Tag: Department for Culture and Media

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 24 May 2024.

The Secretary of State has appointed Vicky Browning, Anna Collins, Liam Evans-Ford, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Saratha Rajeswaran and Michele Taylor as trustees of the Theatres Trust.

Vicky Browning

Appointed for a 3 year term commencing 01 April 2024.  .

Vicky’s career spans both the commercial and charity sectors. Having spent nearly 15 years leading charities, she is currently enjoying a series of roles as an interim chief executive, most recently for national advocacy charity POhWER and cross-sector collaboration body WIG (the Whitehall & Industry Group).

Previously, she led ACEVO, the network of civil society leaders for over five years, joining from CharityComms, the membership network for communications professionals in UK charities, where she was director for seven years.

A former magazine journalist, editor and publisher, Vicky worked at Haymarket Publishing, the UK’s largest privately owned publishing company for 16 years during the nineties and noughties, including a stint launching a new title in New York. She then enjoyed six years as an independent publishing consultant, offering management consultancy, product development and marketing services to a range of clients, before moving to the charity sector.

Anna Collins

Appointed for a 3 year term commencing 29 April 2024.

Anna Collins spent her early career in Scotland managing front of house operations for ATG and Glasgow Life across their portfolio of cultural venues. Anna became freelance in 2012 when she managed a London 2012 Olympic venue, followed by leading the development and operation of a new build competition venue for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth games.

For the last ten years she has been providing strategic leadership for clients undertaking significant new build and refurbishment projects within the Arts. Previous clients include, The Guardian News and Media Group, The National Theatre, Cambridge Arts Theatre, Northamptonshire Council and The Factory International. More recently Anna acted as Project Director for the RIBA-award winning Mountview Academy of Performing Arts’ new home in Peckham, and for the last two years has been leading the Dunard Centre project, the UKs first Nagata / Chipperfield designed concert hall which will become a flagship venue for the Edinburgh International Festival.

Anna also sits on the committee of Edinburgh’s Royal High School project to develop Thomas Hamilton’s grade A listed building into a new performance space. Anna has a keen interest in architecture and is the co-founder of an award winning, sustainable accredited architecture practice alongside her husband.

Liam Evans-Ford

Appointed for a 3 year term commencing 01 April 2024.

Liam is Executive Director and CEO at Theatr Clwyd, taking up the post in 2016. Theatr Clwyd is the biggest producing theatre in Wales and the third biggest client of the Arts Council of Wales. During his time the organisation has increased its annual turnover from £5m to £7.2m, won UK Theatre, Olivier, and Stage awards for their work, and progressed an ambitious and essential £40m+ Capital redevelopment of the 1970’s building in Flintshire. The theatre has also been recognised for leading the way on social impact and has major partnerships and social prescription models in place with the NHS, Social Services and numerous housing associations, runs William Aston Hall, a 1000 seat concert venue in Wrexham, as well as Theatr Clwyd Music Trust which delivers music lessons to over 70 schools and 3000 young people each week.

Before joining Clwyd Liam was Associate Producer and Capital Development Associate at York Theatre Royal; General Manager and Producer at Sheffield Crucible Theatres.

Liam is Chair of Creu Cymru, the development agency for theatres, arts centres and theatre producers in Wales; sits on the Business Advisory Board for the North Wales Growth Deal, the Strategic Advisory Group for the North East Wales Investment Zone, and the Advisory Group for the UK wide Access Scheme, All In.

Tracy-Ann Oberman

Appointed for a 3 year term commencing 01 April 2024.

Tracy Ann Oberman is an actress , writer and theatre creator. She studied drama at Manchester University and is an alumni of Central School of Speech and Drama. Tracy Ann has had an extensive career both on stage and screen. She has been a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre and has worked extensively across the country’s regional theatres  and in the West End. Tracy Ann recently made British UK theatre history playing the first female, Shylock in  the hugely successful Merchant Of Venice 1936 which toured the country and transferred into the Criterion Theatre Piccadilly. She is passionate about theatre creativity and making the theatre experience exciting, enjoyable and accessible for all.

Saratha Rajeswaran

Appointed for a 3 year term commencing 01 April 2024.

Sara is Chief of Staff to the Group CEO at Aviva plc, a leading Insurance, Wealth and Retirement business in the UK, Ireland and Canada. Sara has almost twenty years’ experience in executive advice, corporate affairs and political consultancy. Previous roles include Director of External Affairs at the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, Associate Director and Edelman and Chief of Staff to the CEO and Strategy Adviser to the Chairman of Network Rail. Sara has also worked for the UK Government as Special Adviser to two consecutive Environment Secretaries.

Sara co-authored A Portrait of Modern Britain with Rishi Sunak at Policy Exchange in 2014 and was a researcher to Professor Alison Wolf for her book The XX Factor: How Working Women Are Creating a New Society. Sara is also a Trustee of the National Centre for Social Research.

Sara studied Modern History and Politics at The Queen’s College, Oxford, then went on to train in classical voice at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, performing across the UK at many of the country’s great regional theatres.

Michele Taylor

Appointed for a 3 year term commencing 01 April 2024.

Michèle Taylor is Director for Change at Ramps on the Moon, having run her own business as a Disability Equality strategist and trainer since 1992. She has been a key part of the Ramps on the Moon endeavour since its inception, supporting arts organisations to enrich the stories they tell and the ways they tell them by elevating the place of disabled people in the mainstream performing arts.

Michèle has been working with cultural and heritage organisations over more than 30 years to embed systemic and structural change to ensure that their practices, policies and premises are open to disabled people. She has been the access consultant on a number of award-winning buildings, and she contributed to the second edition of Theatre Buildings, A Design Guide (ed. Margaret Shewring, 2024)

She is an accredited coach, registered psychotherapist, and has an MA in fine art photography.

In January 2022 her work was recognised when she was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List for services to disabled people and theatre.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Trustees of the Theatres Trust are not remunerated. This appointment has 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. Vicky Browning, Anna Collins, Liam Evans-Ford, Tracy-Ann Oberman and Michele Taylor have declared no significant political activity. Saratha Rajeswaran was a Special Adviser at DEFRA from 2019-2021.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 24 May 2024.

The Secretary of State has appointed Dame Mary Archer as Chair of The Royal Parks Board from 24 July 2024 until 23 July 2028.

Dame Mary Archer

Appointed for a 4 year term commencing 24 July 2024.

Dame Mary Archer is Chancellor of the University of Buckingham and a scientist by background. Her research interests lay in non-thermal methods of solar energy conversion to power and fuels, and she was the founder chair of the National Energy Foundation. She is a Companion of the Energy Institute and was awarded the Institute’s Melchett Medal in 2002 and the Eva Philbin award of the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland in 2007.  She recently joined the Board of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero as a non-executive director.

Dame Mary chaired the Board of Trustees of the Science Museum Group from 2015–2023.  She has had a long association with the NHS, sitting on the board of Cambridge University Hospitals from 1993 and chairing it from 2002 to 2012.  In 2012, she was appointed DBE for services to the NHS.

Among other commitments, Dame Mary is a Liveryman of the Salters’ Company and the incoming chair of the Salters’ Institute of Industrial Chemistry. She holds honorary DSc degrees from the University of Hertfordshire, Imperial College London and the University of Bradford.

Remuneration and Governance Code

The Chair of The Royal Parks Board is not remunerated. This appointment has 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. Dame Mary Archer has not declared any significant political activity. This appointment is subject to confirmation by the new administration as set out in the cabinet office pre-election guidance.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 21 May 2024.

Government appoints the National Youth Agency as the new body to run the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) for 2024/25.

• Young people will continue to have a say as the future of the UK Youth Parliament is secured
• National Youth Agency to take over UK Youth Parliament grant following closure of British Youth Council
• Funded by the Government, the UKYP will support hundreds of young people to represent the views of their peers

Young people across the UK will continue to have their say on the issues that matter most to them, following the announcement that the Government has appointed the National Youth Agency (NYA) as the new body to run the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) for 2024/25.

Established 25 years ago, the UKYP is made up of more than 300 young people aged between 11 and 18 years, elected as Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) to represent the views of their peers. Young people vote for their MYPs in elections every two years, which are held in over 70% of constituencies, and often in schools.

It has given thousands of young people opportunities to bring about social change through meaningful representation and campaigning on vital issues, ranging from climate change to mental health. Members meet regularly, including through an annual debate in the House of Commons.

Elected members also lobby the UK Parliament to take action on the subjects that matter most to those they represent. In 2023, the UKYP launched its campaign for Universal Free School Meals. The campaign was then used as the basis for the UKYP House of Commons sitting in 2023, where young people debated five key topics under the topic of Free School Meals.

Since 2011, the Government has funded the British Youth Council to deliver the UKYP programme. Following its closure in March 2024, the Government has worked rapidly to secure the future of UKYP, ensuring young people can continue to participate in the programme.

Minister for Civil Society and Youth, Stuart Andrew, said:

The Youth Parliament is a vitally important way for young people to become politically engaged and have their say on the issues that matter to them. It has also proven to have a positive impact in developing their confidence and leadership skills.

By securing the future of the Youth Parliament for the coming year, we are underlining how the Government is absolutely committed to creating opportunities for young people’s voices to be heard as voters and politicians of the future.

The NYA is a charity that works in partnership with organisations to support and improve services for young people, with a particular focus on youth work. They offer guidance, support, advice and staff development opportunities for youth workers and youth work organisations.

The NYA will work with existing delivery partners, the regional youth work units in England, the Scottish Youth Parliament, Children in Wales, and consultants in Northern Ireland, to run the UKYP for 2024/25.

Leigh Middleton, Chief Executive of the National Youth Agency said:

Ensuring that young people have a voice on the issues that matter to them and being able to influence decision makers is a fundamental principle of youth work. We have moved swiftly to ensure that the necessary platforms are in place so that the Members of the UK Youth Parliament (MYPS) can meet throughout the year, alongside the support provided by local authorities and regional youth work units.

Through the Make Your Mark survey and other activities undertaken regionally, the MYPs will continue to make a valuable contribution towards political debate on youth matters, whilst developing their skills and confidence in the process.

Ellie Bealing MYP, Member of Youth Parliament for Somerset 2022 – Present said:

The National Youth Agency’s appointment secures youth voice across the UK, at a time in which its need is great. As MYPs, our work can continue with the knowledge of national recognition and the opportunity to unite as committed young people. Youth Parliament has proven that it is vital to allow our generation to speak of the issues that motivate us, empowering others and gaining the attention of changemakers.

Haydn Cutler MYP, Member of Youth Parliament for Kent 2022 – Present said:

It is great to hear that the important work of UKYP will continue, with our organisation essential in the continuance of youth voice within UK politics, and I know the NYA will continue to enable this. From the discussions I’ve had, it is clear today’s announcement will bring relief to many fellow MYPs, and I would like to give my thanks to all who worked tirelessly for this outcome.

Jamie Burrell, UK Youth Parliament Steering Group said:

Since BYC announced their closure, the Steering Group, the programme’s young leaders, have been working to ensure that Members of Youth Parliament will be able to take up their roles and make a difference in their communities and beyond. I’m delighted that the National Youth Agency will deliver that this year and I’m committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure a sustainable long-term future for the UK Youth Parliament.

Funding for the UK Youth Parliament programme builds on the Government’s commitment to providing every young person with the opportunity to have the best start in life and to maximise their potential.

In 2022, the Government announced its ‘National Youth Guarantee’, that every young person aged 11 to 18 years old in England will have access to regular clubs and activities, adventures away from home, and volunteering opportunities by 2025, backed by an investment of more than £500 million.

As part of this, the Government has allocated £12 million to the #iwill Fund, which enables more young people to take part in social action via activities such as volunteering and fundraising. Funding has created over 60,000 opportunities for young people to get involved.

Notes to editors:

• The Government will announce further details on future suppliers in due course.

About the National Youth Agency

The National Youth Agency (NYA) is passionate about the right of every young person to be able to access the personal, social, and educational development opportunities provided by youth work.

As the professional, statutory and regulatory body for youth work and youth services in England, it sets the occupational standards for youth work and offers accreditation for professional development, as well as access to training and CPD through its online Academy. Its Youth Work Practice Standards and Safeguarding Standards provide those delivering or commissioning youth work with a framework for youth work to ensure it is responsive to need, is being delivered by suitably qualified staff and is safe. Its National Curriculum for Youth Work sets out the educational framework for youth work.

The NYA has extensive experience of managing large complex projects and partnerships including bursary funding for youth work qualifications on behalf of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the successful NatWest Thrive programme. Its annual National Youth Sector Census aims to create an accurate baseline of youth sector provision to help inform policy making, commissioning and funding for youth work.

For further information contact Kate Dawson, Head of Communications on kated@nya.org.uk or visit https://www.nya.org.uk

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 8 May 2024.

The Secretary of State has reappointed Sue Wilkinson as Commissioner of Historic England for a second term.

Sue Wilkinson

Appointed for a second term of three years and 3 months from 1 June 2024 until 31 August 2027.

Sue is a trustee of English Heritage and deputy chair of the Churches Conservation Trust. She is also vice chair of the Medical Research Foundation.

Sue was an executive board director at the National Trust until the end of 2016 and the lead director on tourism. During her time there she led much of the charity’s income generation and oversaw membership growth to nearly five million members.

She was previously a board director of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, a trustee of the Canal & River Trust and chair of the Living Waterways Awards. Prior to this she was a trustee at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, and served on the Visit England Board and as a trustee of the Institute of Fundraising.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Commissioners of Historic England are remunerated at a rate of £4,133 per annum. Sue’s first term was initially extended by 9 months; she has subsequently been reappointed for a second term of 3 years and 3 months.

This appointment has 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. Sue Wilkinson has not declared any significant political activity.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 17 April 2024.

More than £3 million of government funding has been awarded to emerging video game developers and start-up studios to help them scale their businesses and create the next British gaming hits.

• 22 rising star video game studios receive awards from UK Games Fund
• £3 million worth of grants to help companies get games in development ready for market
• Funding awarded as part of government plans to grow creative industries by £50bn by 2030

Grants of up to £150,000 from the UK Games Fund (UKGF) will help 22 high-potential games companies hire more staff, secure publishing deals and unlock more private investment.

The funding has been awarded to companies across the UK including GLITCHERS, a Bafta-nominated studio that has used video games to teach children about money and help scientists fight dementia. Their grant will help them develop The Last Eden – a first-person game set in the rainforests of the Congo Basin where players can track wildlife guided by real-world experts.

Meanwhile Triangular Pixels, another Bafta-nominated studio known for their innovative virtual reality technology, will use their Content Fund grant to develop Unseen Diplomacy 2 – a VR spy game where players can turn their living rooms into real-life assault courses.

As part of the Creative Industries Sector Vision launched last year, the government invested an extra £5 million in the UKGF to establish a new Content Fund – focused on getting UK games in development ready for market – taking total government investment in the UKGF between 2022 and 2025 to £13.4 million.

In 2023 the UK video game consumer market was worth £7.8 billion*, more than doubling its value since 2013. Some of the world’s best-selling video games have been made in the UK, including Tomb Raider, the Grand Theft Auto series, Little Big Planet and Lego: Star Wars.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer attended the London Games Festival’s Game Changer event at Carlton House Terrace in Central London today (Wednesday 17th) where she met with Content Fund winners. She saw first-hand the games that their grants will help them to develop and heard how the money will support them to expand their businesses.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

Video games are a vital part of this government’s plans to grow the creative industries by £50 billion by 2030. That’s why we are supporting talented new developers to maximise their potential and turn their ideas into the next best-selling, Bafta-winning titles.

This funding will help them to secure investment and resources to scale up their businesses and create new jobs. Congratulations to all the recipients.

The Content Fund provides UK games studios with grants of £50,000 to £150,000 to support the development of intellectual property, allowing them to attract more investment. Investing in video games at this crucial development stage will help UK studios grow their businesses and create more jobs, and in turn grow the economy, which is one of the Government’s five key priorities.

Maxwell Scott-Slade, Director of Games, GLITCHERS:

Earning recognition from the UK Games Fund for The Last Eden is a tremendous honour. This award empowers us to expand beyond dementia awareness (with projects like Sea Hero Quest) and delve into the captivating world of biodiversity. The Content Fund’s support allows us to make three crucial hires, which will significantly strengthen our position when negotiating with key partners.

Katie Goode, Creative Director, Triangular Pixels:

We’re immensely grateful for the incredible support that has allowed Unseen Diplomacy 2 to become a reality. As a British studio, it’s particularly exciting to see the continued investment in our homegrown games industry. This funding fuels our passion to bring this innovative VR spy experience to life, and we can’t wait to share more updates as development progresses.

Paul Durrant OBE, CEO and Founder, UK Games Talent and Finance CIC, said:

This growth-focussed funding has given us the opportunity to support companies further on in the journey than we’ve done before. Our focus on larger-scale grants, linked to unlocking additional leverage, adds a significant layer to the UK’s early-stage games development ecosystem. The grants will accelerate these studios towards success more rapidly than otherwise possible.

Since 2015 the UKGF has invested over £12 million to help more than 450 developers and studios create their own video games. Previously funded companies include Coatsink, Futurlab and Roll7, whose title Rollerdrome won the Bafta for Best British Game last year.

Alongside the Content Fund, UKGF continues to award grants of up to £30,000 to upcoming video game developers and early-stage studios to help them turn their drawing board ideas into working prototype games and showcase these to investors. UKGF also supports graduate talent development through its DunDev and Tranzfuser programmes.

UK video games companies can still apply for grants from the remaining portion of the £5 million Content Fund.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• *This figure has not been adjusted for inflation.
• Read more about the 22 studios that have been awarded funding.
• The UK Games Fund is run by non-profit UK Games Talent and Finance Community Interest Company (UKGTF). UKGF launched in 2015 and is based in Dundee.
• The UKGF Content Fund is just one of the ways the UK Government is supporting small-to-medium sized businesses. Find out more about other sources of support through the Government’s Help to Grow campaign.

The 22 video game studios that have been awarded grants are:

• Blazing Griffin (Glasgow)
• Bonsai Collective (remote)
• Companion Group (London)
• Fumb Games (London and Surrey)
• GLITCHERS (Edinburgh)
• Hyper Luminal Games (Dundee)
• Lucky Mountain Games (London)
• Newfangled Games (Norfolk)
• Nomad Games (Warrington)
• Nyamyam (South East England)
• Psytec Games (London)
• ReadGraves (East of England)
• Silent Games (Newcastle)
• Singer Studios (London)
• Size Five Games (Dorset)
• Soul Assembly (Leamington Spa)
• Spilt Milk Studios (remote)
• Terra Tek Studios (London)
• Tiny Rebel Games (Newport, Wales)
• Triangular Pixels (Cornwall)
• Warp Digital Entertainment (London)
• Variable State (London)

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 15 April 2024.

The Secretary of State has reappointed Claudia Arney as the DCMS Lead Non-Executive Board Member for a term of three years.

Claudia Arney

Appointed for a three year term commencing 15 April 2024.

Claudia has been Chair of Deliveroo plc since 2020. Her other current appointments include: Remuneration Committee Chair at Derwent London plc; Remuneration Committee Chair at Kingfisher; and Member of the The Takeover Panel.

Her previous non-executive roles include Halfords, Telecity Group, Ocado, Aviva, The Shareholder Executive, Transport for London, and the Premier League.  In her executive career Claudia worked at McKinsey, the Financial Times, Goldman Sachs and HM Treasury.

Remuneration and Governance Code

The DCMS Lead Non-Executive Board Member receives £20,000 per annum. This appointment has 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. Claudia has not declared any significant political activity.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 12 April 2024.

The Prime Minister has appointed Anna Eavis and Roisha Hughes as Trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Anna Eavis

Appointed for a three year term commencing 16 February 2024.

Anna is Chief Executive of Oxford Preservation Trust, an independent local charity dedicated to the conservation and sustainable enhancement of Oxford’s historic buildings and green spaces and to the public appreciation and enjoyment of the city’s history.

She previously worked at the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England and English Heritage. From 2012-2023 she was English Heritage’s Curatorial Director, with responsibility for the stewardship and presentation of over 400 historic sites, their collections and landscapes. She led English Heritage’s learning, youth engagement and creative programmes and managed the London Blue Plaques scheme.

Anna is a trustee of the Leeds Castle Foundation and of the Corpus Vitrearum, a British Academy-funded project dedicated to the research and publication of historic stained glass in Britain. She is a member of the fabric advisory committees at Canterbury and Salisbury cathedrals. She was formerly a trustee of the Stained Glass Museum.

Roisha Hughes

Appointed for a three year term commencing 16 February 2024.

Roisha Hughes has twenty years’ experience of working at the heart of public services in London and in national Government. She now runs her own consultancy.

Roisha was born in Belfast and grew up in South London before studying modern and mediaeval languages at the University of Cambridge.

She began her civil service career in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, working on the Government’s bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

She then ran the Mayor of London’s office for eight years from 2008, as the city navigated economic downturn, upgraded and developed new transport systems, and hosted the Olympic Games in 2012.

In 2016 Roisha joined the Metropolitan Police as Director of Strategy and Governance, a role which ranged from improving how the Met used data to bringing in Baroness Casey to review the Met’s culture and standards.

Roisha lives in South London with her family.

Remuneration and Governance Code

As Chair of the National Heritage Memorial Fund Panel, Anna Eavis will be remunerated at a rate of £10,500 per annum. As Lead Trustee on Grant in Aid/ Non Lottery Funding, Roisha is remunerated at a rate of £10,500 per annum. This appointment has 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. Both Anna and Roisha have declared no significant political activity.

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 7 March 2024.

Lord Parkinson has delivered a speech to members of the heritage sector at the annual Heritage Day hosted by The Heritage Alliance.

Thank you for having me along to Heritage Day again – it’s a great pleasure to be back with you.

Lizzie, Ingrid, and the whole team at the Heritage Alliance do us all a great service by bringing people together to share ideas and insights, champion our heritage heroes, and speak with a collective voice about what the sector needs to keep flourishing – reflecting the power of collaboration, as you have put it so well for your theme for this year.

It’s a power you are harnessing for the sake of the millions of people who benefit from our heritage today, and for the sake of future generations.

Heritage Day is a great opportunity to look back on the progress we’ve been able to make together over the past year, and to talk about some of the things we want to see next – perhaps all the more important in an election year.

The past twelve months have provided some sad but powerful reminders of how much heritage means to us all – through the senseless loss (I would use a stronger term, but I’m mindful that criminal investigations are ongoing …) of the Crooked House pub
in August, and the beloved tree in the Sycamore Gap of Hadrian’s Wall the following month.

Both of these cases sparked immediate and visceral reactions, not just from people who lived nearby, but from around the world  I think i’m right in saying the videos the National Trust put out about it were their most viewed ever. – a potent sign of the importance of our built and natural heritage.

Heart-wrenching though both these cases were, they offered an important reminder of how much that shared heritage means to us all – and why it’s worth fighting for.

When I stood before you last year at the Charterhouse, I set out some of the things I was keen to work on with you – so it’s gratifying to look back and see how much we’ve been able to do together.

When we met last, the Levelling Up & Regeneration Bill had just arrived in the Lords – it’s now an Act of Parliament, putting protection for more of our heritage assets, including Scheduled Monuments and World Heritage Sites, on a statutory footing – and benefiting from some valuable improvements thanks to lobbying and engagement by people in this room.

A quarter of a century since it arrived on the statute book, we’ve also updated the Treasure Act – widening the definition so that more of the extraordinary artefacts being discovered can be saved and shared with the public.

And we announced the ratification of the 2003 UNESCO Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage – after twenty years of campaigning by many here today.

We’ve also published guidance for custodians of contested heritage assets – a tricky issue, but one which benefited from the careful deliberations of our Heritage Advisory Board, and which I’m pleased to say was received with similar thoughtfulness.

I’ve had the great  honour of opening the National Trust’s Heritage and Rural Skills Centre in Oxfordshire, and English Heritage’s ‘reawakened’ Belsay Hall in Northumberland.

I also had the pleasure of joining a meeting of the National Amenity Societies, and helping to launch the Heritage and Carbon report alongside Historic England, the National Trust, Grosvenor, Peabody, and the Crown Estate – a powerful example of collaboration there!

We’ve done all that while designating over 170 listed buildings and Scheduled Monuments, helping the National Portrait Gallery to save Sir Joshua Reynolds’s Portrait of Mai for the nation, thanks to the largest ever donation from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, and support from across the sector, reuniting the three Thornborough Henges in the National Heritage Collection and publishing the Tentative List for new World Heritage Sites.

This time last year, I announced my intention to expand the official Blue Plaques scheme across the country. Today, I’m proud to stand here and say we’ve done it.

In September, we changed the law to enable the scheme which has been so brilliantly run i by English Heritage for many years to be expanded across the country.

Thanks to some great work by Historic England (and responding to the demands of an impatient Minister!), we had the great pleasure two weeks ago of unveiling the first national Blue Plaque in Ilkley, to Daphne Steele, the first black matron in our National Health Service. Joining her son Robert in West Yorkshire to celebrate her life and legacy was one of the true highlights of my time in Government.

We’ve already announced the next two plaques – honouring Clarice Cliff, one of the most influential ceramists of the 20th century, and George Harrison, the music icon and humanitarian. I’m looking forward to those being unveiled – and to seeing which other figures from all over the country will join them in the future once public nominations open in the summer.

The new, national scheme will help us to tell the stories of a wider range of people – showing how people from towns, villages, and cities across this country went on to change the world, and I hope inspiring new generations to know that they can do the same.

So thank you to everyone who worked together to make that happen so quickly.

Last month, I was also delighted to join Historic England to mark the protection – through Grade II designation – of a number of historic gas lamps in Covent Garden.

London’s gas lamps have been an integral part of the city’s identity for more than two centuries. From the novels of Charles Dickens and John Buchan to the adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Mary Poppins and The Muppet Christmas Carol, they’ve provided an evocative backdrop to many of our capital’s most cherished events and imaginings.

When they were threatened, the London Gasketeers sprang into being to protect them. Thanks to their dedication, and the expert advice of Historic England, Westminster City Council has committed to preserve any gas lamps which are given listed status – a number which I’m delighted to say has already risen by a dozen, with many more under consideration.

This will ensure that their inimitable glow can continue to brighten the lives of Londoners — and the millions of visitors the city welcomes — for generations to come.

As we look to the future of the listing process, we should be asking ourselves whether we are missing important parts of our heritage, such as late Victorian and Edwardian buildings; whether there are ways to ensure that listings cover every part of the country, and can better recognise craftsmanship and quality in the buildings we consider. I am interested in the role that the Principles of Selection for Listed Buildings – last updated six years ago – has to play in this.

Harnessing the power of collaboration, I will work closely with Historic England and others – such as the amenity societies and the Historic Environment Forum – to look at this alongside other possible interventions.

Last week, I had the pleasure of chairing the latest meeting of the Heritage Council – a brilliant way of facilitating collaboration across Government, as well as between us and the sector. We talked about the preparations for next year’s Railway 200 celebrations – the bicentenary of the first passenger rail journey – as well discussing some of the challenges and opportunities facing heritage rail, following up on many of the points which were raised when I attended the Heritage Railway Association’s annual conference in Newcastle, that cradle of the railways, in November.

We also talked about a topic raised at last year’s Heritage Day – underwater and marine heritage.

I was pleased to be joined by Ministerial colleagues from the Ministry of Defence, the Department for Transport, DEFRA, and the Foreign Office as well as colleagues from the sector to explore these two areas of mobile heritage.

I am following our discussions up by looking at the Memorandum of Understanding we’ve had for the past ten years between my Department and the MoD – and, in the longer term, continuing to pursue the ratification of the 2001 UNESCO Convention on Underwater Archaeology, which I see is included in your refreshed Heritage Manifesto.

But one UNESCO Convention I’m delighted to say we are ratifying very soon – I go to Paris next month to deposit the signed papers – is the 2003 Convention on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The French have a better name for this: they call it ‘le patrimoine vivant’ – ‘living heritage’. I think that captures well the traditions and practices we pass on from generation to generation; things which have shaped us, and which we shape in turn.

Of course, our tangible and intangible heritage are not separate – they are linked through the spaces, stories, products, and indeed the vital crafts and skills that maintain our built heritage.

We will launch a call for applications for an inventory of intangible cultural heritage in the UK this summer, which I want to ensure represents the full range of our living heritage.

Thank you to the many people here who have been engaging with the team at DCMS as we consult on implementing the Convention. We have had a fantastic response, so please stay involved and help us to keep shaping it.

Yesterday, of course, was Budget Day, which saw some great news for our sector.

Through the third round of the Levelling Up Fund we are investing in our great cultural heritage across the country, including £15 million for the National Railway Museum in York and County Durham, and £10 million to the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool’s Grade I-listed Royal Albert Dock.

We also pledged £10 million to safeguard the extraordinary Temple Works building in Leeds – a Grade I-listed flaxmill with Egyptian Revival architecture and a frankly bonkers roof which used to be covered in grass and had a herd of sheep to help mow it. This investment (alongside the £1 million already provided by Historic England) will help to bring the site into public ownership and explore its potential to become the new northern home of the British Library.

We also provided more than £26 million for the Grade II* listed National Theatre – just a stone’s throw from here, and one of the finest examples of Brutalist architecture in the country.

The Chancellor announced £1 million for a war memorial honouring Muslim soldiers who fought for our Armed Forces in both world wars and £10 million for culture and heritage projects in the West Midlands and £6 million for community regeneration projects across the country with the King’s Foundation.

There was also support for the creative industries which heritage is such an important part of. I was downstairs in the crypt trying on the virtual reality headsets seeing how we transform our business services at heritage sites. Of course these places and heritage are an inspiration for many of our creative stories.

And I’m delighted to say that Gift Aid legislation will be amended to ensure that charities can still claim Gift Aid while complying with new protections for consumers under the Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumers Bill – something I know that has been a concern for many organisations here today, and which our colleague Lord Mendoza has been taking up in the debates on that Bill.

But of course, there are always more areas which need our support. I couldn’t stand in this glorious, Grade II*-listed church – built with a grant from Parliament – without, first, thanking Canon Giles for hosting us, but also recognising that much of our ecclesiastical heritage is at risk, imperilling not just the buildings but also the communities and congregations they serve.

Since 2010, the Government has returned £346 million to churches, synagogues, mosques and temples through the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.

Thousands of buildings have benefited – including, I’m glad to say, this one, which has received £1 million since 2015 for several works, including the installation of a new lift and the creation of a narthex café and welcome area.

But still many more could benefit from this scheme. That’s why, just before Christmas, I wrote to all MPs to highlight its positive impact in their constituencies, and to encourage more places of worship to take advantage of it.

But, as someone in a meeting I had recently put it, this scheme is about getting the tax back on works churches and others do; what they also need is help to fund that work in the first place. I recognise that, and am pleased to be working with the Church of England, the Churches Conservation Trust, the National Churches Trust, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, and others to see how we can provide that broader support for these cherished buildings and all the good things that they do.

Our work continues, but is stronger for being done together.

Another part of our heritage which is much cherished, but which also needs support, is our seaside heritage – something I’ve seen on my visits to coastal communities including Brighton, Eastbourne, Margate, Scarborough, Torquay, and my native North Tyneside.

Some of you have heard me extol the virtues of the Spanish City in Whitley Bay before – the Grade II-listed, neo-Baroque pleasure garden facing out across the North Sea in my hometown.

It is far from alone. Around our coastline, winter gardens, esplanades, harbours and piers remain at risk, whether from neglect, from salty water, or from the long overdue need to adapt to changing times.

That’s why I’m delighted to announce that we will soon be launching a dedicated fund to support enhancements to our seaside heritage, drawing on the successes of recent programmes like the High Streets Heritage Action Zones, to help protect and rejuvenate coastal assets which are in need of love and attention. As always, we’re keen to do that in collaboration with the brilliant people and organisations in the sector – so please watch out for more details, and help us make a difference to coastal communities across the country.

So, a busy year gone, and a busy year ahead – but none of the things I’ve mentioned would be possible without the support and hard work of the people and organisations represented here today.

Thank you for a year of powerful collaboration in support of our nation’s heritage – and here’s to many more!

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 29 February 2024.

TV personalities and social media influencers back the launch of a Government campaign to address the stigma around loneliness in young people.

• Loneliness Minister Stuart Andrew hosts meeting at 10 Downing Street to discuss loneliness among young people
• Former Made in Chelsea star Josh Patterson and influencer and entrepreneur Brontë King among the high profile media personalities to support
• Stars back launch of Government campaign to address the stigma around loneliness

Eastenders star Bobby Brazier and Love Island finalist Tasha Ghouri are among the TV personalities and social media influencers working to normalise loneliness among young people as part of a new Government campaign.

Research shows that 16 to 24 year olds are the loneliest age group and are also the least likely to take action to help themselves. Figures show that nearly half of students admit they have hidden their feelings of loneliness for fear of being judged.

In response, the Government is launching the next phase of its digital-led campaign to address the stigma around loneliness with young people.

For six weeks, video content will run across social media platforms including YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, showing people experiencing loneliness in everyday situations such as moving away from home and scrolling on social media.

Clips will feature the campaign’s new strapline, ‘Loneliness. It’s a part of life. Let’s talk about it’, which aims to normalise loneliness and create a conversation on the topic in order to reduce the stigma.

Ahead of the campaign launch, Loneliness Minister Stuart Andrew held a meeting at 10 Downing Street to enlist the help of high-profile figures with a combined following of 8.7 million across platforms on a pro bono basis.

Brontë King, Bobby Brazier and Tasha Ghouri were joined by star of Netflix’s Heartstopper Bradley Riches and social media influencer Anastasia Kingsnorth to discuss their personal experiences and thoughts on the subject.

Minister for Loneliness Stuart Andrew said:

We know that young people are the age group most affected by loneliness but they’re also the least likely to take action to support themselves.

Our latest campaign will encourage young people to talk about their experiences, aiming to break down the stigma that so often prevents people from getting support.

Everyone should know they are not alone and help is available.

Attendees of the round table offered their views on the causes of loneliness, spoke of their own personal experiences and suggested how they would support themselves or someone they knew if they were feeling lonely, such as getting involved in a hobby, club or inviting a friend for a tea or coffee and a chat.

Actor and Model Bobby Brazier:

Everyone feels lonely at points throughout their life because modern life can be very isolating.

That’s why being part of this campaign is so important to me, to show that it’s okay and encouraged to talk about our feelings.

Actor Bradley Riches said:

This campaign is extremely important to me because, as an autistic and queer individual, I have found myself extremely lonely at points throughout my life.

I think when people think of loneliness, they often think of older people, yet no one really talks about young people feeling lonely.

This campaign is helping to create a space for people to get support and break down the stigma, because in life everyone will feel lonely at some point.

Influencer and entrepreneur Brontë King said:

After starting a community to support girls during and after university, I have seen first-hand how common loneliness really is among 16 to 24 year olds.

From that first year of university to navigating post grad life, it really can be a lonely period of time. That’s why being part of this campaign, making loneliness more of a talked about topic and giving people space to realise these feelings are normal, is so important and something I am so proud to be a part of.

Media personality Tasha Ghouri said:

I’m proud to be a part of the loneliness campaign from the deaf representation side. It’s important to speak out whenever we feel lonely and normalise having these open conversations as it will help so many more people out there!

From my own personal experiences being deaf and wearing a cochlear implant, it can be isolating at times and I had to look for support to guide me through, opening up and talking about how you feel does so much more good than letting it in.

Social media influencer Anastasia Kingsnorth said:

Loneliness is a feeling that everyone has experienced at some stage, and it’s so important to understand that you are not alone in that feeling.

The hardest part can be admitting it, but admitting it yourself, then speaking to someone else, is a big step in combating loneliness. Everyone should know it’s okay to feel that way.

TV personality and athlete Josh Patterson said:

Loneliness can affect us all in life, and in many different ways. Although to the masses it can appear that someone has everything and be surrounded by people, for me personally, it’s been about facing some of my passions alone.

When not everyone understands you or supports you, it can be incredibly isolating. It’s taken me a long time to grow from these sorts of experiences as I’ve been exposed to so many different environments and people. The biggest lesson I’ve learnt is that loneliness for me is about the environment I’m in; on one side I may feel isolated, but it can take time to feel valued, nurtured, and supported and there are actions we can take to feel less alone in this journey.

This is the message I wish to spread so more people can see the light that is there waiting to be found.

Video clips and campaign activity will signpost to the Better Health: Every Mind Matters loneliness website page, where people will find support and advice on how they can help others, as well as information on support routes to help them feel less lonely too.

Discord, the online communication platform for the gaming world, will also be supporting the campaign by pointing users to resources on the Every Mind Matters website. As part of campaign activity, Discord will host a series of polls for their online community in March, helping to build up the supportive conversation around dealing with loneliness.

The latest phase of the campaign ran in September 2023 and targeted students preparing for freshers’ week amid research finding that loneliness is something experienced by almost all students.

Since the government made a commitment to tackle the stigma of loneliness in 2018, campaign activity has reached at least 25 million people across the country, including those most at risk of loneliness.

Since 2018, the Government and its partners have invested over £80 million in tackling loneliness, including up to £30 million allocated via the ‘Know Your Neighbourhood Fund’ creating volunteering opportunities and helping reduce loneliness in 27 disadvantaged areas.

Notes to editors:

• For support and advice on loneliness, search ‘Loneliness Every Mind Matters’.
• Previous ambassadors and supportive partners of the campaign have also included The Prince and Princess of Wales, the world’s number one dating app Tinder and Youth Mental Health Ambassador Dr. Alex George.
• The campaign toolkit includes new campaign assets, key messaging and suggested social media copy.
• The Government is supporting young people via its National Youth Guarantee, ensuring that by 2025 every young person will have access to regular clubs and activities, adventures away from home and opportunities to volunteer. This is supported by investment of over £500 million, £300 million of which will fund the building or refurbishment of youth centres via the Youth Investment Fund.
• Since its launch, the Youth Investment Fund has awarded over £250 million to 227 organisations.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 29 February 2024.

The Prime Minister has reappointed Robert Noel as a Trustee of the Natural History Museum.

Robert Noel

Appointed for a two year term commencing 24 April 2024.

Robert Noel’s career was spent in the real estate sector having started at property services firm Nelson Bakewell and becoming a Director in 1992. In 2002 he joined the Board of Great Portland Estates plc as Property Director.  In 2010 he joined the Board of Land Securities Group PLC as Managing Director of its London Portfolio and was subsequently appointed Group Chief Executive Officer in 2012.  He retired from Landsec in March 2020.

Mr Noel is currently Chair of Taylor Wimpey Plc; Chair of Hammerson plc and a Trustee of the Natural History Museum, where he is now being reappointed for a third term.

Mr Noel was previously a Trustee of LandAid the property industry charity.  He served on the Board of the British Property Federation from 2016-2020 and was its President in 2018/19. He also served on the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group in 2015-2016.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Trustees of the Natural History Museum are not remunerated. This appointment has 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.

Robert Noel  has not declared any significant political activity.