Tag: Department for Culture and Media

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 17 October 2023.

The Secretary of State has appointed William Burton and Beth Knight as Board Members of the British Tourism Authority for five year terms commencing 18 September 2023.

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 17 October 2023.

The NHS is set to benefit as new levy will raise an estimated £100 million of new funding for research, prevention and treatment of gambling addiction.

• NHS to become main commissioner of treatment as a result of gambling levy – providing estimated £100 million per year for research, prevention and treatment
• Government to take action to put funding for treatment, prevention and research on a long term footing from the existing voluntary set up
• Consultation launched to gather views from industry, clinicians, practitioners academics, those who have experienced of harmful gambling and the wider public

The NHS is set to benefit as new levy will raise an estimated £100 million of new funding for research, prevention and treatment of gambling addiction.

Following publication of the gambling white paper in April, the Government is now taking the next step in mandating payments from the sector by launching a consultation on the design of the proposed gambling operator levy.

Currently, not all gambling companies contribute equally towards the existing voluntary levy, with some operators paying as little as £1 towards research, prevention and treatment. The Government is therefore acting to ensure all operators contribute their fair share.

In order to improve research, prevention and treatment of gambling harm, the Government is minded to set the levy as a new 1% fee on gross gambling yield for online gambling operators, while traditional betting shops and casinos will pay a proposed fee of around 0.4%.

The white paper has proposed a fair and proportionate approach to levy rates between various operators, taking into account the difference, for example, in operating costs and the levels of harmful gambling associated with different gambling activities.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

We are taking the next step in our plan to protect those most at risk of gambling harm with a new levy on gambling operators to pay for treatment and research.

All gambling operators will be required to pay their fair share and this consultation is an opportunity for the industry, clinicians, those who have experienced gambling harm and the wider public to have their say on how the proposed gambling operator levy should work.

The introduction of this levy will strengthen the safety net and help deliver our long-term plan to help build stronger communities while allowing millions of people to continue to gamble safely.

Technology has reshaped where, when and how people gamble and there has been a significant rise in online gambling behaviour due to the ease of access on smartphones, with people able to gamble anytime and anywhere.

Figures from the NHS Digital Health Survey also indicate that some of these online products are associated with elevated levels of gambling-related addiction and harm with ‘problem gambling’ rates eight times higher for online slots and casino game players than in the population as a whole.

Under the proposed levy, the gambling industry will no longer have a say over how money for research, prevention and treatment is spent. Instead, the Gambling Commission will distribute funding directly to the NHS and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which coordinates research and innovation funding, under the strategic direction of government. The levy will be underpinned by legislation meaning firms will be required to pay.

The funding delivered through the levy, which will deliver substantial new investment for the NHS in England, Scotland and Wales, will increase access to treatment and support for those experiencing gambling-related harm. It will also help to develop a truly national approach to prevention and fund independent, high-quality research to inform policy and practice.

In July this year, the NHS announced that seven new specialist gambling addiction clinics will open in Milton Keynes, Thurrock, Derby, Bristol, Liverpool, Blackpool and Sheffield this year. This is in addition to the seven clinics already in operation in London, Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, and Telford, as well as an additional national clinic, which treats both gambling and gaming addiction in children and young people, in London.

Gambling Minister Stuart Andrew said:

We know that gambling addiction can devastate lives, which is why we are working quickly to implement our bold plans for reform.

This consultation brings us a step closer to being able to provide £100 million of new funding for research, prevention and treatment, including ring fenced investment for the NHS to help gambling addicts.

Gambling firms should always pay their fair share and this new statutory levy will ensure that they are legally required to do just that.

Health Minister Neil O’Brien said:

Harmful gambling can affect people’s savings, ruin relationships, and devastate people’s lives and health.

Gambling companies should pay their fair share towards the costs of treatment services, but we want to hear from as many people as possible about how the new statutory levy should work.

We continue working to support those affected by gambling harms. Twelve of the planned fifteen NHS gambling addictions clinics have now opened across the country providing vital support services for thousands of people experiencing gambling-related harms as well as their loved ones. The remaining three are expected to open by the end of the year.”

Henrietta Bowden-Jones, National Clinical Advisor for Gambling Harms, said:

I welcome this Levy which reflects the government’s decision to fund gambling treatment, prevention, research and education in an independent and evidence- based way allowing us to continue our work of eradicating all gambling harms from society.”

NHS mental health director Claire Murdoch said:

Gambling addiction destroys people’s lives and with record numbers turning to the NHS for support, the health service has met this demand head on by opening four new specialist clinics in recent months, with a further three opening later this year.

The NHS has long called for a statutory levy because it is only right that this billion-pound industry steps up to support people suffering from gambling addiction and I am pleased that action is being taken to prevent people from coming to harm in the first place. It is now vital we continue working in partnership to ensure we provide effective prevention, education and treatment for this condition.

The Government’s gambling white paper, published in April 2023, set out a range of measures to improve player protections and reduce the risk of gambling addiction and harm in the smartphone era. Measures such as financial risk checks to better alert operators to risky behaviours, stake limits for online slots, tighter controls on marketing of bonuses and a new mandatory gambling operator levy are designed to reduce risk and improve player protections.

The Government and Gambling Commission continue to implement the measures set out in the white paper with a view to having key elements in place in summer 2024.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 16 October 2023.

Jacquie Nnochiri and Deborah Tavana have been reappointed by HM The King as Board Members of the National Citizen Service Trust for three years from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2027

Jacquie Nnochiri

Reappointed from 01 January 2024 until 31 December 2027.

Jacquie has had an influential career in mainstream education and Pupil Referral Unit setting. She has had numerous roles in mainstream education including Head of Year & Head of Department. Jacquie is passionate about giving young people, especially vulnerable students the knowledge, opportunity, and the exposure to networks and to give them the tools to improve their further education and future work opportunities. Jacquie has consistently championed the cause of young people, especially those who are most vulnerable and the most marginalised.

Jacquie has extensive knowledge of the education sector, she is capable of identifying and advising on new challenges, initiatives, and opportunities and to bring a broader perspective to the decision-making processes.

Jacquie has collaborated with many external stakeholders. Her role as academic lead brings her into close contact with parents and carers, local authorities, social workers and other outside agencies.

Jacquie is a mentor for students @QMUL- the School of Business & Management. Jacquie is a Volunteer for the Youth Offending Team as a Referral Order Community Panel Member. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the IMB board.

Deborah Tavana

Reappointed from 01 January 2024 until 31 December 2027.

Deborah started her career with Legal & General and has held executive roles in Williams & Glyn Bank, Resolution, Swiss Re and General Electric. She has experience in a range of leadership roles covering Human Resources, Communications, Governance, Legal and Operations and has also undertaken consulting and advisory work on both a regional and global basis. In addition, Deborah served for 13 years as a member of the Employment Tribunals.

Her career has always been guided by a belief in the importance of creating organisation cultures that value the whole person, whether colleague, customer or client. Deborah now works independently as an executive coach and management consultant. She joined the board of NCS in 2021 and is Chair of the People & Remuneration Committee. She also serves as a trustee on the board of United Response, and sits on the board of Kore Labs, a UK based fintech firm.

Deborah is a graduate of the University of Bristol, holds an MSc from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology and is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD. She balances her work alongside a busy family life with four children, enjoys swimming, photography and learning to play the piano.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Trustees of the National Citizens Service 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. Jacquie Nnochiri and Deborah Tavana have not declared any significant political activity.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 12 October 2023.

The Secretary of State has reappointed Judith Donovan CBE, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill and Professor Ajit Lalvani as trustees of the Science Museum Group.

Judith Donovan CBE

Reappointed from 1 September 2023 until 31 August 2027

Judith Donovan is a Yorkshire businesswoman, who started her own direct marketing agency in Bradford.During her 20 years at the helm of a rapidly growing business she also chaired the Training and Enterprise Council and was the first female president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce after 167 years.

Judith is a trustee of the National Army Museum as well as the chair of its trading subsidiary. She is also chair of the Employment Advisory Board for the two Yorkshire women’s prisons as well as chair of Ripon Cathedral Council. Previously she has been a Millennium Commissioner, a Health and Safety Commissioner, vice chair Postwatch, board member British Wool and Yorkshire Dales National Park, and chair of the Yorkshire Tourist Board

She holds CCMI; FIOD; FRSA; FCIM; FIDM; FCAM and honorary degrees from Hull and Leeds Beckett Universities.

Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill

Reappointed from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2027

Peter, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, has been the Chair of Network Rail since July 2015, and Chair of the London Legacy Development Corporation since July 2017. Peter was previously Commissioner of Transport for London for nearly 10 years. He started his transport career in 1975 as a London Transport graduate trainee. He was knighted in the 2013 New Year’s Honours List, having been made CBE in 2006. He was introduced in the House of Lords in December 2022. Peter has a strong interest in transport heritage, and is a Trustee of the London Transport Museum and Chair of the Heritage Railway Association.

Professor Ajit Lalvani

Reappointed from 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2027

Ajit is Chair of Infectious Diseases and Director of the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Respiratory Infections at Imperial College London. He develops and deploys scientific advances to protect the nation’s health from the most serious respiratory infections: flu, TB and COVID-19. He translates his discoveries into innovative practical solutions to improve patient care and public health, including new technologies and policies that have helped to halve England’s TB burden. He has raised £40 million research funding and published 200 research papers. He is passionate about reversing health inequalities through tackling the social determinants of health and empowering individuals to improve their wellbeing and resilience, including through the role of the arts.

Ajit is a member of the Board of the English National Opera (ENO) and the Scientific Advisory Council of the College of Medicine. He develops India’s medical research ecosystem through chairing the Strategic Advisory Board of The India Alliance, India’s pre-eminent medical research funding organisation.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Trustees for the Science Museum Group are not remunerated. These appointments have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments.

The Governance Code requires that any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years is declared; this is defined as holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation or candidature for election. Judith Donovan, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill and Ajit Lalvani have not declared any significant political activity.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 10 October 2023.

Library book loan payment scheme updated to benefit authors enabling authors to earn up to £6,600 from loans of their books from libraries.

• Scheme enables authors to earn up to £6,600 from loans of their books from libraries
• Payments to authors for library loans to be made fairer through use of improved data
• Estates of deceased authors will be able to receive payments for their work more easily

More authors are set to benefit from improvements to the Scheme that pays them when their books are loaned from public libraries in the UK.

The Public Lending Right (PLR) Scheme provides authors with an income of up to £6,600 a year from loans of their books from public libraries in the UK and pays out more than £6 million annually. The rate paid to authors for each loan is calculated by dividing the total money available by the estimated total annual number of loans in public libraries.

The PLR Scheme currently specifies that the number of loans is to be determined by means of a sample, with data from 30 councils used to assist payment calculations. These new changes will see the British Library move towards collecting comprehensive loans data from all library authorities in the UK to ensure authors are getting their fair share.

This means that the more of their books are loaned out by public libraries, the more income an author will receive through the Scheme.

According to the latest public statistics, Richard Osman’s novel The Thursday Murder Club was the most borrowed book from libraries in 2021/22 while authors including Roald Dahl, Daisy Meadows and Lee Child were among the top ten most popular.

The Scheme will also be changed to simplify the process for those who have inherited rights to a book from a deceased author, removing unnecessary, bureaucratic processes like the requirement to involve legal professionals.

Arts & Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

Libraries are an invaluable resource for people of all ages and backgrounds across the country, opening up access to a wealth of enlightenment and enjoyment.

It is only right that authors receive fair payment when their work is loaned from libraries. These changes to the scheme will ensure that it is working as fairly and effectively as possible.

Phil Spence OBE, Chief Operating Officer of the British Library, said:

We welcome these changes to the Public Lending Right Scheme – this allows for more information to be gathered on loans data, which will enable us to better serve the authors and creators whose works are loaned from public libraries, and the readers that borrow from them too.

The British Library receives funding from DCMS to run the Public Lending Right Scheme. Payments are made annually to eligible authors who register their work. Authors residing in the UK or European Economic Area are eligible to apply.

Changes to the Public Lending Right Scheme, which was established in 1982, will come into force on 31 October 2023.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 10 October 2023.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer will today champion the arts at Number 10 Downing Street to mark the 20th anniversary of the groundbreaking Frieze London Art Fair.

• A day of events championing the visual arts to be held at Number 10 Downing Street
• Comes as Frieze London Art Fair turns 20 years old
• Events to focus on providing pathways into the arts for young people and supporting regional museums

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer will today champion the arts at Number 10 Downing Street to mark the 20th anniversary of the groundbreaking Frieze London Art Fair.

The event demonstrates the government’s support for the visual arts as a key part of the success of the wider arts sector as a major contributor to the UK economy. The UK is the second largest art market in the world, just behind the US with 18% of sales globally.  It is larger than the rest of Europe combined.

The arts are an important part of our thriving creative industries, which were worth £108 billion to the economy in 2021 and supported over two million jobs across the country last year. The creative industries were recognised as a priority growth sector by the Chancellor and in June the Department for Culture, Media and Sport published the Creative Industries Sector Vision, which sets out how the Government will work together with industry to support growth and prosperity.

Also attending the event will be Minister for Arts and Heritage Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, British art market leaders and representatives from art galleries and museums across the UK.

The full day of events at Downing Street will start with an award ceremony in the morning unveiling a new print commissioned for the Robson Orr TenTen Award 2023 by the Government Art Collection, hosted by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay.

The Robson Orr TenTen Award is a ten-year scheme, which commissions a unique limited edition print by a leading British artist each year. Fifteen editions are gifted to the Government Art Collection to put on display in UK government buildings around the world while the sale of eleven editions help raise funds for the Government Art Collection to support emerging British artists and those currently underrepresented in the Collection. The award is presented by the Government Art Collection with Outset Contemporary Art Fund and sponsored by leading philanthropists Sybil Robson Orr and Matthew Orr.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

We are in a golden age for British arts and culture and the government will do all we can to continue to maximise the potential of our creative industries, which boasts talent the length and breadth of the UK.

The Robson Orr TenTen Award is a fantastic initiative that gives a platform to this talent, providing much-needed opportunities for underrepresented artists.

Later in the day, a Youth Leaders Networking Lunch will take place in the State Dining Room at Number 10 to highlight innovative programmes across the UK that support young people in the arts. Discussions at the lunch will centre on creating pathways for under-represented groups and providing opportunities for young leaders to meet and share experiences.

Attendees at the lunch include renowned artist Alvaro Barrington and young people who collaborated with him on designing a community basketball court in Bethnal Green, that was then represented in his work Change the Game, Frieze (2022), recently acquired by the Government Art Collection.

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay will also host a roundtable together with the Government Art Collection and Contemporary Art Society to highlight the Contemporary Art Society’s work with the Collections Fund at Frieze, acquiring major new works at Frieze London for regional collections in the UK. Recipients of the fund over the past seven years, including the Fitzwilliam Museum, will discuss the positive impact of the scheme on their collections and local communities.

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

The UK is a world leader in the arts and it is vital that we continue to provide access to culture and creative opportunities for everyone – as our Creative Industries Sector Vision and our work on a new Cultural Education Plan will do.

I look forward to meeting cultural leaders from around the country to discuss the great work they are doing to develop collections around the UK, ensuring people have access to world-class culture on their doorstep no matter where they live.

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 5 October 2023.

Guidance published to advise custodians facing calls for the removal of heritage assets in their care or ownership.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 29 September 2023.

Thousands of young people at risk of falling out of education, employment or training once they leave school will be given career mentoring and life skills training to help them succeed in life.

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 28 September 2023.

Allocating £350 million of dormant assets funding equally across the four English purposes.

The Dormant Assets Scheme aims to reunite people with their financial assets, such as bank and building society accounts. Where this is not possible, the money is unlocked for important social and environmental initiatives across the UK. Over the last decade, the Dormant Assets Scheme has unlocked £982 million for social and environmental initiatives across the UK.

Following a public consultation, the government confirmed that the purposes of the English portion of the funds made available would be youth, financial inclusion and education, social investment wholesalers, and community wealth funds. The government also committed to publishing a statement of intent, outlining its intended allocations across these four causes.

The Dormant Assets Scheme is expected to release £350 million for England over 2024 and 2028. The government intends to allocate this equally between the four causes:

• £87.5 million for the provision of services, facilities or opportunities to meet the needs of young people
• £87.5 million for the development of individuals’ ability to manage their finances or the improvement of access to personal financial services
• £87.5 million for social investment wholesalers
• £87.5 million for community wealth funds

Further details of these intended allocations will be published in due course.

Find out more about the Dormant Assets Scheme.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 27 September 2023.

Young people will get better support and services as the Government supports the training of youth workers with £800,000 of new funding, the Culture Secretary has announced today.

• New bursaries for 500 youth workers to get skills and qualifications to better support young people
• £800,000 in government funding will mean more vulnerable children and teenagers have someone trained to talk to outside school
• Extra funding so local organisations can work together better to improve their youth offer
• Clearer government guidance to make it easier for local authorities to provide more opportunities and services
• Builds on the Government’s ‘National Youth Guarantee’, backed by an investment of more than £500 million

Young people will get better support and services as the Government supports the training of youth workers with £800,000 of new funding, the Culture Secretary has announced today.

More than 500 youth workers and volunteers, who would otherwise be unable to undertake training, will have their course fees fully paid for by the Government.

The funding will allow adults to access a Level 2, 3 or 4 youth worker qualifications, meaning more vulnerable children and teenagers will have someone trained to talk to outside of school, providing a guiding hand to keep them on the right path and unlock their potential.

Funding for youth qualifications in 2020 enabled one youth worker in Leicester to complete the Level 3 Diploma, allowing him to continue delivering music sessions and providing mentoring as a qualified youth worker rather than a volunteer.

In Norwich, another youth worker who delivers creative writing workshops for young people struggling to engage in education, was unable to access qualifications due to their cost. Thanks to a Government bursary, she was able to undertake the Level Two Youth Work Certificate, enhancing her practice.

The Government is also announcing more funding for youth services delivered at a regional level to help youth groups, local authorities and businesses work together more effectively and give young people the best start in life.

The move builds on Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer’s aim to give young people ‘someone to talk to, something to do and somewhere to go’, outlined in a recent keynote speech at the Onward Think Tank.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

I want every young person to have the best start in life and part of that is having a trusted adult and mentor who they can turn to for advice and guidance. For many this will be their parents or family member but for others it will be the Youth worker they meet at their local club.

Youth workers provide an invaluable role for tens of thousands of young people when the school day ends, which is why we are funding 500 more youth workers and volunteers to get qualified.

This funding builds on our investment in the youth sector, with more than £300 million to build or refurbish up to 300 youth centres across the country via the Youth Investment Fund.

The plans announced today include over £300,000 to support and improve the delivery of youth services at a regional level. Existing regional youth work units will receive £40,000 over the next two years to facilitate greater coordination between youth services across eight regions, making sure the sector is well-informed, skilled and able to meet young people’s needs. Regional units also unlock additional funding opportunities to provide more young people with somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to.

The funding comes in addition to £250,000 being allocated to encourage local partnerships as part of the Local Partnerships Fund, which will be used to improve services on a more local level. The fund is designed to encourage partnerships between youth services and councils, schools, local sporting and smaller community based organisations so they can provide a more holistic experience for young people.

Partnering with The Young People’s Foundation Trust, the funding will be allocated to ten areas to support partnerships between local organisations. This will help to attract additional funding, such as through match funding by local authorities, raising the standards of local youth services.

Martin Hartley-Smith, CEO Young BWD Foundation said:

DCMS funding via Local Partnerships Fund has been the cornerstone in establishing the Young BWD Foundation in Blackburn with Darwen, enabling us to develop a borough-wide strategic plan in close partnership with the local authority.

Our collaboration has not only positioned the BWD Foundation and its members as a key strategic partner but has also facilitated the securing of additional funding for a pivotal youth justice project.

Building on the latest financial support for the sector, the Government has also updated the statutory duty guidance which outlines how local authorities should secure services for young people in their area.

Developed in collaboration with the youth sector, local authorities and young people, the updated guidance includes more detailed information on how to work with other local organisations to best meet the needs of young people.

The updated guidance includes:

• Clarifications on what local authorities must do under the duty;
• Suggested activities and examples of best practice;
• Ways local authorities can work with the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, youth workers, school and colleges, businesses and employers and other agencies and bodies;
• Guidance on taking views of young people in their area into account on current and future provision.

Michael Bracey, Chief Executive of Milton Keynes City Council said:

Youth work can make a hugely positive contribution to helping younger residents thrive and, in turn, the wider community. The guidance is a helpful reminder of the opportunity it presents for council’s as they work to build successful places

Today’s announcement supports the Government’s ‘National Youth Guarantee’ that every young person aged 11-18 in England will have access to regular clubs and activities, adventures away from home, and volunteering opportunities by 2025. It is backed by an investment of more than £500 million. This includes the Government’s Youth Investment Fund of more than £300 million, of which £160 million has been delivered. This will support up to 300 youth centres across the country to be rebuilt or redeveloped, and help 45,000 more young people access regular, positive activities every year.

This follows the announcement earlier this week that 7,500 disadvantaged young people are to be given access to adventures away from home as part of Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer’s vision that all young people have something productive to do.