organisations. Watch now

6. Being Innovative

In this video Sydney talks about how WebPlay have managed to deliver their services to young people despite cuts to their budget. She also talks about how partnership working has led to greater innovation and opportunities for her organisation. Watch now