Tag: Department for Culture and Media

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 7 July 2026.

Local news outlets can now apply for grants of up to £125,000 to support their long-term financial sustainability.

• Local News Fund is part of the government’s Local Media Action Plan – a strategy backing the essential role of local media in our towns and communities 
• Second year of the Fund will also be used to tackle ‘news deserts’, by helping to revive a local news presence in communities that currently lack one.

Local news outlets can now bid for a share of up to £12 million in government funding over the next two years, which will ensure communities can continue to benefit from trusted, high-quality local journalism.

Part of ‘Amplify: The Local Media Action Plan’, the Fund will provide £6 million in 2026/27 and up to a further £6 million in 2027/28, which will help ensure the long-term provision of high-quality local news by enabling organisations to continue innovating towards a digital and sustainable future.

The Plan demonstrates the government’s commitment to the future of local journalism, ensuring it can continue to enrich our national conversation, strengthen communities and social cohesion, rebuild social trust, and support local growth.

The majority of the 2026/27 Fund will be awarded to local news outlets in print, online, or independent local TV and radio stations, through a competitive bidding process, with £125,000 the maximum available to a single organisation. The funding can be used to invest in the tools and services – such as apps or innovative use of multimedia channels – needed for sustainable innovation which can help local media tap into new or younger audiences and generate new sources of revenue.

The remainder of the Fund will be allocated through a separate bidding process which also opens today, reserved for organisations which are developing the infrastructure that can benefit the industry as a whole, with bids allowed up to £275,000. 

Evidence shows that up to 37 local authority districts now have no print, online, TV or radio outlet dedicated specifically to that area – leaving as many as 4.4 million citizens in local ‘news deserts’, which disproportionately occur in the most deprived urban areas.

That’s why in the second year of the Fund, £1 million will be dedicated to tackling these local news deserts in collaboration with key community stakeholders, to revive or establish a local news presence in areas of need. This will help address news inequality, as local news closures disproportionately affect deprived urban districts, while new enterprises are concentrated in more affluent communities.

Subject to availability, up to a further £5 million in 2027/28 will provide continued support for the financial sustainability and innovation of the sector. 

To qualify for local news outlet funding, prospective bidders must be able to demonstrate a track record in the provision of local news to audiences in England or Wales. 

Media Minister Ian Murray MP said: 

Local media is a cornerstone of our civic life and when it declines, communities lose access to accurate information, scrutiny of decision-makers and a vital local voice. That’s why we’re launching the Local News Fund – with up to £12 million available over the next two years, it marks an important step towards securing the future of local media across the UK. 

I encourage local news organisations, publishers and innovators to come forward with ambitious proposals that will help to strengthen local media for the long term, ensuring communities continue to benefit from high-quality, trusted local reporting.

Polly Curtis, Co-Chair of the Local News Fund Steering Board, said:

Strong local news creates stronger communities. This £6 million fund is an investment in civic life, democracy and the trusted journalism that helps bring people together. 

We encourage everyone who is working in local news to put forward their most innovative ideas to help build shared resilience for the future for local journalism.

Jeremy Clifford, Co-Chair of the Local News Fund Steering Board, said:

The local news industry has a track record of innovating and responding to the many challenges it has faced down the years. However, often those innovations fail to get off the ground because they cannot be funded. 

We strongly believe this fund can help to ignite that innovative thinking and be the catalyst for delivering some exciting and imaginative experiments.

Laura Davison, NUJ General Secretary, said:  

The NUJ welcomes the launch of the Local News Fund. For many years the union has campaigned for government grants to preserve and bolster local journalism subject to appropriate safeguards. 

The Fund is recognition that the industry cannot be left to the vagaries of the market and that our members working in local news play a pivotal role in upholding social cohesion and democracy.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 3 July 2026.

A temporary export bar has been placed on two prehistoric handaxes representing some of the oldest human settlements in Britain.

• The handaxes are believed to be around 500,000 years old 
• The bar will allow time for UK museums or institutions to acquire the handaxes for the nation

Culture Minister Baroness Twycross has placed export bars on two flint handaxes that offer insights into the lives of Britain’s earliest settlers, allowing time for a UK buyer to be found.

Both flint handaxes were discovered on the Happisburgh shoreline in Norfolk. Their discoveries followed the unexpected consequences of storms in the East of England, which cleared away clay on the beach shore and exposed ancient land surfaces underneath.

Created using a stone or antler hammer to knock off flakes from both sides of a larger piece of flint, these handaxes have strong, skilfully shaped edges suitable for cutting and scraping. They were used without handles.

One of the handaxes has an asymmetrical appearance, with small patches of orange-brown staining from the sediments in which it was deposited. This handaxe is 13cm long and weighs 465 grams.

The other handaxe is distinguishable by its mottled light brown and grey colouration. One side of the flint also retains a small patch of chalky outer cortex. This piece is just over 10cm long and weighs 308 grams.

Found on the Happisburgh shoreline, the handaxes belong with a series of finds connected to some of the first human occupation of northern Europe. They provide internationally significant insights into the type of technologies that first enabled humans to survive in northern environments.

Britain’s environment was different from today when hunter-gatherers made these handaxes around 500,000 years ago. What became the River Thames then ran a northeastern course through Norfolk, entering the North Sea near the find site at Happisburgh. Subsequently, a cold period caused ice sheets to cover the North Sea, East Anglia and the Midlands, churning up and moving the ground beneath. As the climate warmed again, the ice sheets melted, dumping dirt and rock across the landscape covering the Happisburgh area. Recent rising sea levels and storms exposed the hunter-gatherers’ campsites sealed underneath.

Culture Minister, Baroness Twycross said:

These handaxes present a window into the lives of some of our oldest ancestors. The Britain they inhabited was very different from our own and items like these provide a valuable insight into a world that is extremely difficult to research.

I hope these handaxes can find a UK buyer who can keep them accessible to the public, so that we can all share in the revelations they bring about some of Britain’s very first settlers.

RCEWA committee member, Tim Pestell said: 

Happisburgh, on the East Norfolk coast, can be said to represent the first page in British history. These wonderfully tactile flint handaxes, found on Happisburgh’s shoreline, help provide internationally-significant evidence of the earliest human occupation in northern Europe, some 500-600,000 years ago. Follow-up research excavations and citizen science have revealed archaeological and geological evidence to contextualise these stray finds, and even recorded stretches of footprints preserved in ancient sediments, made by ancestor species of modern humans. It is hard to overstate the importance of finds from Happisburgh to scientific knowledge and to our nation’s history. I therefore earnestly hope that these handaxes will be preserved in a museum collection where they can be accessible to both the general public on display and to the research community, to continue unlocking their secrets.

These objects are some of the oldest to be under export deferral in the last decade. This marks the seventh temporary export bar issued since the start of the year by the Government. This follows export bars placed on items such as a bust of John Gordon of Invergordon, Shock Dog by Anne Seymour Damer, and an archive of the Scots Mining Company.

The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA).

The Committee made its recommendation on the basis that both the handaxes met the first and third Waverley criteria for their outstanding connection with our history and national life and its outstanding, global significance to the archaeological, geological and palaeontological study of the most ancient human population of Britain.

The decision on the export licence application for the handaxes will be deferred for a period ending on 2 September 2026 inclusive. At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 Business Days to consider any offer(s) to purchase either handaxe at the recommended price of £15,000 (plus VAT of £3,000, which could be reclaimed by an eligible institution). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for three months.

Offers from public bodies for less than the recommended price through the private treaty sale arrangements, where appropriate, may also be considered by the Minister. Such purchases frequently offer substantial financial benefit to a public institution wishing to acquire the item.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 3 July 2026.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy visited the Museum of Liverpool yesterday to see a digital display of postcards from towns hoping to become the first UK Town of Culture, as judges whittle down hundreds of applications to a final shortlist. 

Following the launch of the inaugural UK Town of Culture competition last year, the government has confirmed that it received 398 bids representing over 400 hopeful towns from across the UK. 

In order to celebrate the local pride expressed in the submissions so far, every bidding town was invited to submit a postcard to champion their bid. These have been showcased by National Museums Liverpool in a digital display in the Museum of Liverpool yesterday, (Thursday 2 July), to celebrate the diversity of each and every town that has participated in the competition. 

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and chair of the independent panel judging the bids, Sir Phil Redmond, visited the museum to see the display ahead of the shortlist for the competition, which will be announced in the coming weeks.

It marks a return to the city which secured the title of European Capital of Culture in 2008 and was the catalyst for the introduction of the UK’s own City of Culture competition.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: 

For far too long, towns across the UK have felt left out of our national story.

Today we celebrate the local pride that has always existed in towns around the country within this amazing display of postcards from bidding towns. 

Through UK Town of Culture, I wanted to shine a light on our amazing towns all across the UK and the huge contribution they make to our national life. That contribution is clear to see today and I hope each and every town is incredibly proud of the work they have done to champion their community in the competition.

Chair of the independent panel, Sir Phil Redmond said: 

The number of towns that have entered the competition is incredible. It is a distinct moment in its own right, when people overwhelmingly wanted to demonstrate the sense of pride they have in their own communities. 

It is why we invited every one of them to send a postcard, a snapshot, of where they are, who they are, and how taken together, each contributes to our shared national story. 

The postcards, along with their initial bids will form part of our national archive so future generations can look back and appreciate this significant cultural moment of history.

The UK Town of Culture competition is part of the Government’s ambition to restore pride in every part of Britain. The competition – together with the UK City of Culture competition – will shine a light on local visions and voices from across the UK, which will encourage local investment, create a lasting sense of pride, and open doors to the arts for everyone. 

After the display, the postcards will remain within the National Museums Liverpool’s national collection in recognition of the importance that this moment represents for the UK.

Laura Pye, Director of National Museums Liverpool, said:

It is a great honour to welcome the Secretary of State to Museum of Liverpool, a venue built to celebrate a city’s history, culture and people, past and present.

The Museum of Liverpool is itself a lasting legacy of Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture. It stands as a powerful reminder that investment in culture creates benefits that endure long after the spotlight has moved on – not only in our buildings and public spaces, but in the confidence, pride and opportunities it creates for communities.

We wish the hopeful towns every success and look forward to seeing how their ambitious cultural visions continue to inspire local communities and visitors alike.

The winner of the UK Town of Culture competition will go on to host a season of culture in 2028, which will help them to deliver a long-lasting legacy of cultural participation and local pride as has been seen in previous winners of the UK City of Culture competition; Derry-Londonderry, Hull, Coventry and Bradford. 

The government’s ambition behind the competition is for towns to reap similar benefits from the experience of bidding in the competition and encouraging local residents to get involved in cultural events to celebrate their town.  

Competing for the title, irrespective of whether or not a place wins, can have a hugely positive impact on the local community. 

Last year, as UK City of Culture 2025, Bradford led a showstopping cultural programme of 5,000 events – over 75% of which were free – that pulled in an audience of three million, involved over 800 organisations, and resulted in capital investment for more than 30 local cultural organisations. Bradford’s year in the spotlight also led to increased opportunities for local people to get involved with events, with over 100,000 residents taking part in key projects throughout the year. 

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 2 July 2026.

UK and Greek tourism ministers meet in London to sign tourism cooperation agreement.

• New commitment to promote investment opportunities, entrepreneurship and vocational training and cooperate on innovation and sustainability
• Focus on special interest tourism, including Film, Culture, Gastronomy and Rural Tourism, working together to diversify both countries’ offerings and ensure holidaymakers can make the most of their trips

British holidaymakers travelling to Greece will benefit from a new Memorandum of Understanding, which has now been signed between the UK and Greece. The new agreement will strengthen cooperation from both countries on tourism, committing to work together on promotion, investment, innovation and sustainability across their respective sectors.

Both countries will seek to boost entrepreneurship in the tourism sector, and will promote cooperation, exchange of information and practical experience in digitalisation and innovation in travel and tourism technologies, as well as in the field of tourism education and vocational training.

Around five million Brits choose to holiday in Greece each year, while the number of Greeks travelling to visit the UK has grown year-on-year since the Coronavirus Pandemic.

This milestone builds on the strong tourism relationship between the two countries, marking the first time a cooperation agreement in the field of tourism has been signed between the two countries.

Running for an initial five-year period, the MoU covers eight main areas of cooperation, including institutional collaboration, tourism promotion, sustainability, investment, digitalisation and vocational training, ensuring that British holidaymakers are able to enjoy and make the most of Greece’s tourism offer.

It will see greater cooperation between Greece and the UK in the areas of investment opportunities and the holding of fairs, exhibitions, seminars and other tourism promotion events in both countries.

There is a commitment for an exchange of information and know-how relating to tourism policy and legislation, visitors’ satisfaction within each country, research and developments in the global tourism market and new tourism products and services. 

There is also an emphasis on special interest tourism – film, culture, luxury shopping, gastronomy and wine as well as rural, mountain and hiking tourism. 

Best practice around sustainable tourism – aimed at minimising the environmental impact of tourists in the respective countries – will also be shared.

The MoU highlights the government’s commitment to strengthening the UK’s relationship with EU member states while also growing the UK’s own visitor economy. Plans for this will be set out in an upcoming Visitor Economy Growth Strategy.

Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock said:

Both Greece and the UK share a rich history, stunning landscapes and amazing coastlines which are enjoyed by millions of visitors each year. 

This agreement will strengthen our cooperation and support sustainable growth across both our tourism sectors. By working together, we can help those who work around the clock to provide a great experience to the millions that travel between our countries every year.

Greek holidaymakers have always been welcome in the UK and we look forward to welcoming many more in the years ahead.

Greek Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni said:

The United Kingdom remains Greece’s leading tourism market. Visitor flows continue to grow – a testament to the deep friendship between our two countries. 

Today’s Memorandum of Understanding marks an important step in deepening our strategic partnership in tourism. It establishes a modern framework for cooperation that goes beyond promotion to encompass sustainability, innovation, investment, tourism education, and shared expertise. 

This is an investment in the future of both our tourism sectors that opens new opportunities for businesses, destinations, and travellers alike.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 2 July 2026.

The Secretary of State has appointed Rebecca Crook and Judith Donovan for four-year terms commencing 26 September 2026, and Helen Williams for a four-year term from 1 October 2026.

Rebecca Crook and Judith Donovan have been appointed for four year terms, commencing on 28 September 2026 to 27 September 2030. Helen Williams has been appointed for a four year term, commencing on 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2030.

Rebecca Crook

Rebecca Crook is UK CEO of MSQ DX, a global digital experience company with £70m+ annual revenue and over 500 people delivering digital products, experiences and AI solutions for major brands. She has 25 years of experience, having helped scale and sell three digital businesses for a combined value in excess of £140m.

Alongside her commercial career, Rebecca has spent over 15 years as a trustee and advisor in the heritage, museums, and cultural sector, driven by a passion for protecting historic places, collections and buildings for future generations. She is currently Chair of the Enterprise Committee at Royal Pavilion & Museums Trust. She co-founded and chaired Saltdean Lido CIC, raising over £8m to restore the site and writing the successful application to upgrade its listing to Grade II*. The lido is now operating as a tourist destination and community hub, with a restaurant, café, event spaces, swimming pool, gym and library. Previous board roles include The National Trust Strategic Advisory Board and London Transport Museum.

Rebecca is co-chair of BIMA’s CEO & Leadership Council and a Women in Technology mentor and features in the Management Today Women in Leadership Power List 2026, BIMA 100 and Campaign 40 over 40.

Judith Donovan

Judith Donovan CBE was one of the first female entrepreneurs in Yorkshire, founding her own marketing agency in 1982, which she grew to over 50 staff, and a turnover of £12.5 million, before selling to her managers in 2000.

Since then she has pursued a Non–Executive and Trustee career, primarily in the Public and Third sectors. She currently is Trustee of Science Museum Group, Member of National Railway Museum Advisory Board, Chair of Employment Advisory Board at HMP Askham Grange & New Hall and Chair of Ripon Cathedral Council and Vice Chair Ripon Cathedral Rural Forum. Judith is also Chair of Keep Me Posted Campaign, Trustee of the Woolmens Company charity & The Tobacco Benevolent Society, Member of General Committee Reform Club and Member of Business Council the Jobs Foundation

Previously she has been Chair of Eden Project Ltd, Trustee National Army Museum, Chair National Army Museum Trading Ltd, Chair Advisory Board National Science and Media Museum & Science Innovation Park, Vice Chair of Postwatch, a Millennium Commissioner, a Director of HSE, BIG Lottery Fund and also Chair of the Yorkshire Tourist Board, Chair of Bradford TEC, President of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, a Trustee of Northern Ballet and the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust and also a DEFRA appointed member on both the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and the British Wool Marketing Board.

Helen Williams

Helen Williams is Chief Strategy & Policy Officer at the National Wealth Fund, the government backed investment bank based in Leeds, where she leads the organisation’s strategy, policy, comms and shareholder relations functions. A member of the founding executive leadership team, Helen played a key role in establishing the institution and shaping its investment strategy in support of economic growth and clean energy projects across the UK. She sits on the Investment, Risk and Credit Committees.

Helen has more than two decades of experience in central government, having held a range of senior leadership positions across Whitehall, including the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Her government career focused on strategy, public policy, governance and the sponsorship of major public bodies.

During her time at DCMS, Helen led policy relating to museums, heritage and the arts, including oversight of national cultural institutions and relationships with arm’s-length bodies. She is an experienced non-executive director including serving as Vice-Chair of the Horniman Museum and Gardens. In 2022 Helen was a member of Gold Command responsible for the strategic coordination of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Trustees of the Royal Armouries are not remunerated. 

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 2 July 2026.

The Prime Minister has appointed Ann Allen, Priya Guha, Janice Lane, Toufic Machnouk and Tom Solomon, and reappointed Anya Hurlbert and Baroness Morgan as Trustees of the Science Museum Group.

Ann Allen MBE, Priya Guha MBE, Janice Lane, Toufic Machnouk and Professor Tom Solomon CBE terms will commence on 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2030.

Ann Allen MBE

Ann is a chartered Surveyor currently leading a team helping to reshape the University of Leeds campus to support the ambitions of the University and the experiences of all students and staff. Prior to this, she led the University of Glasgow £1bn campus redevelopment programme. She is passionate about the built environment and how it can support cohesive and engaged communities. Previous non-executive roles include Chair of Architecture Design Scotland, Chair of Built Environment Trust and Chair of the Scottish Board of Women in Property, Trustee of the National Museum of Scotland and Board Member of Scottish Future Trust, Crown Estate Scotland and the Water Industry Commission.

Ann was awarded an MBE in 2019 for services to higher education. 

Priya Guha MBE

Priya is deeply embedded in the UK and global tech ecosystem through her roles in government, investment, start-ups and corporates.  

Priya has had a career centred on the intersection of science, technology, innovation and geopolitics and is a passionate advocate for the importance of science and innovation in the UK’s future and is active in supporting work to garner the benefits of the transformative potential of frontier technologies. 

Amongst other roles, she is a Non-Executive Director at UK Research and Innovation, the Herald Investment Trust, Reach plc and the Digital Catapult. Priya is also a Member of the Investment Governance Board of Future Planet Capital and an Advisor to Gallos Technologies.  

Priya used to be a career diplomat, most recently as British Consul General to San Francisco and previously in India and Spain. Priya was awarded an MBE in 2021 for services to international trade and women in innovation.

Janice Lane 

Janice is an experienced cultural heritage leader with more than 30 years working in multi-disciplinary and multi-venue museums in England, Scotland, and Wales. Most recently, she was an Executive Director at Amgueddfa Cymru-Museum Wales for 12 years where she had responsibility for diverse portfolios including visitor experience, learning, exhibitions and public programmes, operations, heritage skills, major projects and sustainability.

Janice brings extensive experience of major museum projects, having worked on award-winning redevelopments such as Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery and Riverside Museum in Glasgow and then St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff. She also led the delivery of major exhibitions, learning and engagement programmes, working with national and international partners. She is a Getty Leadership Institute alumna and a former board member of International Council of Museums UK.

Now working as a consultant and non-executive director, Janice helps organisations understand, measure, and strengthen their social value, offering a collaborative and outcomes focused approach. She currently serves on the boards of Techniquest Science Discovery Centre, The Sherman Theatre, and Gregynog Trust, and is a Heritage Network expert panel member. From beginning her career as a teacher and museum educator, Janice remains committed to widening access to culture and improving public understanding of science.

Toufic Machnouk

Toufic is Managing Director of GBRX, the strategic technology and innovation body for Britain’s railway, and a member of the sector’s Executive Leadership Team. He leads work across government, industry and academia to accelerate the adoption of strategic technologies, including artificial intelligence, advanced computation, intelligent sensing, robotics, quantum technologies, data systems and cyber security.

Before establishing GBRX, Toufic created and led the Industry Partnership for Digital Railway, mobilising one of the UK’s largest strategic enterprise partnerships to support a multi-billion-pound national technology investment portfolio. His work has focused on building the relationships, delivery models and institutional capability required to enable large-scale technology adoption and system transformation.

Toufic is a strong advocate for public engagement with science, engineering and technology. He teaches and speaks regularly on leadership, innovation and strategic technologies, supporting the development of future capability in engineering, technology and systems leadership. He holds a degree in Design Engineering and an Executive Master of Business Administration with Distinction from the University of Bath.

Professor Tom Solomon CBE

Tom is Director of The Pandemic Institute and Academic Vice President of the Royal College of Physicians. He is Director for the Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). He is also Chair of Neurological Science at the University of Liverpool and an honorary Consultant Neurologist at the Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust.

He studied medicine at the University of Oxford, completed a PhD on central nervous system infections in Vietnam, and a post-doctoral fellowship in the United States, before building an international career at the interface of global health and neurological and emerging infections. Under his leadership, Liverpool has become a recognised centre for health protection research and impact, contributing to control of Japanese encephalitis, Ebola, Zika, Covid-19.

He has held senior national roles for NIHR, and the Medical Research Council, chairing major funding boards and advising the UK government and international agencies on pandemic preparedness and response. He was Vice President (International) at the Academy of Medical Sciences, and is Academic Vice President of the Royal College of Physicians, where he leads the College’s communications, policy and research work. Tom is also an active science communicator, working with media and the Science Media Centre, and was awarded a CBE in 2021 for services to neurological and emerging infections research.

Trustees that have been reappointed to the Science Museum Group:

Professor Anya Hurlbert and Baroness Morgan’s second terms will commence on 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2030.

Professor Anya Hurlbert

Anya is Professor of Visual Neuroscience and Dean of Advancement at Newcastle University, where she co-founded the former Institute of Neuroscience and now steers the Centre for Transformative Neuroscience. She holds degrees from the US and UK in physics, physiology, brain and cognitive sciences, and medicine. Her 200+ scientific publications include papers in Nature, Science and Current Biology, handbook chapters, and invited reviews.

Her research interests follow two themes: fundamental and applied science of human colour vision, using psychophysics, computational modelling, and neuroimaging, with applications in colour vision deficiency, imaging, lighting, and visual art; and AI-based retinal image analysis. 

She co-authored the book Color in Nature (Princeton University Press; 2024), received the Newton Medal (the Colour Group GB; 2022) and the Edridge-Green Medal (the Royal College of Ophthalmologists; 2017) amongst other awards. She is Associate Editor of the Journal of Vision, member of the Rank Prize Optoelectronics Committee, former Vice President of the Vision Sciences Society, Director of the International Colour Vision Society, former Scientific Trustee of the National Gallery and Chair of the Advisory Board of the National Science and Media Museum.

Baroness Morgan

The Rt Hon. the Baroness Morgan of Cotes (Nicky Morgan) is a former Conservative MP and Minister. She is now a member of the House of Lords and has a portfolio career with roles across the private and public sectors, including Senior Independent Director at Santander UK, Chair of the Advertising Standards Authority and Chair of the Careers & Enterprise Company. 

Baroness Morgan was the elected MP for Loughborough from 2010 to 2019, she entered the House of Lords in 2020. During her parliamentary career, Baroness Morgan held several key ministerial roles, including Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (2019–2020), Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities (2014–2016), Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Minister for Women (2014). She was an Assistant Whip in the coalition government until her appointment as Economic Secretary to the Treasury in 2013. She was also elected Chair of the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee (2017-2019). 

Before being elected she worked as a solicitor specialising in Mergers and Acquisitions.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Trustee roles are not remunerated, and therefore will not attract a pension or any other gratuity. 

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 1 July 2026.

• The government is launching a 12-week call for evidence asking the public to help shape the future of National Lottery Good Cause funding
• Since 1994, players of the National Lottery have generated over £53 billion for good causes across the UK, funding everything from Olympic and Paralympic champions and iconic institutions to local youth clubs and community halls
• For 12 weeks, anyone can take part in the ‘National Lottery Good Causes: Fund What Matters to You’ call for evidence. You can share your views at GOV.UK 

The government is launching a comprehensive review of National Lottery Good Cause funding, asking the public to have their say on where the money should go and how it should be spent – the first opportunity in more than twenty years. 

Since the very first draw in 1994, the National Lottery has generated over £53 billion for good causes, powering Team GB and ParalympicsGB to hundreds of Olympic and Paralympic medals, saving national treasures like the Flying Scotsman, funding iconic British films like Billy Elliot, helping create beloved institutions like the Lowry in Salford, and restoring heritage sites like Beamish Museum. 

Across the UK, it has supported youth clubs, funded community halls, backed local choirs and grassroots sports teams, maintained the parks and green spaces where neighbourhoods come together, and supported the small voluntary organisations that provide friendship, purpose, and belonging to people who might otherwise have none.

Nearly a quarter of every pound spent on a lottery ticket goes to causes like these, but its funding model is rooted in a different era. There has been no major review of how it works since former Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell’s in 2002-2003. 

With the National Lottery’s operator Allwyn committed to an ambition to double Good Cause funding to £60 million a week by the end of the Fourth Licence in 2034, the government believes now is the right moment for the public to have more of a say in where their contribution is spent, so every pound reaches the communities that need it most. A 12 week call for evidence launches today.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

The National Lottery is played by millions of people every single week. It is not just public money, it is literally the public’s money and they must be in the driving seat of how it is spent.

But for two decades no government has asked people how they want their money to be spent. Decisions are made hundreds of miles from communities who know best and favour larger organisations who can meet the needs of the system, rather than bending the system to work for the small, grassroots organisations who are the lifeblood of our communities.

This Government is determined that will change. With this consultation we are bringing people back into the conversation. They will write the next chapter in the story of the National Lottery and of our country.

Andria Vidler, Chief Executive of Allwyn UK, operator of The National Lottery, said: 

People don’t just play The National Lottery for the chance to win, they play knowing that it supports a vast number of charities and good causes up and down the country, funding the things that people really care about.

At Allwyn, we want everyone to know the difference that our players make to their communities every time they play. It’s about reigniting the conversation around The National Lottery with positivity, with energy, and with pride, reminding everyone that every ticket is a chance to do some good as well as a chance to win.

The review will explore where future investment can have the greatest impact and how funding can become more accessible to communities across the UK.

Lottery funded projects have been made possible because of the crucial work undertaken by the 12 National Lottery Distributor Bodies that deliver for their sectors across Arts, Heritage, Sport, and Communities, and the Government is committed to working closely with them throughout this review.

The latest figures from 2025 show that the National Lottery generated over £8 billion in total revenue from ticket sales, of which good cause funding equated to at least £1.7 billion. Therefore approximately 23p in each pound raised from National Lottery ticket sales goes to good causes and 12p goes on Lottery Duty for the exchequer. 

This amount is then distributed across four causes and to each national lottery distributor, based on the following percentages that are set out in legislation:

• 20% – Arts and Culture (ACE, BFI, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales, and Arts Council of Northern Ireland)
• 20% – Sport (UK Sport, Sport England, Sport Scotland, Sport Wales, Sport Northern Ireland)
• 20% – Heritage  (NLHF – UK wide) 
• 40% – Community: charitable activities, health, education and the environment. (TNLCF – UK wide) 

Once the distributors receive their statutory allocation of funding, they are responsible for distributing this across the UK, on both a national and local level. These distributors operate at arms length from the government. As operator of the National Lottery, Allwyn UK has no part in grant making and is independent from Government.

Baroness Twycross, Minister for Museums, Heritage and Gambling, said:

When people buy a National Lottery ticket, they are also contributing to good causes up and down the country. This call for evidence is a genuine chance to shape where the money this generosity raises goes and make sure it reflects what players and communities want and need. 

Visiting the De La Warr Pavilion in Hastings recently, I saw exactly what National Lottery funding can do for arts and culture and for the communities that depend on them. Places like this don’t just preserve our heritage; they bring people together. 

After 30 years, now is the right time to ask you how we make sure your community is funded properly from the National Lottery.

The 12-week call for evidence is open to players, organisations, and communities across the UK. The government wants to hear what is working, what could be improved, where future funding should go, and how to make it easier to access, including how to make sure the National Lottery genuinely reaches those communities most in need and gives local people a greater say in how funding is used where they live.

Notes to Editors:

• The Call for Evidence runs for 12 weeks from Wednesday 1 July and is open to members of the public, organisations, and National Lottery Distributors. 
• The National Lottery has 12 Distributor Bodies operating across arts, heritage, sport, and communities. 
• On average, 23p of every £1 spent on a National Lottery Ticket goes to National Lottery: Good Causes funding
• Allwyn the current lottery operator has committed to an ambition to double good cause income by the end of the Fourth Licence in 2034, from £30m to £60m a week
• To respond, visit GOV.UK. 
• The National Lottery (TNL) has raised:
• £38bn of funding for nearly 480,000 Good Cause projects in England.
• £4.3bn of funding for over 83,000 Good Cause projects in Scotland. 
• £2.6bn of funding for over 77,300 Good Cause projects in Wales.
• £1.6bn of funding for over 34,000 Good Cause projects in Northern Ireland (NI).

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 26 June 2026.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has appointed Tanya Cordrey, Mark Herbert, Ganan Kanagathurai, Hakan Kousetta, Ryan Prince and Jane Tranter and reappointed Monica Chadha, Elizabeth Karlsen, Edgar Wright and Laura Miele as Governors of the British Film Institute for terms of 4 years.

Tanya Cordrey, Mark Herbert, Ganan Kanagathurai, Hakan Kousetta and Jane Tranter’s terms will commence on 8 June 2026 to 7 June 2030. Ryan Prince’s term will commence on 6 July 2026 to 5 July 2030.

Tanya Cordrey 

Tanya Cordrey is a leading product and technology executive with over two decades of experience scaling some of the world’s best-known businesses. She is currently Chief Product Officer at Motorway, the UK’s largest online used-car marketplace, which is pioneering the development of AI products to transform how people buy and sell cars.

Previously, Tanya held senior roles at Instagram as VP of Product and at Guardian News & Media as Chief Digital Officer, where she sat on the executive committee and oversaw an award-winning product portfolio. She brings extensive board experience, having served as a Non-Executive Director at Clarks and Schibsted, and as an adviser to the Government Digital Service. 

Mark Herbert

After graduating from Sheffield Hallam University in 1994, Mark’s career break came in 1995 when he was hired as Assistant Location Manager on “Brassed Off”. This led to a number of freelance positions from Location Manager to Production Manager before his first Producer role on the hit show “Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights” in 2001. 

In 2002, Mark co-founded the Sheffield based production company WarpFilms. Mark has produced over 25 films, 17 TV series, and 8 short films, earning an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and five BAFTAs. His notable credits range from producing the acclaimed film This Is England to executive producing the global Netflix hit Adolescence alongside long-time collaborators Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham.

Ganan Kanagathurai

Ganan Kanagathurai is a senior executive, accountant and entrepreneur with a proven track record of scaling iconic brands across the UK’s hospitality and creative sectors. Ganan is the owner and Chairman of the acclaimed Roti King restaurant group and was previously the Chief Executive Officer of the UK food chain itsu.

Deeply committed to the UK’s cultural landscape, Ganan serves as Chairman of Rifco, the UK’s leading South Asian theatre production company and is also a trustee of Women in Sport. Ganan brings high-level corporate governance, entrepreneurial experience, and a passion for diverse storytelling.

Hakan Kousetta

Emmy Award winner Hakan Kousetta is, alongside Jamie Laurenson, the co-founder of 60FortyFilms, a London based television production company. 

Passionate about the UK’s television and film industry, Hakan has been a vocal advocate for the production community. He sat on PACT council for over five years (and was co-chair of the Film Policy Group for over two years) before being elected as Chair of PACT Council in 2021. That same year, Hakan, alongside John McVay, received a special innovation award by the Producers Guild of Great Britain for their extensive work with the Government on designing and implementing the COVID Film and TV Production Restart Scheme. Hakan is also a member of BAFTA, Producers Guild of America and has a legal background.

Ryan Prince

For the past 25 years, Ryan has founded and overseen complex operating businesses in the hospitality and housing sectors. He is Vice Chair of multinational investment company Realstar Group, a real estate and investment management company.

Almost a decade ago, Ryan also founded the UK’s leading residential owner and operator of rental apartments UNCLE which supports renters in major cities across the UK for a better, fairer rental experience. Ryan is also the past Chair of the UK Advisory Board and main board member of education and programming charity Facing History & Ourselves. The charity creates content and lesson plans for teachers in order to help students aged 14 to 18 tackle the hard questions of human behaviour throughout modern history.

Jane Tranter 

Jane Tranter CBE is a highly experienced television executive and producer, recognised for her significant contributions to the UK and global screen industries. In 2025, she was made a CBE for her services to television and is a recipient of the BAFTA Special Award.

Jane previously served as the BBC’s Controller of Drama and Controller of Fiction, overseeing major hits including Doctor Who, Spooks, and State of Play.

She later moved to Los Angeles, founding BBC Worldwide Productions and Adjacent Productions, before returning to the UK in 2015 to co-found the Cardiff-based production company Bad Wolf. Under her leadership, Bad Wolf has produced internationally acclaimed dramas such as the Night Of and Industry, while championing regional production growth in Wales. She was also an Executive Producer on the award-winning series Succession.

Governors that have been reappointed to the BFI Board:

Monica Chadha

Monica Chadha serves on the boards of, or as an adviser to, several privately held companies in the entertainment and technology sectors. Previously Monica was CEO of MyMovies.Net; Vice Chair of Queen Mary University of London; Founder and Co-Chair of the Deloitte Higher Education Cyber Security Group; Chair of the British Independent Film Awards Advisory Board; Non-Executive Director of Obviously Creative; Advisory Board member of the BAFTA Digital Communications Group, Marlow Film Studios, the CMI President’s Advisory Council; and member of the APPG for AI and Bias in AI Research Group at Durham University. 

In 2018 Monica was appointed an ambassador for Women on Boards. In 2019 she was voted one of the top 50 Women to Watch in the UK in the Female FTSE Board Report.

Elizabeth Karlsen

Elizabeth Karlsen is an internationally renowned, award-winning producer who co-founded Number 9 Films, one of the UK’s leading independent production companies, with partner Stephen Woolley in 2002. In February 2019, Elizabeth and Stephen jointly received the highly prestigious BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema. 

Elizabeth’s work with Stephen on films such as Living (2022), Carol (2015), Colette (2018), Little Voice (1998), Made in Dagenham (2010), Youth (2015), The Crying Game (1993) has garnered a total of 52 BAFTA nominations and wins and 20 Academy Award nominations and wins. 

Elizabeth has served on the board of The Edinburgh Film Festival, the NFTS Gala, the American Academy of Motion Pictures and Arts Events Committee, and was Chair of Women in Film and TV UK.

Edgar Wright 

Edgar Wright burst onto the scene with the groundbreaking British sitcom Spaced, instantly marking himself as a bold new creative voice. He followed with two back-to-back genre-defining hits: the“RomZomCom” Shaun of the Dead and the action-comedy Hot Fuzz, both made with longtime collaborators Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.

After completing The Cornetto Trilogy with The World’s End, Wright directed the BAFTA-winning, Oscar-nominated blockbuster Baby Driver, which earned over $220 million worldwide, three Academy Award nominations, and a BAFTA for Best Editing. He followed up in 2021 with the psychological thriller Last Night in Soho and the documentary The Sparks Brothers. Most recently, he co-wrote and directed Paramount’s Stephen King adaptation, The Running Man.

Beyond film and television, Wright has directed commercials for brands such as SquareSpace, Hotels.com, Nike, and McDonald’s, as well as music videos for artists including Pharrell Williams, Daft Punk, Beck, and Mint Royale.

Laura Miele

Laura Miele is a technology and media executive who recently celebrated 30 years at Electronic Arts.

Previously, she has held several senior leadership positions, including Chief Studios Officer, Executive Vice President of Global Publishing, and Senior Vice President of Global Marketing. In 2013, she was named General Manager of the Star Wars business, where she led EA’s partnership with Lucasfilm Ltd. and Disney.

Laura is widely recognised as a leading voice in the global interactive entertainment industry and is a sought-after speaker and media commentator. In 2024, she joined the Board of Directors of On Holding AG (On Running).

Remuneration and Governance Code

Governors of the British Film Institute are not remunerated.

These appointments have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. 

Tanya Cordrey, Mark Herbert, Ganan Kanagathurai, Hakan Kousetta, Ryan Prince, Jane Tranter, Monica Chadha, Elizabeth Karlen, Edgar Wright and Laura Miele have declared no such political activity.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 23 June 2026.

Media Green Paper published by Government today sets out plans to improve access to reliable news sources in online apps.

• Reform of the UK’s Public Service Media system to ensure it delivers for the public and give BBC, ITV, Channel 4, 5 and others more flexibility to attract audiences online
• Options for a managed transition to internet-based TV in either 2034 or 2044 with support to ensure no one is left behind
• On-demand rights for major sporting events to be added to the Listed Events Regime – protecting fans’ free access to the World Cup and Olympics

The Government has outlined plans to make it easier for people to discover trusted news sources on social media, as part of wider reforms to protect the long-term future of the UK’s media ecosystem, including our public service broadcasters.

There has been a shift in how people consume news, with figures from Ofcom showing that social media services remain the main way to access news for three-quarters of all young people aged 16-24. More than half of adults in the UK now include social media as one of the ways they get updates. While this allows access to a greater range of news from around the world, it increases the risk of mis- and disinformation, with the potential for less accurate material to replace trustworthy sources as content is increasingly shaped by algorithms and AI.

Today (23 June) the government has published a Green Paper, Watch this Space: A new strategic direction for UK media, to consult on options to require social media companies and video sharing platforms to make sure that news content from public service media (PSM), which includes the BBC, ITV, STV, Channel 4, S4C and 5, and other trustworthy providers, is prominent and easy to find on their platforms. It could include, for example, a range of national and local news publishers all being more likely to be at the top of people’s social media feeds when they search for news. This will be key for helping to tackle mis- and disinformation, particularly during times of social unrest or crisis.

The government is also looking at options to ensure PSM content – the beloved shows and valued services that the nation’s trusted and regulated broadcasters provide – is prominent, discoverable and promoted wherever audiences are watching TV, including on third-party platforms, such as video sharing sites. 

These measures are being considered as part of a wider package of reforms aimed at reforming the UK’s PSM system to give the sector more flexibility and allow public service broadcasters to lean into the opportunities of new technologies and better align with the ways audiences are viewing video content online. 

Changes are being considered to make the system more flexible – this could mean that other broadcasters and YouTube channels could be designated as PSM providers in the future.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

It is vital that we make sure that people have better access to trusted and accurate news and that our regulated public service media is seen and heard in the fierce battle against mis and disinformation.

As the media landscape moves further and further online away from traditional broadcasting we must act so that our world-leading TV sector continues to thrive and top quality UK content keeps being produced.

TV remains at the heart of our society. It is key to supporting social cohesion and is a cornerstone of our democracy, which is why, as the technology underpinning it changes, we are making sure it is protected for generations to come.

Alongside this, options for improving media literacy are also being considered to make sure that people of all ages have the skills they need to critically think about the content they are consuming online and on social media. The government is exploring the possibility of introducing a new duty on PSM providers to deliver and report on media literacy activity, allowing best practice to be shared more widely, with the aim of building on work already being done under the Media Literacy Action Plan.

Sports fans are also set to enjoy new protections that will prevent increasingly popular streaming and catch-up rights to some of the world’s biggest fixtures such as the World Cup, Olympics and Wimbledon being put behind a paywall. The Green Paper confirms that the government intends to add on-demand rights to the free-to-air Listed Events regime. Bringing on-demand rights in scope of the regime will make sure these sporting moments continue to be provided for free in the future by PSM on digital and online platforms – rather than just traditional TV channels.

Television remains one of few places where the nation comes together to share major milestones, such as royal occasions, sporting events, breaking news and series finales. It is essential for maintaining a sense of belonging and making sure that society is well-informed.

However, more people are now switching from traditional terrestrial broadcasting to watching TV over the internet, where they can view live and on-demand content across devices with greater choice, flexibility and accessibility. The government remains committed to the continuity of digital terrestrial television (DTT) until at least the end of 2034, but must now consider long-term models for the future of TV distribution in the UK to ensure the sector thrives for decades to come and continues to be sustainable as technology advances.

This Green Paper sets out the government’s commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind as services move online. Any transition will be supported by a package of measures developed with industry, including public service media providers, charities and platform operators to help the public. This will provide targeted support, practical assistance and clear information on what people need to do and when.

Major work is already underway to strengthen the UK’s digital infrastructure, including progress towards near-universal access to high-quality broadband by 2032. Enabling people to access TV over the internet could also support wider digital participation, from healthcare and financial management to communication and job applications.

The government is seeking views on two potential timelines for a managed transition to internet-based TV services: 2034 and 2044. While the government sees a strong case for a 2034 transition, it recognises the challenges involved and is consulting on both options to ensure the process is handled in a way that protects all audiences. Responses to the consultation will inform the final decision on the preferred timeline, which the government intends to set out later this year.

Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive at ITV, said:

UK viewers still love original British content from the PSBs and trust and value PSB News which helps to underpin our democracy. It’s the PSBs that also underpin the wider creative economy, commissioning original British content right across the UK. But the way people watch content has changed radically in recent years and brought challenges to sustaining these investments. We therefore welcome a Green Paper that will help enable PSBs to continue to effectively serve the UK public interest through trusted, high quality, easily accessible content delivered on the platforms and services that people use both now and in future.

Vicki Sellick, CEO at the Good Things Foundation, said:

Ensuring that no one is left behind as services move online is at the heart of our mission at Good Things Foundation. We welcome the government’s commitment to this goal today and its proposals to tackle the growing challenge of mis and dis-information online.

If TV distribution moves solely online then every home will need affordable, reliable internet access. Done well this is a once in a generation opportunity to connect the millions of households in the UK who are either not online or digitally confident, and give them the skills to navigate the digital world. With the right package of training and support from trusted local providers, millions could access healthcare, banking and essential public services alongside their favourite TV shows. 

Nobody must be left behind in any transition. We look forward to responding to the government’s consultation with tried and tested solutions from our 4,000+ partners around the UK on how to make this happen.

Azzurra Moores, Associate Director (Information Ecosystems), at Demos said:

At a time of democratic backsliding and deepening polarisation, the government is right to ensure the visibility and discoverability of public interest news online is a real policy priority.

Today, most people get their news on social media and video-sharing platforms, yet unlike on traditional linear TV, there are no rules and no transparency governing how platforms curate and rank the content that appears in their feeds. The result is a media environment where trust is eroding and misinformation is spreading unchecked.

Extending prominence requirements to social media platforms will be a critical step towards strengthening our information environment and building democratic resilience. We look forward to working with the government on a regime that supports trustworthy journalism, promotes informed public debate, and puts our democracy first.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 17 June 2026.

The Government has announced up to £1 million is to be awarded to The Jewish Museum London, supporting its vital outreach and engagement programmes with schools and communities, and accelerating its search for a new permanent home.

The announcement was made by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy during a visit to the launch of ‘Two Rooms’ a new interim space for the Jewish Museum London, while it searches for its permanent home. The space is located at JW3 in North London. The visit marked the opening of two new exhibitions celebrating the richness of the museum’s collections and the long history of Jewish families in Britain.

The Jewish Museum London closed its Camden site in 2023 and has since continued its work as a “museum without walls”, delivering exhibitions, learning programmes and community engagement activities across the capital. The funding will support the museum’s ongoing audience development and outreach work, while also helping it develop its plans for a new permanent home in the future.

The news comes as the UK’s first Jewish Cultural Month comes to a close. It also follows the Prime Minister’s recent announcement of a comprehensive package of measures to tackle antisemitism. As part of this work, Arts Council England is engaging proactively with Jewish colleagues, creatives and the wider sector, to inform the actions they will take to challenge antisemitism and anti-Jewish racism. The government is also working with the Arts Council on an independent audit to ensure their processes are robust and effective in addressing complaints about antisemitism.

Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy said:

Jewish culture, history and heritage are woven into the fabric of this country, and of our national story. The Jewish Museum London and the Manchester Jewish Museum do extraordinary work keeping these stories alive and opening them up to everyone, and they deserve our full support.

Today’s investment is about bringing communities together, helping us to understand one another and sending a clear message that in the face of hatred and division, we will always choose unity.

Nick Viner, Chair of Trustees of Jewish Museum London said:

I would like to thank the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy. The DCMS support will be invaluable in helping us over the next period as we become more outward facing, expanding our education outreach and increasing our collection loans across the country. It will also help us in our search for a new permanent home, enabling us to create a welcoming space where we can share our stories with the public and create new dialogues. We are very grateful for this strong expression of confidence in our future plans. 

We value the fact that Government realises the importance of the Jewish Museum’s programme at this time of mounting antisemitism and shares our belief that the British Jewish community is an integral part of the story of immigration and cultural identity in Britain, not a world apart.

The Jewish Museum London plays a critical role in preserving and sharing Jewish history, heritage and culture with people from all backgrounds. Home to a nationally significant collection, it cares for objects and stories that help deepen understanding of Jewish life in Britain over centuries. This investment will help protect that collection for future generations, while enabling more people across the UK to engage with and benefit from it.

The funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will be distributed through Arts Council England.

In addition, the government intends to provide Manchester Jewish Museum with a £100,000 investment to support the museum’s vital community work. This funding aims to ease the burden of increased security costs, helping to protect the vibrant events, exhibitions and community activities that make it such a vital part of the city’s cultural life.

The investment will also fund a new schools outreach pilot that brings children from different backgrounds together to explore Jewish heritage, history and culture. DCMS is developing this as a cultural extension to the Department for Education’s Protecting What Matters commitment to fund community-led school linking projects. The aim is to create safe, welcoming spaces where young people can meet, learn together and build connections that last.

Beyond this immediate support, the Government is working with communities and stakeholders to ensure that our Jewish cultural institutions have the long-term support they need to remain secure and sustainable. Jewish cultural institutions play an irreplaceable role in our shared national story, and we want to make sure they can continue to thrive by keeping them open, accessible and enriching for everyone.