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  • PRESS RELEASE : First black NHS matron, Beatles icon and pioneering ceramist to receive first official blue plaques outside London [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : First black NHS matron, Beatles icon and pioneering ceramist to receive first official blue plaques outside London [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 23 February 2024.

    Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson unveils first official blue plaque outside London — to Daphne Steele, the first black matron in the NHS — in Ilkley, West Yorkshire.

    • Beatles guitarist George Harrison and ceramist Clarice Cliff set to receive the next two blue plaques under the national expansion of the scheme
    • Public nominations for local figures to get blue plaques to open in the summer

    A woman who made history by becoming the first black matron in the NHS is the first person to be commemorated with an official blue plaque outside London.

    Daphne Steele, the first black matron in the NHS, is being honoured with the first blue plaque in the new national scheme which is delivered by Historic England on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

    Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, together with representatives of Historic England and the son of Daphne Steele, celebrated the trailblazing NHS matron’s life by unveiling the plaque at the former St. Winifred’s maternity home in Ilkley, West Yorkshire.

    Daphne arrived in Britain in 1951 from Guyana. Despite the challenges she faced, she helped to break down barriers and paved the way for nurses from a wide range of backgrounds to play a vital part in running the National Health Service. Her appointment as matron in 1964 attracted national attention and acted as a turning point in the history of the NHS.

    The next two blue plaques outside London will be dedicated to the music icon, songwriter and humanitarian George Harrison, and to Clarice Cliff, regarded as one of the most influential ceramists of the 20th century to mark their contributions to national life. They will be unveiled in the coming months.

    These first three plaques outside London will help to inform the new national scheme, made possible thanks to a change in the law last year. This summer, nominations will open so the public can put forward their own suggestions of people who should be recognised in their local area.

    Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

    Daphne Steele made a huge contribution to our National Health Service — not just through her work here in Ilkley, where she delivered hundreds of babies a year, but in paving the way for so many others from a wide range of backgrounds to play their vital role in that cherished national organisation.

    I am delighted that she can be commemorated with the first official blue plaque outside London, and hope her story will continue to inspire people across Yorkshire and far beyond.

    The national expansion of the famous blue plaque scheme is all about recognising people who made their mark on national life, wherever they happened to live. I look forward to celebrating more such inspirational figures, including Clarice Cliff and George Harrison, in towns and cities across the country in the coming months.

    Robert Steele, Daphne Steele’s son, said:

    My mother saw herself as a nurse and midwife. As far as she was concerned, she was just getting on with her job. She would be speechless, mind-blown, to see a plaque dedicated to her and to know that she had made such a difference to so many people.

    Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, said:

    We are delighted to dedicate the first Historic England blue plaque to Daphne Steele, a ‘quiet revolutionary’ who, nearly sixty years ago, changed history when she became the first black matron in the NHS.

    Our national blue plaques scheme is a fantastic opportunity to tell the stories of inspirational people, like Daphne, who have helped make the world a better place. Blue plaques are well known and loved. They help people and communities feel pride and connection to their local and national heritage.

    This summer, we will be inviting people across England to nominate the individuals they believe deserve a blue plaque and I look forward to seeing the stories this uncovers.

    Chief Nursing Officer, Dame Ruth May said:

    It is wonderful that Daphne Steele is being honoured with the first official blue plaque outside of London – Daphne had a remarkable career in nursing, midwifery and as a health visitor, and like so many from the Windrush generation, she made an enormous contribution to the NHS.

    This is a fitting tribute to an inspiring woman who no doubt paved the way for many other nurses and midwives to follow in her footsteps when she became the first black matron in the NHS.

    Health Minister, Andrew Stephenson said:

    Daphne was an inspiring and dedicated midwife, and I am delighted to see her pioneering contribution to the NHS recognised in this way.

    I hope this blue plaque ensures more people from all backgrounds hear her story and are inspired to join the NHS.

    Our NHS is as diverse as it’s ever been and its Long Term Workforce Plan will see us continue to recruit more staff from diverse and traditionally hard-to-reach backgrounds, for instance by boosting the number of nursing and medical apprentices entering the health service.

    The national expansion of the official London Blue Plaque scheme was announced in September 2023. A change in the law underpinning the scheme was made through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023.

    For the past century and a half, the official blue plaques scheme has been London-only. While there are a number of local schemes operating across the country, this expansion will see one cohesive, official scheme, run by Historic England, operating equally across England.

    The expansion is an opportunity for people to research their own local history and nominate figures from their communities who have helped define the towns, villages and cities in which they live.

    If successfully nominated, the buildings where local figures lived, worked or stayed will be marked with a blue plaque, which will shine a spotlight on our shared heritage across the country.

    Notes to editors:

    • The inscription on the plaque reads: ‘DAPHNE STEELE. 1927-2004. Guyanese nurse and midwife. Pioneering Black matron in the NHS lived and worked here’.

    About the new national blue plaque scheme, run by Historic England

    • The new national blue plaque scheme was announced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in September 2023
    • From early summer 2024, the public will be invited to submit their own nominations
    • The eligibility criteria for nominations follow similar criteria to the English Heritage scheme: at least 20 years must have passed since the candidate’s death, they must have made a significant contribution to human welfare or happiness, at least one building associated with the figure must survive in a form that the commemorated person would have recognised and must be visible from the public highway
    • Together with people across England, the Historic England blue plaque scheme will celebrate individuals who have made the world a better place

    About the London blue plaque scheme

    • London’s famous blue plaques link people of the past with buildings of the present
    • The London blue plaques scheme was started in 1866 and is thought to be the oldest of its kind in the world. English Heritage has run the London blue plaques scheme since 1986 It has inspired many similar schemes in the UK and around the world

    About Daphne Steele

    • Daphne Steele was born in Guyana – then known as British Guiana – in October 1927
    • She travelled to England in 1951 at a time when the newly formed National Health Service (NHS) was keen to recruit staff from across the British Empire
    • She enrolled on a nursing course at St James’s Hospital, Balham, South London, and completed her nursing training in 1953 and midwifery training in 1954
    • Over the next ten years, she worked as a nurse and midwife in America and then in Oxfordshire and Manchester, before applying for the post of matron at St. Winifred’s maternity hospital in Ilkley
    • Her appointment as matron in August 1964 attracted national attention and acted as a turning point in NHS history
    • It was reported widely in national newspapers, along with photographs of Daphne and details of her role and salary of £1,230 per year
    • Becoming the first Black matron of an NHS hospital promoted hundreds of people to write to Daphne. She later recalled how she received ‘about 350 letters from around Britain and around the world’ (Ilkley Gazette, 25 October 2001)
    • When St Winifred’s closed in October 1971, Daphne found a new job working in Wharfedale children’s hospital in Menston and then retrained as a health visitor at Leeds University
    • She worked as a health visitor in Ilkley and Bingley, becoming a familiar and friendly figure to countless families in the area
  • PRESS RELEASE : Short-term lets rules to protect communities and keep homes available [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Short-term lets rules to protect communities and keep homes available [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 19 February 2024.

    Local residents will be protected from being pushed out of their communities by excessive short-term lets thanks to changes in planning rules.

    • Planning permission will be required for future short-term lets
    • Mandatory national register will provide valuable information and help ensure accommodation is safe
    • Proposals will give communities greater control over future growth
    • Homeowners can continue to let out their own main or sole home for up to 90 nights a year

    Local residents will be protected from being pushed out of their communities by excessive short-term lets thanks to changes in planning rules announced today.

    Under the reforms councils will be given greater power to control short-term lets by making them subject to the planning process. This will support local people in areas where high numbers of short-term lets are preventing them from finding housing they can afford to buy or to rent.

    These changes are part of a long-term plan to prevent a “hollowing out” of communities, address anti-social behaviour and ensure local people can continue to live in the place they call home.

    Meanwhile, a new mandatory national register will give local authorities the information they need about short-term lets in their area. This will help councils understand the extent of short-term lets in their area, the effects on their communities, and underpin compliance with key health and safety regulations.

    Short-term lets are now a significant part of the UK’s visitor economy, and can provide increased choice and flexibility for tourists and business travellers. To recognise this, homeowners will still be able to let out their own main or sole home for up to 90 nights throughout a year without planning permission and government is considering how to apply the register so it does not apply disproportionate regulation for example on property owners that let out their home infrequently.

    Secretary of State for Levelling Up Housing and Communities, Michael Gove said:

    Short-term lets can play an important role in the UK’s flourishing tourism economy, providing great, easily-accessible accommodation in some of the most beautiful parts of our country.

    But in some areas, too many local families and young people feel they are being shut out of the housing market and denied the opportunity to rent or buy in their own community.

    So the government is taking action as part of its long-term plan for housing. That means delivering more of the right homes in the right places, and giving communities the power to decide.

    This will allow local communities to take back control and strike the right balance between protecting the visitor economy and ensuring local people get the homes they need.

    Tourism Minister Julia Lopez said:

    Short-term lets provide flexibility for homeowners and give tourists more accommodation options than ever before, but this should not prevent local people from being able to buy or rent homes in their area.

    The government is committed to getting the balance right to ensure both local people and our visitor economy can thrive.

    Amanda Cupples, General Manager for Northern Europe, Airbnb said:

    The introduction of a short-term lets register is good news for everyone. Families who Host on Airbnb will benefit from clear rules that support their activity, and local authorities will get access to the information they need to assess and manage housing impacts and keep communities healthy, where necessary.

    We have long led calls for the introduction of a Host register and we look forward to working together to make it a success.

    The proposed planning changes would see a new planning ‘use class’ created for short-term lets not used as a sole or main home. Existing dedicated short-term lets will automatically be reclassified into the new use class and will not require a planning application.

    The changes are part of the government’s long-term plan for housing, unlocking more of the homes this country needs and meeting the target to deliver one million homes this Parliament, backed by £10 billion investment.

    The government also intends to introduce associated permitted development rights – one allowing for a property to be changed from a short-term let to a standard residential dwelling, and a second that would allow a property to be changed to a short-term let. Local authorities would be able to remove these permissions and require full planning permission if they deem it necessary.

    Both of these measures are focussed on short-term lets, and therefore the planning changes and the register will not affect hotels, hostels or B&Bs.

    Further details of these measures will be set out in the government’s response to the consultations, including the timeline for implementation of the register, the use class and the individual permitted development rights – with the changes being introduced from this summer.

    Alistair Handyside MBE, Executive Chair of the Professional Association of Self Caterers UK (PASC UK), said:

    We welcome the introduction of a registration scheme for short term lets in England. This is widely supported by accommodation providers and will finally provide real data on our sector. This is a first and important step to creating a level playing field for operators and we look forward to working with the government on the detail of the introduction of the register.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Two board members reappointed to The National Archives [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Two board members reappointed to The National Archives [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 14 February 2024.

    The Secretary of State has reappointed Sonia Cargan and Rommel Pereira as Board Members of The National Archives.

    Rommel Pereira

    Appointed for a four year term, commencing on 01 May 2024.

    Rommel Pereira is a Chartered Accountant and has been reappointed as a Non-Executive Board Member of The National Archives from 30th April 2024. He has previously held Board Director and executive leadership roles at the Bank of England, Financial Services Compensation Scheme, Metropolitan Housing Trust, JP Morgan Chase, Midland Bank and Reuters.

    His non-executive directorships have included the public and not-for-profit sectors. He is currently on the Boards of Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, London Ambulance Service NHS Trust and Supply Chain Coordination Limited where he also chairs their Audit and Risk committees.

    Sonia Cargan

    Appointed for a four year term which commenced on 19 January 2024.

    Sonia is currently the Chief Talent Officer at American Express, where she is responsible for creating the Global Talent Management, Leadership Development, Learning, Performance Management, Career Growth, and Internal Talent Mobility strategies and supporting initiatives for the company. She is also a member of the company’s Environmental Social and Governance Committee.

    Prior to this position, Sonia spent 26 years serving in various leadership roles at American Express, including Vice President of HR in the UK and in Singapore, Senior HR Business Partner in New York City and, most recently the Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity Equity & Inclusion Officer. She was also a member of the Pension Trustee Board and is a board member of British American Business

    Sonia holds a BA Honours in Social Administration from the University of Brighton and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. She was named one of Black Enterprise’s Most Powerful Women in Corporate Diversity 2019, features on the Cranfield ’50 Women to Watch 2019′ list, and has commented in a range of media on women in senior positions and diversity and inclusion.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Reappointments to the National Heritage Memorial Fund and The National Lottery Heritage Fund [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Reappointments to the National Heritage Memorial Fund and The National Lottery Heritage Fund [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 13 February 2024.

    The Prime Minister has reappointed Dr Simon Thurley as Chair of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Mukesh Sharma has been reappointed as Northern Ireland Trustee.

    Dr Simon Thurley

    Reappointed from 01 April 2024 to 31 March 2027

    Dr. Simon Thurley was first appointed as Chair in 2021. He also serves on the Delivery Authority for the Restoration and Renewal of the Houses of Parliament and is chairman of the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation. Between 2015 and 2023 he was a trustee of the British Library and he played a role in setting up the Canal and River Trust, of which he was a trustee until 2015. In 2021-22 he was Provost of Gresham College.

    Between 2002 and 2015 he was Chief Executive of English Heritage responsible for the National Heritage Collection of 420 sites including Stonehenge and Dover Castle, as well as for the National Heritage Protection system, including the listing of buildings. For five years from 1997 he was director of the Museum of London, the world’s largest city museum and its archaeological unit MoLAS.

    For eight years in the 1990s he was Curator and Surveyor of the Fabric at Historic Royal Palaces leading various projects including the Restoration of the Privy Garden at Hampton Court. As a historian Simon has written thirteen books including a history of English Architecture, Building England and the story of heritage protection, Men from the Ministry. His latest book Palaces of Revolution won the Samuel Pepys Prize for 2023. In 2011 he was made CBE for services to heritage; he is married with two children and lives in Norfolk.

    Mukesh Sharma

    Reappointed from 31 August 2023 to 30 August 2026

    Mukesh Sharma was born in England and raised in Northern Ireland within the Indian community. He has a breadth of experience in business growth and acquisition, organisational change, partnership working and advocacy in developing international partnerships.

    Mukesh has spent more than 30 years in the travel, tourism and airline industry. He has worked in the UK and abroad, heading up a number of major companies during this time. He was awarded an MBE in 2016 for Services to the travel industry in Northern Ireland. In 2016, Mukesh was commissioned as Deputy Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast.

    He has led many initiatives across Northern Ireland to promote the arts, community cohesion and the prevention of racism, sectarianism and hate crime. He serves as a board member of a number of charities including ArtsEkta, The Goliath Trust, Moving on Music and is a committee member of The Prince’s Trust Northern Ireland and chair of the Northern Ireland advisory board for Barnardos. Since 2006 he has been a festival director of the Belfast Mela and from 2006-2013 he was Chair of Newtownabbey Borough Council Good Relations Partnership.

    In 2016, Mukesh was appointed to the Northern Ireland Executive Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition. The commission, made up of political and non-political representatives, undertook a programme of work to shape a Northern Ireland free from segregation and division. The commission’s work ended in 2020 with the submission of a report to the First and Deputy First Minister.

    In April 2023, he was appointed as a member of The Northern Ireland Policing Board, an independent public body which oversees The Police Service of Northern Ireland.

    Remuneration and Governance Code

    The Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Lottery Heritage Fund is remunerated at £40,000 per annum and the Northern Ireland Trustee is remunerated at £20,749 per annum. 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. Simon Thurley and Mukesh Sharma have declared no political activity.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Museums to benefit from £24 million investment to fund major infrastructure projects [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Museums to benefit from £24 million investment to fund major infrastructure projects [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 10 February 2024.

    More than £86 million overall to be invested to develop world-class culture.

    • 67 projects across England have already benefited from the scheme
    • Fourth round of the Museum Estate and Development Fund launched

    Museums are set to benefit from £24 million of funding as part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to supporting world-class culture in all corners of the country.

    Museums across England which are accredited by Arts Council England are encouraged to apply for a share of £23.8 million funding in the latest round of the Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND), which has been launched today by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

    The fund is part of the Government’s long-term plan to support local economic growth and will support capital projects at museums, fund important repairs, and improve the visitor experience with grants being available from £50,000 to £5 million to ensure local history has a home for years to come.

    Since it was launched in 2021, 67 projects have received a total of more than £40 million, with funding having already benefited a wide variety of museums. Among the successful applicants were Scarborough’s Rotunda Museum, where it has funded stonework repairs, and the Framework Knitters Museum in Nottingham, where it supported urgent repairs to its roof, chimneys, windows and gutters.

    Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

    Museums across the country form the heart of their community, helping people to learn about our shared heritage, and attracting tourists to the local area.

    Over the past two years I’ve been delighted to see how this fund has provided vital support to museums across the country, enabling them to improve their buildings and share their wonderful collections with a wider audience.

    The additional funding we are announcing today will mean that even more museums can fund major infrastructure projects, demonstrating the Government’s strong commitment to supporting culture and making sure that everyone has access to brilliant arts and heritage, no matter where they live.

    Previous projects which have benefited from the Museum Estate and Development (MEND) Fund include the following:

    • Warwick District Council was awarded £2.3 million in 2022 to deliver vital maintenance to Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum, based in the town’s Grade II-listed Royal Pump Rooms. Works include replacing the roof, improving environmental conditions within the gallery and allowing previously closed galleries to reopen, replacing rooflights, and repairing ceilings and walls.
    • Derby Museum and Art Gallery, a landmark building in the heart of the city which dates from 1879, received £750,000 in 2021 for a project to undertake the replacement of roofs, address rainwater problems, install accessible toilets and handrails, and make improvements to lighting levels.
    • The London Transport Museum, the world’s leading museum of urban transport, has a collection including famous design icons such as the Tube Map, the black cab, and the Routemaster bus, as well as a world-leading collection of poster art and urban design. It received £277,093 in 2021 for essential upgrades to its visitor lifts, making them safer, more energy efficient and more reliable.
    • The Grade I-listed Harewood House in West Yorkshire boasts interiors by the designer and architect Robert Adam and furnishings and fittings designed by Thomas Chippendale. Its £497,474 grant, awarded in 2022, is working to address the deterioration of the external joinery, including roof lanterns, windows and doors. Further masonry repairs will protect the fabric of the house from water ingress.
    • Bletchley Park, the museum and former top-secret Second World War code-breaking centre near Milton Keynes, was given £468,000 in 2021 to pay for essential maintenance works to its electrical and water service.
    • Scarborough’s Rotunda Museum, one of the world’s first purpose-built museums, which was designed to showcase William Smith’s geological collections in the early 19th Century, received a grant of £256,054 through the first round of the fund in 2021 for stonework repairs to the facade of the Grade II listed building.
    • The Framework Knitters Museum in Nottingham, which tells the story of early mechanical sewing and how it gave birth to Nottingham’s lace industry, was awarded £62,925 in 2021 for urgent repairs to roofing, chimneys, windows and gutters on its historic building.

    The successful applicants to the third round of funding launched last year worth £22.6 million are due to be announced in the spring.

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

    Museums bring huge benefits to towns and cities across England and the people who live in them.  By investing in the infrastructure they need, we can make sure our museums are fit for the future, and can make an even greater contribution to their local economies and communities.

    We’re excited to continue delivering the programme on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, and look forward to seeing the impact of the projects it supports.

    This funding builds on £15.2 million of support from the Government’s Cultural Development Fund which was announced last month. Both the Museum and Estate Development Fund and the Cultural Development Fund form part of the Cultural Investment Fund, along with the Libraries Investment Fund. Through the first two rounds of the Cultural Investment Fund, 134 organisations across the country have received a share of £106.8 million.

    Notes to editors:

    Arts Council England delivers this fund on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Guidance has been published today by Arts Council England to provide further information for accredited museums considering making an application.

    The online portal to register Expressions of Interest opens on 4th March 2024.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Half-masting of flags following the death of The President of Namibia, Hage Geingob [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Half-masting of flags following the death of The President of Namibia, Hage Geingob [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 5 February 2024.

    It is with great regret that we learn of the death of The President of Namibia, Hage Geingob.

    Union flags will usually be half-masted on all government buildings in the UK on the day of death of a ruling Head of State. Flags will therefore be flown at half mast on UK government buildings from Sunday 4th February until 20.00hrs on Monday 5th February.

    Other organisations and local authorities may follow suit.

  • PRESS RELEASE : 20,000 more young people to access new and renovated youth clubs [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : 20,000 more young people to access new and renovated youth clubs [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 3 February 2024.

    Young people set to benefit from 140 new or refurbished youth centres thanks to latest funding round from the Government’s Youth Investment Fund of £90 million.

    • Nearly 20,000 more young people will have access to dance, drama and sport as part of the Government’s latest investment in youth services
    • 140 more youth centres to be built or refurbished backed by over £90 million from the Youth Investment Fund
    • Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer officially opens The Chichester Shed – the first new build youth centre funded by the Youth Investment Fund

    Young people in villages, towns and cities across England are set to benefit from 140 new or refurbished youth centres thanks to the largest funding round to date from the Government’s Youth Investment Fund.

    Totalling more than £90 million, funding announced today (3 February) will support nearly 20,000 more young people per year to access new state of the art facilities such as workshop spaces, sports halls, art rooms, recording studios and skateparks.

    Activities ranging from dance, drama and music to sport, horticulture and employment skills development will be on offer, giving young people access to opportunities that broaden their horizons.

    Today also marks a major milestone with the very first new build youth centre funded by the Youth Investment Fund opening its doors.

    Located in a deprived area with high levels of antisocial behaviour, The Chichester Shed has used a grant of over £420,000 to build a brand new space to support more than 120 young people. The open access service will provide a space to relax and learn new skills, with activities including woodworking, yoga and skateboarding available.

    Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

    I want to see every young person have someone to talk to, something to do, and somewhere to go outside of the classroom, no matter where they are from, to help maximise their potential in life.

    This next round of funding from the Youth Investment Fund will help nearly 20,000 more young people achieve this goal.

    We have now committed to building or refurbishing over 220 projects in some of the country’s most underserved areas, creating more opportunities for young people to gain the skills needed to succeed in life and stopping them from falling through the cracks.”

    The Youth Investment Fund has now allocated £250 million of its more than £300 million budget to services in areas of the country where need is high and provision is low.

    It will engage young people most in need, including those that might have otherwise been at risk of becoming involved in anti-social behaviour or falling out of education, training or employment.

    This is the latest announcement that forms part of the Government’s ambition to make sure young people are supported with positive and engaging opportunities both in and outside of school hours.

    Clare de Bathe, CEO of Chichester Community Development Trust said:

    The Chichester Shed will provide an informal, dynamic and versatile space where young people can connect, learn and experience new activities. The space will be a haven for all ages and backgrounds to use throughout the school day and holidays, including intergenerational activities where boundaries can be broken down as well as adult education sessions and group workshops delivered.

    The funding has enabled the project ideas to be brought to a reality and we cannot wait to open the doors.

    Examples of other youth centres receiving grants in this funding round include:

    • Bodies in Motion, Pendle – a combined grant of over £1.4 million will pay for the refurbishment of Orchid House Gym with new changing facilities and equipment, supporting 290 additional young people a week. The Garden Project will create a community-focused garden and greenhouse facility, engaging an additional 400 young people through therapeutic horticultural activities to promote a sense of wellbeing.
    • Youth Options, Southampton – a new community café and training centre, backed by £1.2 million investment, will provide a safe haven for nearly 100 additional young people a week in a disadvantaged part of the city.The café will offer training in catering and hospitality, and will be targeted at those not in education, employment, and training, while the indoor space will be transformed to create new activity space and a counselling room.
    • Positive Futures, Liverpool – The Positive Futures hub will be expanded to provide a sensory room, music rooms, art space, large sports hall and virtual reality spaces to support 250 additional young people a week.
    • Tinside Cove and Lido, Plymouth – two listed buildings at the Tinside Lido will be renovated to  provide space for nearly 300 more young people a week to benefit from new training and educational programmes, while the lido will be used for swimming, snorkelling, diving and life-saving classes.
    • Weymouth West Air Scouts, Weymouth – The Scouts building will be refurbished with a new shower room, extended kitchen and three breakout rooms, doubling the building’s size and enabling them to run multiple activities at the same time. The project will support nearly 80 more young people a week.

    Nick Temple, CEO of Social Investment Business said:

    The Youth Investment Fund is transforming the youth service landscape right across the country, enabling youth centres of all shapes and sizes to enhance their services and reach more young people.

    It’s very exciting to see the first Youth Investment Fund newbuild open its doors to Chichester’s young people today. Before securing the funding, these young people had nowhere safe to go, and nothing to do after school.

    Young people now have a brand-new youth centre, inspired by their ideas and needs, giving them every opportunity to thrive and discover their passions. The Youth Investment Fund is truly unlocking potential and creating a legacy for future generations of young people in communities like this across the country.

    Denise Hatton, Chair of Back Youth Alliance said:

    We are delighted that nearly 20,000 young people will be able to access new and refurbished youth clubs through the latest instalment of the National Youth Guarantee. With mental health, loneliness and anti-social behaviour all on the rise, now more than ever young people need a safe space to go, a trusted adult to speak to and access to positive activities in their communities all year round.

    Ruth Marvel, CEO of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE), said:

    This multi million-pound investment is so much more than skateparks, sports halls and art rooms. It’s an investment in the resilience, confidence and independence of young people, which thanks to the on-going impact of a pandemic and cost of living crisis, has never been more needed.

    We at the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award know first-hand that when you invest in young people, there is no limit to what they can achieve. The government’s National Youth Guarantee has brought the DofE to thousands of young people in England for the first time, breaking down barriers and providing life-shaping activities and volunteering opportunities.

    Today’s announcement forms the latest part of the Government’s ‘National Youth Guarantee’, that will ensure every young person aged 11-18 in England has access to regular clubs and activities, adventures away from home, and volunteering opportunities by 2025, backed by an investment of over £500 million.

    The National Youth Guarantee will provide greater access to activities such as The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and the National Citizen Service, and uniformed youth groups such as Scouts, Girlguiding, and Cadets.

    To further support giving young people the best start in life, in September 2023 the Government announced the opening of the second phase of the £19 million Million Hours Fund, designed to create more than one million additional hours of youth centre provision in areas with high numbers of antisocial behaviour incidents.

    Notes to editors:

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government to progress with plans to renew local TV licences [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government to progress with plans to renew local TV licences [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 2 February 2024.

    Government confirms broadcasting licences for 34 local TV stations can be extended for the next decade.

    • Stations can broadcast beyond 2025 subject to Ofcom approving plans to serve local audiences
    • From London Live to Notts TV, local programming continues to be a source of regional news and provides training for journalists

    The UK’s 34 local TV stations can stay on air beyond 2025, subject to media regulator Ofcom’s approval of the stations’ long-term plans, the government has decided following a public consultation.

    Launched in 2013, local TV services are required to show a certain number of hours of local programming daily, serving different regions across the country. Many of the services also support local journalism through training programmes provided in production, news reporting and technical roles, which enable students to gain hands-on experience.

    The licences for the 34 local TV services, often found on channel 7 and 8 on Freeview, are due to expire in November 2025. In the broadcasting white paper, which set out the government’s vision for the sector, it committed to consult on renewing or relicensing the individual stations.

    The consultation found that industry participants and members of the public support the government’s plan to renew the individual local TV licences until 2034, on the condition that stations show Ofcom that they can maintain current levels of service and continue meeting the needs of local audiences for the decade ahead.

    Under the new approach, Ofcom will review each station’s long-term plan for how it seeks to meet its daily programming quota and produce distinct shows that are relevant to their area. The local TV stations who receive Ofcom’s approval to renew their licence will continue to benefit from a prominent position in regulated electronic TV guides, including Freeview. Should current providers decide not to reapply or if Ofcom does not approve a renewal, a competitive relicensing process will be launched.

    Plans to renew the local TV multiplex licence – which compresses and bundles a number of TV services into one frequency and transmits it digitally – will also be taken forward, ensuring local stations remain available to viewers free-to-air.

    Media Minister Julia Lopez said:

    Despite changing technology and shifting viewing habits, people across the country tune into their local TV providers for trusted local news and distinct programming.

    We are helping the sector to continue delivering for audiences, supporting local journalism and fostering community pride, in the years to come.

    The consultation considered whether the current objectives for local TV should be updated. These include the need to produce content that caters to the interests and needs of a local area, increasing the availability and production of local programming and delivering social and economic benefits to the community. It concludes that the objectives remain fit for purpose and provide local TV services with a clear framework to deliver distinct content that meets the needs of viewers.

    The government will move forward with secondary legislation to implement these changes when parliamentary time allows, with the aim of the Ofcom-led renewal process being completed by the end of the year.

    Notes to editors

    • The local TV multiplex is currently operated by Comux Ltd.
    • There are currently local TV services in 34 areas of the UK: Aberdeen, Ayr, Basingstoke, Belfast, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Carlisle, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Grimsby, Guildford, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Maidstone, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Mold, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Preston, Reading, Salisbury, Scarborough, Sheffield, Southampton, Swansea and York.
    • The government intends to make an Order under section 244 of the Communications Act 2003 to implement the renewal of the local TV multiplex licence and 34 individual local TV service licences.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Polar Medal at risk of leaving the UK [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Polar Medal at risk of leaving the UK [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 2 February 2024.

    A temporary export bar has been placed on Antarctic Explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Polar Medal.

    • The medal is valued at more than £1.7 million
    • The export bar will allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the medal for the nation

    Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay has placed an export bar on Antarctic Explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Polar Medal.

    The medal, valued at £1,760,000 (plus VAT of £44,000), is at risk of leaving the UK unless a domestic buyer can be found to save it for the nation.

    The Arctic Medal was instituted in 1857 and renamed the Polar Medal in 1904. It is given to individuals for outstanding service to the field of polar research. It was first awarded to the participants in Captain Robert F. Scott’s successful first expedition to the Antarctic, and then to reward future expedition members and leaders.

    The Polar Medal was awarded to Shackleton in recognition of his three polar expeditions (1902–04, 1907–09, 1914–16), the latter two of which he led. It is the most important of the UK medals awarded to him, given it is the only medal to recognise all three of his expeditions. It is also the last of Shackleton’s medals still in the UK.

    Shackleton made three expeditions to the Antarctic in the early twentieth century with his 1907 Nimrod expedition aiming to be the first to reach the South Pole. Although unsuccessful, the expedition was the first in history to travel within 100 miles of the South Pole, successfully ascend Mount Erebus and the first to set foot on the South Polar Plateau. His 1909 expedition was the greatest advance to the Pole in history until Amundsen and Scott reached the South Pole separately three years later in 1912.

    Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

    Over the course of three Antarctic expeditions, Sir Ernest Shackleton demonstrated his dedication to polar research, his extraordinary bravery, and a thirst for adventure unrivalled even by many of his contemporaries.

    The admiration and interest which Shackleton’s exploits inspired continues to this day, so it is right that this medal – a recognition of his immense contribution to polar exploration – should be saved for the nation so that it can continue to inspire the public for many years to come.”

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

    Committee Chairman, Andrew Hochhauser KC, said:

    The Polar Medal was instituted in September 1904, at first to reward the participants in Captain Robert F. Scott’s successful first expedition to the Antarctic region, and then to reward future expedition members and leaders. Besides Captain Scott, its other most distinguished recipient was Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton. This is the original, full-sized version of the medal awarded to Shackleton. This unique artefact is of outstanding significance as the most important and original of the UK medals to have been awarded to one of Britain’s greatest polar explorers. It should go to a UK public institution where it can remind visitors of Shackleton’s extraordinary achievements and inspire future generations of leaders.

    The Committee made its recommendation on the basis that the medal was found to meet the first Waverley criterion, that its departure from the UK would be a misfortune because it was so closely connected with our history and national life.

    In 2020, an export bar was placed on the sledge and flag from the Nimrod expedition successfully saving them for the public, with the 11ft sledge now owned by the National Maritime Museum (NMM) in Greenwich and the sledge flag owned by the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge.

    The decision on the export licence application for the medal will be deferred for a period ending on 1 May 2024 (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 the medal at the recommended price of £1,760,000 (plus VAT of £44,000). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for five months.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £15 million boost for cultural venues to level up access to the arts across England [January 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : £15 million boost for cultural venues to level up access to the arts across England [January 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 31 January 2024.

    Fourth round of the Cultural Development Fund launched for cultural organisations across England to level up access to the arts, heritage and culture.

    • Funding expected to be supporting projects on the ground from this summer, creating new jobs and helping to grow the economy
    • Builds on 20 existing projects up and down the country which have benefited from £76.8 million of funding since 2019

    Cultural venues big and small are set to benefit from a £15 million boost as part of the Government’s Cultural Development Fund, which continues to level up access to the arts across the country.

    Successful bidders will share a pot of £15.2 million as part of the fourth round of the popular scheme. The funding will help create local job opportunities and new training places while supporting local cultural institutions as they look to attract tourists and new businesses, helping to grow the economy.

    So far, 20 projects have received a combined total of £76.8 million since 2019, with arts centres, community venues and heritage buildings among the beneficiaries. Previous funding rounds are already making a real difference, with places like Barnsley, Worcester, Plymouth, Stockport and the Isle of Wight receiving transformative investment.

    This year’s round will be the first time since 2019 that projects in London are able to apply to the fund as well, expanding the range of places that can benefit from Cultural Development Fund investment.

    Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

    I’ve been pleased to see how Government investment through the Cultural Development Fund is already making a real difference to people’s lives. The further funding announced today will extend our work to level up access to arts and culture, ensuring that everyone has high-quality opportunities on their doorstep, no matter where they live.

    I encourage applicants to put forward ambitious proposals which will make a real difference to the lives of even more people across the country, and help to preserve the UK’s position on the world stage as a cultural and creative powerhouse.

    Previous projects include:

    • Plymouth City Council received £3.8 million from the Cultural Development Fund round one. As a result of the project, Market Hall at Devonport has become a destination for businesses, schools and many more looking to access the facilities or enjoy the immersive experiences, events, workshops and children’s clubs on offer.
    • The University of Kent was awarded £4.8 million in round one for buildings in Medway, Purfleet and Thurrock to be re-developed for creative use by communities.
    • In round two, Barnsley Museums were awarded £3.9 million to transform Elsecar Heritage Centre into a cultural and creative industries hub by supporting additional community activity and culturally-focused public realm works.
    • Middlesbrough Council Cultural Services was awarded £4.3 million in round two to help deliver a package of construction projects, making Centre Square into a hub for creativity, and boosting digital skills. Events spaces and galleries will also be added to Carnegie Library and Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art thanks to the fund.
    • £2.7 million awarded to Morecambe Winter Gardens in round three will regenerate a Grade II-listed site to create a venue with capacity of up to 2,500 to support local and national promoters and artists in North Lancashire and Cumbria.
    • Also in round three, North Devon Council was awarded £3 million to refurbish two Grade II-Listed Buildings in Barnstaple, creating an accessible learning and performance venue in Bridge Chambers, and co-working, office and studio space for creative industries, visual arts, community and environmental groups.

    The Cultural Development Fund was launched in 2019 to level up the country through investment in culture and the creative industries. By unlocking local growth and productivity, the fund increases access to the arts and regenerates communities through investment in cultural initiatives.

    Arts Council England delivers this fund on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

    Guidance has been published today to provide further information for those considering making an application.

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

    The Cultural Development Fund brings the transformative power of creativity and culture to more people in more places, across the country. By investing in the infrastructure that cultural organisations need, we can help them make an even bigger impact on the places where they’re based, benefiting the communities they work with. We’re pleased to continue delivering it on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, building on the successes of the programme so far.

    The Cultural Development Fund also builds on further support for the cultural sector through the other two strands of the Cultural Investment Fund; the Libraries Improvement Fund and the Museum Estate and Development Fund, which have also provided more than £50 million over two rounds.