Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : UK calls for reforms to address climate change at African Caucus [July 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 July 2023.

UK Minister for Development and Africa calls for financial reforms to tackle impact of climate change across Africa, as he visits Cape Verde.
- UK Minister for Development and Africa is visiting Cape Verde to attend the 2023 Caucus of African Governors of the World Bank and IMF
- Andrew Mitchell will call for urgent reforms to deliver a bigger, better and fairer international financial system in a speech to the Caucus
- he is also due to meet with the Prime Minister of Cape Verde to discuss the growing bilateral partnership between our countries
Today (Saturday 8 July), the UK Minister for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell, is visiting Cape Verde to attend the 2023 African Caucus Meeting as the guest of honour. The Caucus convenes the African Governors of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund alongside senior management from those institutions. It is the Minister’s first visit to Cape Verde in his current role, with the UK the only non-African country represented at the ministerial level.

In his closing speech to the Caucus, the Minister will call for the World Bank Group to stretch its existing resources further and mobilise significantly more private capital in order to tackle extreme poverty and help vulnerable communities adapt to climate change. In addition, he will call for a stronger offer for the poorest countries, and for a more shock-responsive World Bank Group that supports countries faster and more effectively in crises.

The Minister will also welcome the World Bank’s recent commitments to roll out climate resilient debt clauses, which allow countries to pause debt repayments if they are hit by a climate shock, and which the UK has been a leader on.

Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell said:

The climate crisis is hitting millions of people first and hardest across Africa. As a result, we need urgently to deliver ambitious reforms to ensure that the international financial system helps the most vulnerable countries meet the enormous challenges they face.

I’m grateful for the kind invitation from African governors of the World Bank to speak at their annual gathering and emphasise how Britain will support them in our common endeavours.

The Minister is also due to meet Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva to discuss the UK’s growing partnership with Cape Verde, which now attracts 300,000 British tourists every year. It is the second most popular tourist destination in Africa for people from the UK. The conversation is also expected to cover maritime security cooperation, the new UK Developing Countries Trading Scheme, and growing collaboration on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) issues.

They will also discuss how the UK can support advocacy coordination among SIDS in Africa. The UK is a major supporter of efforts to drive international financial reform to support climate action for these states. Earlier this year, the UK committed £1 million to galvanise action ahead of next year’s once in a decade SIDS Conference, including helping them better prepare for climate crises.
July 14, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Bigger fines possible for littering and fly-tipping [July 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 7 July 2023.

Maximum on-the-spot fines for litter, graffiti and fly-tipping to increase under PM’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan.

On-the spot fines for litter, graffiti and fly-tipping are set to rise as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour, Environment Minister Rebecca Pow announced today (Friday 7 July), delivering on the Prime Minister’s Action Plan to clamp down on these crimes and build stronger communities.

Environmental crimes like littering and fly-tipping are cynical and opportunistic, damaging wildlife and nature, creating eyesores and ruining our enjoyment of the great outdoors. The new upper limit to fines will deter people from harming our public spaces in the first place, and ensure that those who continue to offend face tougher consequences.

To help equip councils with everything they need and strengthen their arm, government is laying a statutory instrument increasing the upper limits for various fixed penalty notices (FPNs) on Monday 10 July. This means:
- The maximum amount those caught fly-tipping could be fined will increase from £400 to £1,000
- The maximum amount those who litter or graffiti could be fined will increase from £150 to £500
- The maximum amount those who breach their household waste duty of care could be fined will increase from £400 to £600
Environment Secretary, Thérèse Coffey said:

Everyone loathes litter louts and people who dump rubbish. We are increasing the penalties local councils can apply for this behaviour that spoils our streets and harms nature.

Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:

We’re taking action right across government to crack down on anti-social behaviour and ensure waste criminals face justice – but it’s vital that communities have the tools they need to address the problem as well.

That’s why we are supporting local authorities by increasing the upper limit for on-the-spot fines and ringfencing the proceeds for clean-up and enforcement operations.

In addition to increasing the upper limit on fines, last week, the government launched a consultation on ringfencing the receipts from FPNs for litter and fly-tipping to fund local authorities’ enforcement and clean-up activities, such as spending the money raised from fining criminals on further enforcement officers. This would see the money paid by criminals go directly back into repairing the damage from their crimes, or into enforcement efforts to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

The consultation seeks to understand more about how FPN receipts are currently spent and what the impacts of restricting the spending of these receipts to a set list of enforcement and clean-up functions would be.

The government wants councils to take a much tougher approach to this type of anti-social behaviour. Taking proportionate and effective enforcement action against people who intentionally or carelessly damage their environment is a practical step local authorities can take to change behaviour and deter others from offending.

Our enforcement guidance, as part of the Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse, advises on best practice for litter enforcement from local authorities. The guidance makes clear that in no circumstances should enforcement activity be considered a means to raise revenue. New powers under the Environment Act 2021 will allow us to ensure that enforcement powers are used with a high degree of professionalism, whether by council staff or private contractors, and to place this enforcement guidance on a firm statutory footing.

In 2021/22, councils dealt with almost 1.1 million incidents of fly-tipping and issued 91,000 fines, along with other enforcement actions.

Local authorities will have the freedom to set the rates that offenders should pay, within the limits above.

Today’s announcement marks the latest step in the delivery of the Prime Minister’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan and comes during national ASB Awareness Week, run by Resolve and now in its third year, which runs from 3-9 July.

Earlier this week the Department for Culture, Media and Sport launched applications for the Million Hours Fund, which will enable the equivalent of more than 200 youth clubs to open their doors for an extra night each week in anti-social behaviour hotspots, to make sure young people are supported away from bad life choices and given the opportunities they need to thrive.

We have also announced that more than 50 councils across the UK are to benefit from funding of £1.2 million from the Chewing Gum Task Force to remove discarded chewing gum from our streets and prevent it from being littered in the first place.

And the Home Office has launched pilots of ‘hotspot’ policing – increasing police presence in areas with high levels of anti-social behaviour – and the ‘Immediate Justice’ scheme, which sees those found engaging in anti-social behaviour made to repair the damage they inflicted on victims and communities, with an ambition for them to start work as soon as 48 hours after their offence so victims know anti-social behaviour is treated seriously and with urgency.

The Anti-Social Behaviour Taskforce met yesterday (6 July), and was chaired by the Home Secretary Suella Braverman and attended by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove. The taskforce met to discuss anti-social behaviour and restoring pride in place in communities. The meeting brought together Ministers and national and local partners, including Police and Crime Commissioners to discuss the positive progress to date.

The higher fines to crack down on littering and fly tipping comes alongside Defra’s wider work to tackle waste crime and take the fight to offenders.

In April, grants totalling £775,000 will help councils roll out a range of projects to crack down on fly-tipping were announced. Twenty-one local authorities will benefit from the grants, with schemes including roadside CCTV and social media campaigns in Plymouth and targeted surveillance at hotspot areas in Pendle.

Defra has also announced that fees for disposing of household DIY waste at recycling centres will be abolished – helping people to deal with their waste responsibly and removing a financial burden that gets in the way of people dealing with their waste responsibly.
July 14, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : IAEA Report on the Fukushima Daiichi ALPS Treated Water Discharge [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 July 2023.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson statement on the 4 July International Atomic Energy Agency Task Force Report.

The UK welcomes the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) report which demonstrates that Japan’s plans to release treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear site are safe and consistent with internationally accepted nuclear safety standards.

This report was produced by a specialist Task Force which included experts from the IAEA Secretariat alongside internationally recognised independent experts from Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, France, the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam.

We welcome the continuing close cooperation between the Japanese Government and the International Atomic Energy Agency in this matter.

July 14, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : RAF to provide specialist firefighting vehicles and training to Ukraine’s firefighters ahead of 500 days of war [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 7 July 2023.

The UK is providing 15 Rapid Intervention Vehicles and two Major Foam Vehicles to bolster Ukraine’s firefighting capability.

The UK will provide 17 specialist firefighting vehicles to Ukraine’s fire and rescue services, primarily sourced from the Royal Air Force and Defence Fire and Rescue, with one provided by the Welsh Government.

Due to arrive in the coming weeks, the urgently needed equipment will help bolster Ukraine’s ability to respond to damage caused by Russia’s continued use of cruise missiles and one-way attack drones against Ukrainian infrastructure.

The specialist vehicles – Rapid Intervention and Major Foam Vehicles – were delivered from locations around the UK to RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire to allow RAF personnel to conduct the required preparations before their onward movement to Ukraine.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

These specialist firefighting vehicles will boost Ukraine’s ability to protect its infrastructure from Russia’s campaign of missile and drone attacks and continue our support for Ukraine, for as long as it takes.

In the last week, personnel from 5001 Squadron have inspected and prepared the vehicles to make sure they are ready to conduct their role. Once those preparations were complete, 2 Mechanical Transport Squadron loaded the vehicles ahead of their journey to a designated delivery point.

In preparation of the vehicles’ arrival in Ukraine, members of the Ukrainian Military Fire Service conducted a week’s training at RAF Wittering. This was designed and delivered by the RAF and Defence Fire and Rescue to familiarise the Ukrainians on the vehicles before they operate them for real.

Defence Chief Fire Officer, Sim Nex, said:

The Defence Fire and Rescue family are extremely proud of the specialist support which we have been able to facilitate.

We are confident that the equipment provided to date, and associated training, will directly enhance firefighting capability, as we consider further opportunities to support the Ukrainian Military Fire Service moving forward.

This equipment is the latest in the UK’s programme of support for Ukraine, nearly 500 days after Russia launched its illegal, full-scale invasion. The UK committed £2.3 billion funding for military aid to Ukraine in 2022 and the Prime Minister has confirmed that this figure will be matched in 2023.

Air Commodore Jamie Thompson, Commander Global Enablement said:

Support to Ukraine, through training and the provision of equipment, remains a priority of RAF Global Enablement. We are proud to work alongside our allies in this effort, supplying specialist equipment and training to assure the safety of the Ukrainian people.

It follows previous donations to Ukraine of around eight tonnes of personal protective equipment for firefighting, along with other non-lethal aid including medical equipment and more than 100 industrial-strength generators.

July 14, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK finalises first law enforcement data adequacy decision [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 7 July 2023.

UK law enforcement authorities will be able to freely transfer personal data to their counterparts in Guernsey under legislation laid in Parliament today.

The UK government has today made the first law enforcement data adequacy decision, using new powers gained since leaving the European Union, to enable personal data to be more freely transferred from UK law enforcement to authorities in the Bailiwick of Guernsey for law enforcement purposes.

This data adequacy decision will help Guernsey to prevent crime and bring perpetrators to justice. It will also provide UK authorities greater certainty and confidence in the regulatory landscape of Guernsey.

A law enforcement data adequacy decision is when the government determines a country, organisation or sector has the necessary data protection and privacy standards needed to safeguard UK personal data, enabling the transfer of personal data without the need for further safeguards or specific authorisation. This decision involves completing a full assessment of the country’s law enforcement data protection legislation, working alongside the Information Commissioner’s Office.

By finding the Bailiwick of Guernsey data adequate, the UK government has concluded that Guernsey has strong privacy laws in place which will protect data transfers to Guernsey while upholding the rights and protections of UK citizens.

This is the first law enforcement data adequacy decision made by the UK government since leaving the EU. The UK government is also progressing law enforcement data adequacy assessments of the Bailiwick of Jersey and the Isle of Man, with the aim of concluding these assessments in the near future. The UK already recognises both jurisdictions’ EU adequacy decision for UK GDPR purposes.

July 14, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC53 – Statement on human rights situation in Burundi [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 July 2023.

UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Burundi.

Thank you, Mr President.

The United Kingdom thanks the Special Rapporteur for his most recent update and we reiterate our support for his mandate.

We welcome that there have been some positive developments in Burundi since the Special Rapporteur’s last full report, including notably the acquittal and release of Tony Germain Nkina.

We also welcome Burundi’s stated commitment to improving its human rights situation – however, we remain concerned by the relatively slow and limited implementation to date of this commitment. We continue to urge Burundi to undertake genuine reforms in order to fully promote and protect human rights. We are particularly concerned by Burundi’s decision to withdraw its delegation from this week’s dialogue with the Human Rights Committee as they carry out their review of Burundi.

Mr President,

We once again call on Burundi to re-engage and cooperate fully with this Council and its mechanisms including the Special Rapporteur and other Special Procedures Mandate Holders, as well as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and other UN bodies which can work with Burundi to improve its human rights situation.

Special Rapporteur,

What actions should Burundi take to demonstrate its willingness to uphold human rights standards, given their intention to stand for election to the Human Rights Council for the 2024-2027 term, and in line with Members’ responsibilities under General Assembly Resolution 60/251?

Thank you.

July 14, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government funding boost kickstarts delivery of historic new free childcare offers [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 7 July 2023.

Nurseries are set to receive a £204 million cash boost as part of the Government’s promise to deliver the largest ever investment in childcare.

The plans, which were announced in the Spring Budget, are designed to remove significant barriers to support parents to return to work and help to grow the economy by making childcare more accessible.

Every area across the country is getting a share of the government funding which childcare providers can use to ease cost pressures such as staffing costs, training and bills. Funding rates per child paid from September will increase from an average of £5.29 to £5.62 for three and four-year-olds, and from an average of £6.00 to £7.95 for two-year-olds.

The increase in funding will support the early years sector to deliver the biggest investment in childcare ever.

From April 2024, eligible working parents of two-year-olds will get a new offer of 15 free hours per week of free childcare. From September 2024, eligible parents will get 15 free hours from nine months until their children start school, and from September 2025, they will get 30 free hours from nine months until the start of school.

Separately, the government has today confirmed plans to deliver its ambition for all parents of primary school aged children to access childcare in their local area between 8am and 6pm.

16 local authorities from Barnsley to Wiltshire have been selected to work with the government to develop plans for this universal provision, with some of these areas expected to be the first to rollout the wraparound care as early as summer 2024.

All local authorities will start to receive their share of £289 million in funding from January 2024 to support their delivery of the programme, with parents expected to see an expansion in the availability of wraparound care from September 2024.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt said:

I know the cost of childcare can be a real struggle for parents and can become a barrier to work.

That’s why we announced the largest ever expansion of free childcare at Spring Budget, and today we’re increasing hourly funding rates to make sure the system is ready to deliver, including uplifting rates for a two-year-old by a third.

These reforms will be transformative, and ensure that we build a childcare system comparable to the best.

Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan said:

Today is a great step forward as we deliver on the largest ever expansion of childcare which will be transformational for working families and will help grow our economy.

I want childcare to be truly affordable and available when and where parents need it.

This initial investment of over £200 million will go a long way in supporting the fantastic early years sector to prepare for the expansion of free childcare hours available to parents next year.

There will be further funding increases in the amounts paid to local authorities to pass to providers for delivering the government’s free childcare places moving forward, with an additional investment of £288 million already announced at the Spring Budget for 2024-25.

The Department will shortly launch a consultation on how the funding for the new entitlements in 2024-25 will be distributed, to make sure it remains fair in light of the radically expanded free childcare offers.

A further £12 million is also being given to local authorities this financial year to support them to effectively roll out the new offer.

July 14, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Serious human rights violations in Russia – UK statement to the OSCE [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 July 2023.

Deputy Ambassador Deirdre Brown calls for Russia to end human rights violations and investigate the attack on Elena Milashina and Alexander Nemov on 4 July in Chechnya.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I wish to add the UK’s voice to those who are again putting on record in this Council the litany of serious human rights violations in Russia. The issue of Russia’s repression of human rights is vitally important. It is important to the Russian people who face restrictions on their fundamental freedoms and it is important for peace and security in the OSCE region. Indeed this Organisation was founded on the recognition that the maintenance of comprehensive peace and security depends on respect for fundamental rights and freedoms.

In September 2022, this Council discussed the Moscow Mechanism report on “Russia’s Legal and Administrative Practice in Light of its OSCE Human Dimension Commitments”. The Moscow Mechanism report illustrated the horrifying scale of restrictive policies implemented by Russia over the last decade. These policies include repressive legislation which criminalises the dissemination of the truth, including the truth about Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. Thousands of people have been prosecuted because of these laws.

These policies also include direct attacks on media freedom. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Russian and foreign journalists have faced further censorship and persecution by the Russian authorities. All independent media outlets have been muzzled. Anti-media laws have left journalists facing harsh prison sentences. And to bring matters right up to date, just this week on 4 July, we have seen the attack on renowned independent Russian journalist Elena Milashina and respected lawyer Alexander Nemov in Chechyna. The UK strongly condemns this attack and calls on the Russian authorities to carry out a thorough and transparent investigation.

President Putin pursues these policies because he fears that a free society would hold him accountable for the abuses his regime has committed at home, and restrain his ability to commit abuses abroad. The tragedy is that both Russian and Ukrainian people, particularly vulnerable groups including women and children, are enduring the worst effects of this repression.

I thank the OSCE’s autonomous institutions – particularly ODIHR and the Representative on the Freedom of the Media – for their vigilance in exposing the human rights violations being committed in Russia.

We stand united in condemnation of Russia’s brutal repression of human rights at home and abroad. We call on the Russian authorities to reverse this repression and to release all political prisoners including Vladimir Kara-Murza and Alexei Navalny.

I will end with a commitment to brave and tireless human rights defenders across Russia. Human dimension commitments are matters of direct and legitimate concern to all OSCE participating States– as reaffirmed by all participating States at the 2010 Astana Summit. In this Council and elsewhere, we will not stop raising the injustices you face.

Thank you Madam Chair.

July 14, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Cleaner shipping gets £34 million boost with next round of innovative tech funding [July 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 7 July 2023.

Funding for the maritime sector to develop sustainable technologies that help connect people, goods and services in a cleaner, greener way.
- new technologies that will help decarbonise shipping bolstered by £34 million in government funding
- the fourth round of the clean maritime demonstration competition (CMDC4) will support UK industry to deliver net zero in the maritime sector
- winners of previous rounds have included projects to develop a brand new fully electric ferry for the River Thames and an electric charging system to power vessels at offshore wind farms
The maritime sector given greater support to deliver innovative solutions and new technology in the race to decarbonise the industry and grow the economy, as government commits £34 million of funding, part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) today (7 July 2023).

With the fourth round of funding, this brings the total invested through the CMDC to £129 million. The competition looks to foster and promote the continued progress towards reaching our net zero goals through the development of novel and sustainable technologies that will help connect people, goods and services in a cleaner, greener way.

Maritime Minister Baroness Charlotte Vere said:

Pushing the boundaries of possibility is integral to the UK’s global ambition of a greener maritime sector. That’s why today’s new round of funding continues to set that course, not only keeping our climate goals on track but also boosting opportunities for private investment, new jobs and growing the economy.

The UK’s maritime sector is one of the most competitive and innovative in the world and today’s latest clean maritime demonstration competition funding is testament to that.

Today’s funding will open for applications on 2 August until 27 September. The competition scope and eligibility criteria are available to read on the competition web page now.

Prospective bids will be assessed against a range of criteria to see how likely they will deliver on real world demonstrations of clean maritime technology. This can include everything from creating alternative fuel sources for freight ships to pushing the limits of battery powered vessels.

A total of 105 projects across the UK have been awarded more than £95 million in the first 3 rounds of the CMDC to support the design and development of clean maritime solutions towards commercialisation.

One example of this is MJR Controls, which has been developing a charging system that can be installed on offshore wind turbines. This will power electric crew transfer boats and maintenance vessels operating in offshore wind farms, reducing carbon emissions.

Elsewhere, Collins River Enterprises has been awarded £6 million of funding to demonstrate a zero-emission electric river ferry from Canary Wharf to Rotherhithe in London. The ferry will provide a sustainable alternative to a polluting drive or busy tube and create a blueprint for sustainable ferry crossings across the UK and around the world.

UK Chamber of Shipping Chief Executive Sarah Treseder said:

Instilling confidence in the UK shipping industry to invest in new technologies and fuels is central to reaching net zero. This funding, with a focus on real world demonstrations, will help to do that and unlock investment from across the shipping community to deliver the technologies that will reduce emissions while ensuring shipping remains at the heart of the UK’s economy.

Through the development of both business and consumer focused tech, this competition is ensuring that UK maintains its status as a world leader across all facets of the maritime sector and builds on our Clean maritime plan and Maritime 2050 ambitions. This ongoing focus to foster green maritime technology will not only showcase the UK as a base for private investment but help boost the possibility of future jobs in the maritime sector, grow the economy and highlight how the UK sector is at the cutting edge.

The CMDC is funded by the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) and delivered by Innovate UK. UK SHORE is a programme within the DfT focused on accelerating the technology necessary to decarbonise the domestic maritime sector and is delivering a suite of interventions aimed at addressing different barriers to maritime decarbonisation.
July 13, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government backs Bradford – UK City of Culture 2025 – with £10 million funding boost [July 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 7 July 2023.

Bradford will benefit from a cash boost of at least £10 million to kick off the city’s tenure as UK City of Culture in 2025 and help grow the economy, one of the Prime Minister’s five priorities.
- Cash boost supports the Government’s ambition to grow the economy and create opportunities with almost 7,000 new jobs and growth of £389 million in the local economy
- Approximately 1,000 performances by local artists and creatives expected to attract more than 15 million visitors in 2025
- Announcement comes on ten-year anniversary of UK City of Culture programme
The investment will support the delivery of Bradford’s programme of cultural activity over the year – ranging from live performances in existing cultural venues to pop-up experiences in a bespoke touring venue, Beacon.

Approximately 1,000 performances will take place in 2025, developed alongside and in collaboration with local artists and creatives. They are expected to attract 15.5 million visitors and bring an additional visitor spend of £136.9 million into the local economy over the course of the year.

The increased cultural and economic activity is expected to deliver up to £389 million of growth for Bradford as UK City of Culture 2025.

The funding boost will also help Bradford with its ambition, set out in its bid to host the event, to create 6,845 new jobs and opportunities right across the city by 2030.

In addition, Arts Council England is allocating £5 million in National Lottery funding to support Bradford’s programme during its tenure as UK City of Culture.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund also confirms today it is awarding £4.95 million specifically to develop a programme of activities to bring the diverse heritage of the city to the fore during 2025’s celebrations.

Stuart Andrew, Culture Minister, said:

With its unique culture and young and vibrant population, Bradford will be a fantastic host for the UK City of Culture 2025.

We are investing £10 million in the city this year to help prepare for the event so we can make sure it stimulates new jobs and growth in the local economy through culture.

We want to open up access to the arts, create opportunities for young people, and inspire our next generation of writers, artists and performers.

Residents of Bradford will be able to participate in the various projects and develop their skills across several sectors. For example, Bradford 2025 recently launched a one-of-its-kind competition with the Royal Institute of British Architects to design a touring venue, Beacon, to play host to performances and live events across the district during the summer of 2025.

Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, said:

The team at Bradford 2025 are already building a life-changing, awe-inspiring programme of brilliant artistic and cultural activities across the district’s arts organisations, museums and libraries. But there’s so much more to come.

This investment will have a huge impact on the lives of the people who live, work and study in the city – as well as thousands of visitors over the coming years. I’m on the edge of my seat, eager to see and hear how Bradford’s journey of amazing creativity will unfold.

Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:

I am delighted to announce that we are supporting Bradford with £4.95million National Lottery funding. It will shine a light on the city’s fascinating heritage when it takes its City of Culture crown in 2025.

Thanks to National Lottery players, we’ve enabled past City of Culture award holders to showcase the history and heritage of their cities. We have seen first-hand the transformational effects that an exciting heritage programme can bring, creating a deeper sense of place, pride and identity. We look forward to our funding opening up heritage for all those who live, work and visit Bradford, to celebrate and enjoy.

Dan Bates and Shanaz Gulzar, Executive Director and Creative Director at Bradford 2025, said:

There’s less than 18 months before we begin our year as the City of Culture 2025, and we welcome the funding announced today by the Minister. As momentum starts to build, funding support is essential for us in delivering against our ambitions and creating an unforgettable year that Bradford needs and deserves.

Over the coming months, thanks to the funding announced today, we’ll be able to progress key projects that will enable us to provide the opportunity for everyone in the district to engage in Bradford 2025 in some way – whether that is by attending an event, participating in a workshop, creating a performance or volunteering.

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Metropolitan District Council said:

The funding announced today by DCMS, National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England is welcome good news. It’s further evidence of the willingness to invest not just in a global Bradford and in the cultural and physical regeneration of our city, but in the young people who will help shape its future.

Now is our time, time for Bradford to shine and become a beacon for what’s great about Yorkshire, and about the North. We will also be the largest, most ambitious and the first district wide City of Culture bid ever so we also remain optimistic that we will see more funding of this sort from Government in the near future to help us fully realise the opportunity that being the UK City of Culture in 2025 brings.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of UK City of Culture, with the first host being Derry-Londonderry in 2013, followed by Hull in 2017 and Coventry in 2021.

The title has a proven track record of opening up access to culture and creativity and delivering culture-led regeneration, with 81% of Derry-Londonderry residents attending a UK City of Culture event in 2013.

In Hull, nine in ten residents attended or took part in UK City of Culture related activity. Government funding helped facilitate wider inward investment from the private sector and other partners worth £676 million. Similarly, Coventry received £172.6 million in inward investment which facilitated wider regeneration activity of over £500 million.
July 13, 2023