Tag: Department for Culture and Media

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 18 January 2024.

New independent review published on how to support and improve libraries in England.

• Arts Minister Lord Parkinson says recommendations will inform new government strategy on libraries due to be published this year
• Government will host a series of cross-government roundtable meetings every year to help address the challenges facing libraries

A series of recommendations proposed in an independent review to ensure that public libraries are supported and providing the best possible service for their communities will be taken forward by the government, Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay has confirmed today.

The independent review, led by former journalist and government adviser Baroness Sanderson of Welton, was commissioned in September 2022 to seek views and develop innovative ideas on how to improve public libraries across England, in order to inform a new government strategy.

The government response to her review welcomes Baroness Sanderson’s recommendations for an expanded library membership, closer work with the British Library, improvements to the branding and visibility of libraries, and the establishment of a national data hub to collate better evidence. Lord Parkinson confirmed that these recommendations will help to inform future work on the government’s public libraries strategy for England, which is expected to be published later this year.

Lord Parkinson has also committed to hosting a series of cross-government roundtable meetings every year to help address the challenges facing libraries, and to consider the ways in which public libraries can be recognised and included in future government policy work.

A celebratory event to thank the many people and organisations from across the country who contributed to the review will take place in the House of Lords, hosted by Baroness Sanderson and Lord Parkinson.

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

Libraries are a vital public resource, helping to inspire, educate, and entertain people of all ages and backgrounds.

They’ve played an important role in my life, and provided a vital lifeline to so many people during the pandemic. That’s why I wanted to ensure that, as we prepare the government’s new strategy for libraries, we were building on all the brilliant work and bright ideas coming from across the sector.

Baroness Sanderson shares my passion for libraries. Her excellent report captures that work and those ideas, and adds shrewd recommendations of her own, which I welcome and will take forward. Her review – and the contributions of everyone who took part in it – will inform our new strategy and help us to ensure that communities across the country can benefit from great public library services in the next few years, and for generations to come.

Baroness Sanderson of Welton, author of the independent report, said:

Libraries are a crucial part of our social infrastructure, helping to inspire a love of reading while also tackling a host of issues from digital exclusion to loneliness and isolation. Yet all too often they are overlooked and underappreciated.

Throughout the course of this work I have met with hundreds of people working within the library sector and have been struck by their enthusiasm and willingness to adapt to changing circumstances. Far from being out of touch, libraries are weathervanes of their communities, reflecting and forerunning societal trends, good and bad.

I am grateful to Lord Parkinson for commissioning this review which looks at ways to improve awareness of our libraries and the work that they do so that we may enable them to flourish, both now and into the future.

Councillor Liz Green, Chair of the Local Government Association Culture, Tourism & Sport Board, said:

Libraries are a key public asset which provide extra services in providing community spaces. This independent review includes thoughtful proposals which – if implemented – will go some way to contributing to the smoother delivery of library services and collecting accurate reports of their impact on communities.

Liz Jolly, Chief Librarian of the British Library, said:

We welcome the publication of the Sanderson Review and the Government’s response, which recognise the vital role of public libraries and the success of the thriving partnerships we’ve developed with the public library sector through the Business and IP Centre Network, the Living Knowledge Network, the Public Lending Right and LibraryOn. We look forward to working with DCMS and partners across the sector on the shared challenges and opportunities identified by Baroness Sanderson.’’

Laura Dyer, Deputy Chief Executive of Places, Engagement & Libraries at Arts Council England, said:

We were delighted to have representatives take part in all of Baroness Sanderson’s roundtable sessions where she made every effort to ensure that a wide reaching and inclusive discussion was had, allowing people from within and outside the sector to be heard. We welcome the recommendations and the Minister’s response and look forward to working with both DCMS and the sector to deliver on them.

Between October 2022 and July 2023, Baroness Sanderson travelled around the country to consult people from the libraries sector and beyond on how to improve libraries. To inform her report, she held nine roundtable sessions across the country to seek a diverse range of views to inform her work.

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

The Prime Minister has appointed James Twining as Trustee and Audit and Risk Chair of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

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

Artworks from the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle chosen to adorn the corridors of Number 10 Downing Street.

• The initiative is part of the Government Art Collection’s ‘Number 10 Museum in Residence’ project.
• Nine paintings will hang in the heart of Government for 12 months, on display to world leaders and high-profile guests.

Nine artworks from the Laing Art Gallery collection in Newcastle have gone on display in 10 Downing Street’s corridor leading from the famous black door through to the Cabinet Room.

The display will showcase the talent of artists from the North East to world leaders and industry bosses as well as high-profile guests, philanthropists, front-line workers, and charitable and civic leaders attending events in the building.

The artworks will remain in the corridor for a year, as part of the Government Art Collection’s ‘Number 10 Museum in Residence’ project.

For the past twenty years, the Government Art Collection has instigated an annual partnership with a museum or gallery across the UK to display artworks from their collection. Previous galleries include the Glynn Vivian in Swansea, The Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester and The New Art Gallery in Walsall.

The nine chosen works from the Laing Art Gallery, situated in the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, are representative of the city and the wider North East of England. Five of the paintings showcase Newcastle’s cityscape, while the others point to the diverse art scene of the North East. All of the works are by influential artists from the area, who taught at its art schools, or who have been inspired by its landmarks and landscapes.

Paintings in the display include a large oil painting by Edward Dickey, depicting the iconic Tyne Bridge mid-construction, and Caravans, Figures and Helter Skelter, a work from 1930 by Byron Dawson that shows a scene from the long-running travelling fair The Hoppings, which sets up on the Town Moor annually. There are also several mid-20th-century works by figures associated with the region’s progressive art schools such as graduates of King’s College (now Newcastle University).

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

The Museum in Residence scheme helps to ensure that visitors to 10 Downing Street get a glimpse of the brilliant range of artistic talent the UK has to offer.

I’m delighted that visitors over the next year will get to learn more about the proud culture and rich heritage of Tyneside thanks to this partnership with the Laing Art Gallery. The first thing they’ll see after walking through that famous front door is a huge portrait of the Tyne Bridge, which fills my Geordie heart with pride.

Julie Milne, Chief Curator of Art Galleries at Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, said:

We have enjoyed working with the Government Art Collection team in selecting paintings from the Laing Art Gallery. It has enabled us to see the works from a fresh perspective – to hone and highlight narratives about the North East. We are delighted that our wonderful pictures will be seen by a range of people, from the UK and around the world, as they pass through the doors of Number 10.

Works are selected on the basis that they are not part of the lending gallery’s programme over the period of the display, giving them an opportunity to be seen by new people.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 11 January 2024.

The Secretary of State has reappointed Will Lifford as a Board Member of The Charity Commission for a second term of three years.

Will Lifford

Reappointed for a three year term commencing 18 January 2024.

Will Lifford was first appointed to the Charity Commission in January 2021 for a three year term.

He is a Chartered Accountant who, for 25 years, was a partner at Grant Thornton, retiring in 2007 as UK Senior Audit Partner.

Since then, he has held a number of non-executive board positions in the charitable and wider public sector. These include: Chair of Yorkshire Housing (until 2021), Chair of Martin House Children’s Hospice (until 2017), board member of the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (until 2020) and Entrust, regulator of the Landfill Communities Fund (until 2015). Will is currently a board member of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and chairs its Audit and Risk Assurance Committee.

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

The Secretary of State has appointed Ama Agbeze and Nicola Shannon as Board Members of the UK Anti-Doping Agency for a term of 4 years.

Ama Agbeze

Appointed for a four year term commencing 30 October 2023.

Ama has a diverse and distinctive mix of talent and skill. Two decades as a professional athlete culminated in Ama captaining Team England to netball gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

As a dedicated advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Ama consults and serves as a keynote speaker, leveraging her influence to champion organisational change and cultural development, improving life opportunities in areas of deprivation, leadership and mental health. Her legal expertise as a solicitor, spanning family, commercial, charity, and banking disciplines, uniquely positions her to address the complex intersection of law, sports, and the pursuit of clean sport and maintaining a fair and level playing field. As a contributing co-founder to the Netball Players’ Association she is well versed in championing ‘the athlete voice’

Ama’s role as an ambassador, non-executive director, advisor and trustee for various charities and organisations underscores her commitment to promoting sport and physical activity and emphasising their positive impact on health outcomes, particularly for children and young people as well as focussing on safeguarding from an individual and sport integrity perspective.

Recently, an independent Board Member of the Birmingham Organising Committee for the 2022 Commonwealth Games and Chairing the Athlete Advisory Committee, Ama continues to be a compelling force advocating for ethical sportspersonship and upholding the principles of integrity in sport.

Nicola Shannon

Appointed for a four year term commencing 30 October 2023.

Nicola Shannon KC is a barrister practising from chambers in London, specialising in Criminal and Regulatory Law. She also has a part-time judicial role, sitting as a Recorder in Crown Courts across London and the South East. Her practice focuses on Serious and Complex Crime and Fraud, including Homicide, Organised Crime and Human Trafficking and Serious Sexual Offences. Her work includes niche expertise in the presentation of allegations made by vulnerable witnesses and those with mental disabilities or learning and communication difficulties. She has led teams pioneering creative solutions to meet the challenges presented. She advises Prosecution agencies at an early stage of investigations and has extensive experience of the safeguarding issues involved.

She has a passion for mentoring young practitioners in chambers and is Senior Member of a Women in Criminal Law Judicial Mentoring Circle.

She is a champion of Wellbeing within the criminal justice system and co-founded ‘Kindness at the Bar’ in 2022, an initiative to research and promote kinder working cultures within the legal sector. She has been Wellbeing Director of the South-Eastern Circuit (the Bar’s regional representative body) since 2019 and is the current Chair of the Bar Council Wellbeing at the Bar Working Group.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Trustees of the Imperial War 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. Ama Agbeze and Nicola Shannon have not declared any significant political activity.

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

The Secretary of State has appointed Jay Hunt as Chair of the British Film Institute for a term of four years commencing 16 February 2024.

Jay Hunt

Appointed from 16 February 2024 until 15 February 2028.

Jay Hunt OBE is the Creative Director for Apple TV+ in Europe and has been a Governor of the BFI since 2020. She also served on the Board of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. Before joining Apple, she was Chief Creative Officer of Channel 4, responsible for Channel 4, E4, More 4 and the Film 4 channel. She is the only person to have run three terrestrial broadcast channels, also serving as Controller of BBC One and Director of Programmes at Channel 5. Her commissions include global hits Bad Sisters, Slow Horses, Luther, Sherlock, Black Mirror, Derry Girls, Catastrophe and Gogglebox. She started her career at BBC News working on Newsnight and Panorama before becoming Editor of both the One O’Clock and Six O’Clock News. In 2023 she was named one of the Top Twenty Most Powerful Women in Global Entertainment by The Hollywood Reporter.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

“Film is at the heart of the UK’s thriving creative industries, and the BFI plays an important role maximising the potential of our world-leading screen sectors. Jay’s wealth of experience championing British content makes her an exceptional Chair to lead the BFI in the years ahead.”

On her appointment, Jay Hunt, BFI Chair Designate said:

“The BFI plays such a vital role in supporting great British storytellers and I’m delighted I’ll be chairing the organisation at such an exciting and challenging time. I’m passionate about the quality and range of film and TV we produce in the UK and look forward to championing it on the world stage.”

Ben Roberts, BFI Chief Executive said:

“I’m thrilled that Jay has been appointed Chair of the BFI. As a BFI Governor, Jay has been a passionate advocate for both the BFI and the UK film sector. With her incredible breadth of experience in leadership across broadcasting and global streaming, she steps into this role with a very rare combination of an innate understanding of the power and potential of what public service organisations can deliver as well as being acutely commercial. I’m really looking forward to working with her and am confident she will take us boldly into the future, holding us to our commitments in Screen Culture 2033 to transform access to our programmes, screen culture and jobs across the UK.”

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

A temporary export bar has been placed on a 15th century painting by Fra Angelico to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire it.

• The painting is valued at over £5 million and dates from a formative period in the artist’s career

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay has placed an export bar on a 15th-century painting, ‘The Crucifixion with the Virgin, Saint John the Evangelist and the Magdalen’ by Fra Angelico.

The painting, valued at over £5 million, is at risk of leaving the UK unless a domestic buyer can be found.

The work by the leading Renaissance artist Fra Angelico depicts Christ on the Cross surrounded by the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Saint John the Evangelist. The luminous colours and refined composition are highly characteristic of Fra Angelico’s techniques, and the work, dated to the early 1420s, was painted at an important moment in Renaissance art.

The painting reflects Fra Angelico’s response to the intense period of creative innovation taking place at the time, when artists were developing new expressive and compelling forms of representation in religious and secular art.

Arts & Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

This beautiful piece by such an important figure of the early Renaissance represents a key moment in the history of European painting.

It has been in the UK for two centuries, and I hope that a domestic buyer will come forward so that it can remain here to be studied and admired for generations 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 (RCEWA).

Committee member Christopher Baker said:

Fra Angelico was one of the great innovators in the evolution of early 15th-century Florentine art. This profoundly moving devotional work, with its delicate colour harmonies and deeply considered, expressive figures, demonstrates the enduring power of his achievement. It is an extraordinary rarity that assists with our understanding of a formative period in the artist’s career and in the development of Italian Renaissance painting more widely. Its appeal also extends far beyond such scholarship because of its numinous beauty.

Executed in tempera on a wooden panel, the painting retains its original frame and has been in Britain since the early 19th century. It would constitute a major addition to a UK public collection and every effort should be made if possible to acquire it.

The RCEWA made its recommendation on the basis that the painting met the second and third Waverley criteria for its outstanding aesthetic importance and its outstanding significance for the study of the development of painting in Italy in the early Renaissance.

The decision on the export licence application for the painting will be deferred for a period ending on 7 April 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 painting at the recommended price of £5,001,000 (plus VAT of £180,200 which can be reclaimed by an eligible institution). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for six months.

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

Notes to editors

1. In December 2022, Lord Parkinson discussed the Waverley criteria in a speech to mark their 70th anniversary, and used the opportunity to invite thoughts on the way they work – for instance, whether the Committee should say more about how it has considered items’ connection to the history of other countries as well as to the UK’s, or whether the items it considers are destined for public display rather than private collection. His full speech can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/lord-parkinson-speech-at-a-reception-to-mark-70-years-of-the-waverley-criteria
2. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the painting should contact the RCEWA on 0207 2680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk
3. Details of the painting are as follows: Fra Angelico (active 1417; died 1455). ‘The Crucifixion’, early 1420s Tempera on panel, 59.7 x 34.2 cm. The painting retains its original engaged frame
4. Provenance: (Probably) William Bingham Baring, 2nd Lord Ashburton (1799-1864), Bath House, London; by inheritance to his widow, Louisa, Lady Ashburton (1827-1903), Kent House, London or Melchett Court, Hampshire; through her daughter, The Hon. Mary Florence Baring (1860-1902), wife of William Compton, 5th Marquess of Northampton (1851-1913), and their second son, Lord Spencer Compton (1893-1915) and by descent.
5. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by the Arts Council (ACE), which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.
6. Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. Its strategic vision in Let’s Create is that, by 2030, England should be a country in which the creativity of everyone is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. ACE invests public money from the Government and the National Lottery to support the sector and deliver the vision. Following the Covid-19 crisis, ACE developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90 per cent coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. It is also one of the bodies administering the Government’s unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund.

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

Communities across Wales will be able to nominate their most cherished traditions.

Communities across Wales will be able to nominate their most cherished traditions to be included in a new register of cultural heritage in the UK.

Festive favourites, such as the Nos Galan road races, 3am carol singing and the Mari Lwyd could all be formally recognised.

Seasonal celebrations taking place at St David’s Day, the Royal Welsh Show, St Dwynwen’s Day and the tradition of holding Eisteddfodau, where all cultural activities including singing and spoken word are conducted in the Welsh language, could also be included.

Traditions that are central to Welsh culture, identity and communities, from the Urdd, to the playing of the Welsh harp and the spoken word art of Cerdd Dafod are expected to also be put forward for a UK-wide official inventory.

Modern day events like bog-snorkelling in Llanwrtyd Wells and the famous Elvis Festival in Porthcawl could be registered alongside more long-standing activities such as singing in male voice choirs.

Artisanal crafts such as slate-carving, making lovespoons and the art of making traditional Welsh cakes with a bakestone, together with the practitioners of these traditions, will also be considered.

The selected Welsh traditions will sit alongside valued traditions from across the rest of the UK, from bagpipe-playing and Highland dancing to cheese-rolling and the art of basket weaving.

It comes as the UK Government has confirmed its intention to ratify the 2003 UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which seeks to protect the crafts, practices, and traditions which are recognised as being key part of national life and providing a sense of identity to communities.

These practices are often also referred to as ‘intangible cultural heritage’ or ‘living heritage’ and are inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants.

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

The UK is rich in traditions which have been passed down from generation to generation – with the music and culture of Wales adding significantly to that richness.

These crafts, customs, and celebrations have helped to shape our communities and bring people together, who continue to shape them in turn.

By ratifying this Convention, we will be able to celebrate treasured traditions from every corner of the country, support the people who practise them, and ensure that they are passed down for future generations to enjoy.

Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said:

We have a huge number of wonderful traditions and customs in Wales that help make our nation unique and distinct and it’s great that many of these will now be formally recorded and recognised.

It’s important to preserve and protect living heritage, as well as physical landmarks and heritage sites, to pass onto future generations and maintain our special Welsh culture.

By ratifying the Convention, the UK Government will be able to recognise our most important crafts and traditions in the same way as we have considered our physical heritage sites such as the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales, the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward I, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal, and the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape.

As intangible cultural heritage can only be considered as such when it is recognised by the communities, groups or individuals that create, maintain and share it, it will be these groups and people from across Wales who will be able to nominate their favourite traditions to be formally recognised.

A public consultation launched today will seek the public’s views on the UK Government’s proposed approach to implementing the Convention across the UK to safeguard valued traditions. This will include the approach to how people will be able to nominate traditions, how they will be adjudicated, and any criteria that the nominated practices will need to meet before they are considered.

The UK Government has been working closely with the Devolved Administrations, the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories in the run up to this decision and will continue to do so in order to implement the Convention and collate the UK-wide inventory, which is expected to launch for nominations next year.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 26 December 2023.

Over 800 charities and community organisations struggling with increased demand have been awarded funding as part of a £76 million package.

• Food banks, warm hubs and safe spaces amongst the first 800 charities to benefit from support for frontline charities and community organisations meeting increased demand for critical services
• Up to £38 million already allocated to support organisations carrying out vital work helping the most vulnerable
• Additional package of support to improve the energy efficiency of community organisations now open for applications

Over 800 charities and community organisations struggling with increased demand have been awarded funding as part of a £76 million package to help vulnerable people.

Projects tackling food poverty, homelessness charities and services offering financial advice are amongst those to benefit from funding, providing a much needed funding boost for those  meeting increased demand for their critical services.

The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK, will continue to make awards from the Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund  throughout December and January.

Minister for Civil Society Stuart Andrew said:

Charities and community organisations are on the frontline helping the most vulnerable in society, and we are allocating £100 million in recognition that they are struggling too, as demand and costs both increase.

Over 800 charities have already been awarded these significant grants, meaning they can continue to help those in need and we will continue to roll out funding at pace.

This funding comes at a critical time as charities and organisations support more people struggling to heat their homes and access hot meals. Grants worth between £10,000 and £75,000 are being allocated to cover project and core costs, including for premise rent, utilities, staff and volunteers.

David Knott, Chief Executive at The National Lottery Community Fund, said:

We’re proud to be distributing Government funding to enable frontline projects in England to support communities facing the impact of the rising cost of living. From the provision of food, shelter and safe spaces, to financial or housing advice, over 800 awards have already been made to critical services that will strengthen communities and improve lives at a challenging time.

Examples of organisations that will be supported include:

• Springwell Village Community Venue, Sunderland: Funding of £45,000 is supporting the project to focus on its food supply of hot meals and food parcels, and the provision of toiletry packs for disadvantaged young people and older people in the community. It will also provide a safe and warm space over the winter months to support those struggling with the rising cost of utility bills.
• Brunswick Youth and Community Centre, Merseyside: In the past 12 months BYCC have adapted their support offer to provide additional food, clothes and essential items due to significant surge in need. Funding of £39,500 will support the project to deliver these services and expand the offering to more beneficiaries, as well as increasing access to their warm space.
• Muslim Women’s Council, Bradford: The Curry Circle project provides hot meals in a warm environment to anyone facing food poverty. Funding of over £50,000 is supporting  it to revive a number of services including increased number of hot takeaways, doorstep delivery of food parcels and survival packs with sanitary products. They also aim to provide weekly access to debt advice at the venue where the meals are served.
• SocietyLinks Tower Hamlets, London: SocietyLinks Tower Hamlets is a community-based charity providing services including after school clubs, holiday provision, youth services, employment support, women’s services, health and fitness programmes and older peoples’ services for disadvantaged residents in the borough.  Funding of over £28,000 will support the continuation of these services, including a food bank, youth safe hub, a warm hub for those aged 50+ and clothing recycling programme.
• The Centre Project Limited, Leicester: This community hub has been awarded over £40,000 to expand and continue its range of services, which includes a foodbank, warm space, hot meals, social activities, youth club and advice services. They support people who may be vulnerable due to loneliness, isolation, poor housing, unemployment, homelessness, mental health issues or in crisis.
• Housing Matters, Bristol: Housing Matters offers an advice, support and advocacy service for people in housing and financial crisis in and around Bristol, advising clients on disputes with landlords, rent arrears, disrepair and overcrowding amongst other issues. Funding of nearly £40,000 is supporting it to pay for the running costs of its housing advice service including telephone, email and face to face support offered at community centres.
• SHAPE Birmingham, Birmingham: SHAPE offers shelter for homeless young women. SHAPE is currently facing an increase in demand for its services due to a rise in the cost of living, alongside a rise in running costs of the hostel. Funding of over £35,000 is supporting them to hire a part time worker, enabling them to support more young women.
• Christian Action and Resource Enterprise, Grimsby: Christian Action and Resource Enterprise Ltd (CARE) is an established charity running various projects including housing, food, furniture and emergency supplies, warmth, a safe space, and financial and housing advice in North East Lincolnshire. Funding of £75,000 will pay for extra staff hours and the cost of additional IT infrastructure, allowing it to continue its work assessing residents for food and utility vouchers; giving advice and help with finances; support for those struggling with domestic abuse; and providing housing for vulnerable people.

As part of the £100 million package of support allocated during the Spring Budget, it was also announced that £25.5 million will be used to pay for measures to help voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in England improve their energy efficiency.

Funding will help the long term energy and financial resilience of the sector as well as supporting the Government’s commitment to meeting a net zero target by 2050. Via independent energy assessments, organisations will be able to identify how to reduce bills through measures such as improving or installing new energy features in the building. The fund will also support the installation of new energy measures, such as insulation, heating and lighting systems, where applicants are eligible.

Applications for the £25.5m VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme, administered by community charity Groundwork, are now open. Eligible organisations are able to apply for funding via the Groundwork website.

This funding follows a support package of £750 million dedicated to help charities adapt and maintain essential services during the pandemic as part of the government’s unprecedented £400 billion COVID support package.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 23 December 2023.

Public encouraged to propose festive traditions, such as Christmas pantomime and Hogmanay, for formal recognition alongside other mainstays of UK culture.

Communities across Scotland will be able to nominate their most cherished traditions to be included in a new register of cultural heritage in the UK.

Festive favourites, such as pantomime, Hogmanay and pagan Yuletide traditions could all be formally recognised.

Seasonal celebrations taking place at St Andrew’s Day, Burns Night, Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Up Helly Aa in the Shetlands could also be included.

Traditions that are central to Scottish culture, identity and communities, from Highland dancing to bagpipe playing, cèilidhs and commons riding are expected to also be put forward for a UK-wide official inventory.

Artisanal crafts such as kilt-making, tweed-weaving and the art of making the perfect haggis, together with the practitioners of these traditions, will also be considered.

The selected Scottish traditions will sit alongside valued traditions from across the rest of the UK, from the male voice choirs of the Welsh Valleys to cheese-rolling and the art of basket-weaving.

It comes as the UK Government has confirmed its intention to ratify the 2003 UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which seeks to protect the crafts, practices, and traditions which are recognised as being key part of national life and providing a sense of identity to communities.

These practices are often also referred to as ‘intangible cultural heritage’ or ‘living heritage’ and are inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants.

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

“The UK is rich in traditions which have been passed down from generation to generation, and so many of those which are best known around the world – from bagpipe-playing to the Highland games – are Scottish.

“These crafts, customs, and celebrations have helped to shape our communities and bring people together, who continue to shape them in turn.

“By ratifying this Convention, we will be able to celebrate treasured traditions from every corner of the country, support the people who practise them, and ensure that they are passed down for future generations to enjoy.”

By ratifying the Convention, the UK Government will be able to recognise Scotland’s most important crafts and traditions in the same way as we have considered physical heritage sites such as New Lanark, Edinburgh Old Town, and the Heart of Neolithic Orkney.

UK Government minister for Scotland, John Lamont, said:

“Hogmanay, Burns Night and ceilidh dancing are Scottish traditions celebrated across the world and now we will be able to give them recognition alongside those from around the UK as part of this international convention.

“I encourage communities across the country to nominate their local traditions that will be ratified and help to preserve them for generations to come.”

As intangible cultural heritage can only be considered as such when it is recognised by the communities, groups or individuals that create, maintain and share it, it will be these groups and people from across Scotland who will be able to nominate the UK’s favourite traditions to be formally recognised.

A public consultation launched today will seek the public’s views on the UK Government’s proposed approach to implementing the Convention across the UK to safeguard valued traditions. This will include the approach to how people will be able to nominate traditions, how they will be adjudicated, and any criteria that the nominated practices will need to meet before they are considered.

The UK Government has been working closely with the Devolved Administrations, the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories in the run up to this decision and will continue to do so in order to implement the Convention and collate the UK-wide inventory, which is expected to launch for nominations next year.