Tag: Department for Culture and Media

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 7 October 2025.

Richard Monks appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Football Regulator.

• Monks brings nearly 20 years’ financial and regulatory experience to CEO role

Independent Football Regulator (IFR) Chair David Kogan has today appointed Richard Monks as the organisation’s Chief Executive Officer.

As the IFR’s first executive appointment, Monks brings nearly 20 years’ experience in the financial regulation sector.

Most recently, Monks was a Partner at EY, one of the City’s ‘Big Four’ professional services and accounting firms. While at EY, Monks was responsible for advising regulators on Government’s growth objective and financial services clients on regulatory implementation. 

IFR Chair David Kogan said:

Richard brings extensive financial and regulatory clout to the IFR, providing balance and insight to our senior leadership team. We are drawing on a wide range of knowledge from the worlds of regulation and football and Richard will build on this as he develops our executive and regulatory skills.

This appointment demonstrates the IFR is hitting the ground running.

Monks previously worked at the Financial Conduct Authority and its predecessor, the Financial Services Authority. There he held several senior positions in strategy, policy and supervisory roles, including Director of Strategy for the FCA, where he was responsible for leading on market-wide analysis, Brexit implementation and design of new financial regimes for investment firms. He also created the FCA’s Senior Managers and Certification Regime.

Monks previously provided advice to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for its work in response to the Fan Led Review of Football Governance, including design of the financial regime which underpins the Football Governance Act.

His appointment will complement the extensive football industry and broadcast media experience brought to the organisation by Chair David Kogan. 

IFR CEO Richard Monks said: 

I am delighted to be appointed CEO of the IFR. My full focus will be on building the organisation and regulatory regime that delivers the right result for the football pyramid and its millions of fans, and supporting clubs throughout the process.” 

Monks’ appointment will accelerate key organisational and operational decision-making as the body prepares to regulate the football industry.

In the coming weeks and months, the IFR will launch further public consultations on its policies, rules, and guidance, to gather industry feedback and familiarise industry with its provisions as set out in the Football Governance Act.

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 6 October 2025.

David Kogan has been appointed for a 5 year term until 19 May 2030, including time served as Chair-designate prior to Royal Assent of the Football Governance Act. Dame Helen Stephenson and Simon Levine also appointed to the Board as Non-Executives.

David Kogan OBE

David Kogan OBE has held senior positions in the television and sports industries during a 45 year career as a media executive, business leader and corporate advisor. He negotiated a succession of multi-billion pound TV rights deals on behalf of major sporting bodies, including the Premier League and the English Football League. He has also advised UEFA, The Scottish Premier League, Six Nations, Premier Rugby and the NFL. Most recently he sold the broadcast rights on behalf of the Woman’s Super League.

He is a former managing director of Reuters Television (the global television news agency), and an ex-CEO of the Magnum photo agency. He has co-founded both Reel Enterprises and the Women’s Sports Group. He is currently an advisor to the New York Times Group and CNN on their commercial, digital and AI strategies. Among his public boards David was a non-executive director at Channel 4, a member of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s Services board from 2007-14 and Chair of Westminster Kingsway Corporation. He is the author of three books.

The appointment of Mr Kogan will mean that the work in establishing the football regulator as a legal entity can continue at pace to improve the governance and financial sustainability in the game.

An inquiry regarding this appointment led by the Commissioner for Public Appointments is ongoing. We have cooperated fully with the inquiry by the Commissioner of Public Appointments and await the report’s publication.

Today, the DCMS also announces that two non-executive directors have been appointed to the board of the Independent Football Regulator for five year terms, commencing on 8 September. 

Dame Helen Stephenson

Dame Helen Stephenson is a Non-Executive Director and former Chief Executive of the Charity Commission for England and Wales. She joined the Commission from the Department for Education where she was Director of Early Years and Child Care. Helen previously worked in the Cabinet Office where she was Director of the Office for Civil Society and Government Innovation Group. Helen joined the Civil Service from the Big Lottery Fund where she was Head of Strategic Policy and Partnerships.

She has worked for a large national charity as a development manager and as a researcher and consultant in the statutory and voluntary sector.  Helen has a PhD from Bristol University. 

Helen is a Non-Executive Board member of the National Lottery Community Fund and Chair of the People Committee. She is a Board member of the ECB Regulatory Board and on the People and Governance Committee at the Royal Academy of Dance. Helen is a Non-Executive Director for North West London Acute Provider Collaborative.

Previously, Helen was on the Board of the Big Society Trust and was Chair of NCT until her appointment at the Charity Commission. Helen was awarded the CBE in 2014 and was awarded a DBE in the Birthday Honours list 2024 for services to charity and regulation.

Simon Levine

Simon Levine has been a practising lawyer in the City of London for over 35 years providing litigation and regulatory advice across a range of sectors including technology, media and sport.

Until late 2024, Simon was for a decade the managing partner and co-global chief executive officer of a global law firm. He now acts as a strategic consultant to businesses in the technology, legal and professional services sectors.

Since 2018 Simon has sat on the board of the regulator for higher education in England, the Office for Students. He has also been a member of advisory boards of the Zoological Society of London, City UK, the International Development Business Exchange, and the Lord Mayor of London, and is an Ambassador for His Majesty’s King Charles III’s Sustainable Markets Initiative.

Notes to editors

• The appointment of a Chair and Non-Executive Directors of the Independent Football Regulator have been made as the result of a fair and open competition.
• The Chair of the Independent Football Regulator is remunerated at £130,000 per annum for an initial time commitment of three days per week. 
• Non-Executive Directors of the Independent Football Regulator are remunerated at £20,800 per annum for a time commitment of one day a week.
• Once fully operational, the running of the IFR will be funded through a levy on licensed clubs. Until this point, it will be funded by the government, with this initial funding eventually recouped through the levy.
• Under the Governance Code on Public Appointments, 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.
• Mr Kogan has declared that he has made donations to local Labour Party candidates over the last three years, as publicly disclosed on the Electoral Commission donation register. He stepped down as Chair of LabourList in 2025, an independent website covering the Labour movement.
• Mr Kogan appeared before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee. A transcript of this hearing is available here, including political declarations made by Mr Kogan that are outside the scope of the Governance Code which are noted here.
• Dame Helen Stephenson and Simon Levine have declared that they have not undertaken any significant political activity.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 3 October 2025.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has appointed Pawlet Brookes MBE as the Midlands Area Chair for Arts Council England.

Pawlet Brookes MBE

Pawlet is the Founder, CEO and Artistic Director of Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage, a Leicester-based organisation committed to championing Black arts, heritage, and cultural equity in the UK and internationally. Under her leadership, Serendipity has become an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation and a national leader in archiving, producing, and programming work that makes the invisible visible.

A curator, producer, and advocate, Pawlet established Let’s Dance International Frontiers, an annual festival bringing global dance practitioners to Leicester and has spearheaded major initiatives including the Living Archive, preserving Black British arts and heritage for future generations. 

Pawlet has previously been a Midlands Area Council Member, contributing her expertise to funding policy and sector strategy, and is a regular speaker on equity and representation in the arts. In recognition of her contribution, she was awarded an MBE for Services to the Arts and Cultural Diversity in 2022. She was presented with an Honorary Fellowship from Northern School of Contemporary Dance in 2023, an Honorary Doctor of Arts from De Montfort University in 2025, and an Honorary Fellowship from Falmouth University in 2025, marking her impact as both a cultural leader and an alumna of UK higher education.

Pawlet Brookes MBE has been appointed for a four-year term, from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2029. 

Remuneration and Governance Code

The Midlands Area Chair receives an annual remuneration of £7,525. 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. 

Pawlet Brookes MBE has declared no such political activity.

Notes to Editors

DCMS has around 400 regulated Public Appointment roles across 42 Public Bodies including Arts Council England, Theatres Trust, the National Gallery, UK Sport and the Gambling Commission. We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom.  To find out more about Public Appointments or to apply visit the HM Government Public Appointments Website.

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 23 September 2025.

The Secretary of State has appointed David Crisp and Laura Burnett as Trustees to the Treasure Valuation Committee for terms of 5 years.

David Crisp 

David Crisp has been a Metal Detectorist for over 36 years and has recorded over 1300 single items. He believes that metal detecting done properly is a benefit to saving our 500,000+year-old Legacy of man-made items from the UK and its dependents. 

He has been on the committee of the Trowbridge & District Metal Detecting Club for over 30 years and is the finder of the largest single hoard of Roman coins ever found in the UK. For the past two years he has also been Communications Officer to the National Council for Metal Detecting and until last year, was one of the main organisers of the RCM detecting events that have raised huge amounts for cancer care charities.

Laura Burnett 

Laura Burnett is a specialist in archaeological finds. She has authored articles and books on medieval and post-medieval objects, writing for public and specialist audiences in local, national and international publications. As a Finds Liaison Officer for 12 years she has extensive experience of the material reported as Treasure, the practical workings of the Act, and the concerns of finders, landowners and museums. She is currently undertaking doctoral research at the University of Exeter on 17th century trade tokens.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 23 September 2025.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has appointed Professor Steven Gunn as Trustee of the Royal Armouries for a 4 year term from 1 March 2025.

Professor Steven Gunn

Steven Gunn is Fellow and Tutor in History at Merton College, Oxford and Professor of Early Modern History. He teaches and researches the history of later medieval and early modern Britain and Europe. 

His books include Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk (1988), Early Tudor Government, 1485-1558 (1995), War, State and Society in England and the Netherlands, 1477-1559 (2007), Henry VII’s New Men and the Making of Tudor England (2016), The English People at War in the Age of Henry VIII (2018) and An Accidental History of Tudor England: From Daily Life to Sudden Death (2025). 

He speaks regularly to Historical Association branches and similar groups and has contributed to radio and TV programmes such as In Our Time, Great Lives, Time Team and Cunk on Britain. He is currently researching life and death in Tudor prisons and the political cultures of sixteenth-century European aristocracies.

Remuneration and Governance Code

This role is not remunerated. These appointments have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election.

Professor Steven Gunn has declared no political activity.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 9 September 2025.

Government to be guided by industry experts and academics including UK Sport and Sport England to break down barriers and create opportunities for women in sport.

• Building on the success of the Lionesses this summer, the aim is to deliver equal access, better facilities and protect female athletes from online abuse as part of the Plan for Change.
• Aim to deliver this change by the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup as the first meeting takes place in Brighton ahead of England vs Australia Women’s Rugby World Cup clash.

With England’s Red Roses taking centre stage at the Rugby World Cup, the UK wants to build on the success of the Lionesses this summer to cement its position as a leader in women’s sport.

A new taskforce of industry experts aims to understand opportunities and break down barriers to deliver equal access, best in class facilities, ongoing professionalisation of women’s sport, visible role models to inspire future generations of girls and a strong pipeline of UK hosted major events by the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

This ambitious mission will be supported by the Women’s Sport Taskforce, which will hold its first meeting today ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup match between England and Australia in Brighton. 

Chaired by the Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock, the first meeting will focus on driving innovation in female athlete health research and tackling the online abuse that too many of our elite sportswomen continue to endure. Guest experts include Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Chris Boardman, Chair of Sport England and Sally Munday, Chief Executive of UK Sport. The National Governing Bodies of rugby union, football, netball, tennis and cricket will also be attending the first meeting to lend their insight, and the Taskforce will hear from data science company Signify Group to understand their work with World Rugby on online abuse of female athletes. 

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

With record breaking crowds at the Rugby World Cup and tens of thousands of fans packing out the mall for the Lionesses victory parade after their amazing Euros success, the UK is perfectly positioned to become the world leader in women’s sport but we know positive results on the pitch must be met with decisive action off it. 

This Taskforce will work to make sure that from the grassroots to sold out stadiums at major events, we are creating an environment where every woman and young girl can be involved in sport in an inclusive and welcoming environment as part of our Plan for Change.

Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock said:

Our Plan for Change is already expanding opportunities for women and girls. We are doubling access for women and girls on grassroots pitches, investing in state-of-the-art cricket domes and have a Rugby World Cup legacy programme that has already benefitted 850 clubs, improving facilities and access to sport. 

This Taskforce will now guide us towards the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup, focusing on increasing participation, leading global innovation, and combating online abuse to make our women’s and girls’ sport sector the best in the world.

The timing of the first meeting in Brighton reflects the Government’s commitment to using the record-breaking Women’s Rugby World Cup as a catalyst for transformational change. The tournament has already made history with more than 400,000 tickets sold, demonstrating the incredible appetite for women’s sport. 

Building on this success, the government’s Impact 25 legacy programme has invested almost £7 million to reach hundreds of rugby clubs nationwide, supporting women and girls of all ages to get involved in rugby.

CEO of UK Sport, Sally Munday said: 

One of our key ambitions at UK Sport is to use the power and platform of sport to inspire positive change. Nowhere does this burn more brightly than in women’s sport. It is really encouraging that the Government is supporting the delivery of this work through the establishment of the Women’s Sport Taskforce.

At UK Sport, we are proud to support trailblazing female Olympic and Paralympic athletes and are committed to continuing to bring some of the biggest and best international events in women’s sport to the UK – such as this year’s record breaking Rugby World Cup, the Tour De France Femmes in 2027 and hopefully, a Women’s Football World Cup in 2035.

We are all invested in the continuing rise of women’s sport and I am delighted to be joining this new Taskforce to help make our ambitions a reality.’

Chair of Sport England, Chris Boardman said:

I’m delighted to have been asked to join DCMS’ taskforce on women’s sport. From safety fears to disempowering kit to online abuse – the issues faced by girls and women seeking to take part in sport and physical activity are major, which means that the stubborn gender activity gap persists.

Sport England’s commitment is unwavering; our hugely influential This Girl Can campaign launches its next phase next week, and I am also look forward to meeting with OFCOM to discuss what action can be taken to better protect female athletes from online abuse.

RFU’s Executive Director of the Women’s Game, Alex Teasdale said:

The RFU is proud to support the launch of the Women’s Sport Taskforce, and welcomes the Government’s ambition to make the UK a global leader in women’s sport. Women’s rugby is seeing first-hand the transformative power of hosting a major event, and we are committed to working with partners across sport to ensure more women and girls can experience the benefits of playing and staying active. 

With the Rugby World Cup providing the perfect stage, we look forward to helping drive progress on participation, visibility and player welfare within rugby, and across wider women’s sport

The UK is  hosting a series of major women’s sporting events over the next decade leading up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2035. As well as the Women’s Rugby World Cup, these include the Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup in 2026 and the Tour de France Femmes Grand Départ in 2027. These events will showcase the country’s ability to deliver world-class sport at the elite level  whilst driving a  lasting legacy  on women’s sport participation. 

Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Managing Director, Sarah Massey said:

We welcome the government’s ambition, which echoes our own for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 to be more than a tournament – to deliver positive social impact by changing perceptions and setting new standards that can influence both our industry and wider society. 

At World Rugby we are proud to be leading the charge with our industry-leading online protection programme, supporting the mental wellbeing of players and match officials, tackling online abuse, and fostering a respectful and inclusive environment for all participants on and off the field. Rugby is a sport where everyone belongs, and that principle guides everything we do. 

It’s why we’ve built a diverse team for this tournament, with women representing 100% of our senior leadership team and 70% of our overall workforce, whilst also ensuring our suppliers are aligned with our values. Together with government and partners across sport we are determined to open up the sports industry to make it more inclusive.

The UK is  hosting a series of major women’s sporting events over the next decade leading up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2035. As well as the Women’s Rugby World Cup, these include the Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup in 2026 and the Tour de France Femmes Grand Départ in 2027. These events will showcase the country’s ability to deliver world-class sport at the elite level  whilst driving a  lasting legacy  on women’s sport participation.

The government has committed significant investment in both grassroots and elite sport, with £400 million allocated for new and upgraded grassroots facilities and £500 million invested in elite sporting events. 

Through targeted funding and Sport England’s renowned This Girl Can campaign, which has helped nearly four million women become more active over the past decade, alongside pioneering research at Loughborough University’s Sport Research and Innovation Hub for women, the government continues to work with experts in their field to break down barriers and drive innovation that will make the UK the leader in women’s sport globally by 2035.

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 5 September 2025.

The death of HRH The Duchess of Kent has been announced by Buckingham Palace.

As a mark of respect UK Government Buildings are asked to lower their Union Flag to half-mast from as soon as possible today until 08:00 tomorrow, 6 September.

Other organisations and local authorities may follow suit.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 5 September 2025.

Funding available to support regional museums and galleries to ensure collections are more accessible to the public.

• Applications are open for a share of £4 million through a partnership between charity the Wolfson Foundation and DCMS
• The partnership will boost people’s access to art and culture, delivering on both the government’s Plan for Change to increase opportunities for all and the Wolfson Foundation’s charitable objectives

People across the country will soon benefit from a £4 million boost for regional museums and galleries through the joint DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund. This is part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to ensure everyone, everywhere has access to arts and culture in the place they call home.

The £4 million DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund is made up of £2 million in match funding and provides support to local people by improving displays, enhancing collections care and making exhibitions more accessible to visitors. Over the last 20 years, more than 440 projects have benefitted from over £50 million in funding.

This new round of funding will deliver on both the Government’s Plan for Change by breaking down barriers to opportunity and the new Strategic Framework for the Wolfson Foundation, ensuring that collections are more accessible to the public, whether that be through investment in gallery spaces, accessibility measures and collection care.

In the previous round of funding, organisations including People’s History Museum in Manchester received over £200,000 for their Welcome Project, which focused on key improvements to the building as identified in an independent access audit. In line with the museum’s commitment to improving access for all, the project installed a new accessible front door, full toilet renovation including installation of a changing places facility, accessible furniture and updated all signage around the museum.

The Food Museum in Suffolk received more than £89,000 in funding for the Abbot’s Hall estate and its listed gardens, which feature a canal with an early 18th-century fishing lodge. The lodge had been inaccessible to visitors since the 1990s due to the deteriorating condition of the access bridge. With support from the DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, the museum built a new bridge that allows visitors to access the island.

Experience Barnsley Museum used over £37,000 of funding from the previous round for their Chamber of Treasures project, which transformed an underused space in the permanent main gallery with new displays and interpretation of social history collections created with Barnsley’s communities. The project improved access and interpretation for people with disabilities to enhance visitor experiences, whilst improving care of the collection.

Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

We want everyone, everywhere to be able to enjoy culture and the arts – and this fund helps us achieve that mission.

It is a great example of combining public funding with private philanthropy to help deliver on our Plan for Change by ensuring that people who may find accessing museums and galleries difficult have the opportunity to enjoy the incredible collections we have on offer in this country.

Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said:

Museums and galleries play a vital role in deepening our understanding of the past and our shared culture. For over twenty years we have worked with DCMS to support museums and galleries as they improve access and enable more visitors to discover, understand and enjoy our country’s remarkable collections. We’re delighted to continue our partnership with this new round of funding.

From today (Friday 5 September), the fund is open for applications until Friday 14 November.

Notes to editors:

Full guidance, including eligibility criteria and details of how to apply can be found on GOV.UK.

About DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund

The DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund provides capital funding for museums and galleries across England to improve displays, protect collections and make exhibitions more accessible to visitors. For 2025-27, DCMS and the Wolfson Foundation have each contributed £2 million to the Fund, which has benefitted more than 440 projects in its more than 20-year history.

About the Wolfson Foundation

The Wolfson Foundation is an independent grant-making charity with a focus on research and education. Its aim is to contribute to civil society by supporting high-quality projects in science, health, heritage, humanities and the arts.

Since it was established in 1955, the Wolfson Foundation has awarded some £1 billion (£2 billion in real terms) to more than 14,000 projects throughout the UK, all on the basis of expert review.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 4 September 2025.

The Independent Football Regulator (IFR) has today set out plans to raise the bar on owners and directors of football clubs, as it launches its proposed Owners, Directors and Senior Executives (ODSE) test.

• IFR publishes plans for new Owners, Directors and Senior Executives regime
• Test will raise standards and give powers to take action when owners or directors fail to meet new requirements
• ODSE proposals published alongside information gathering, enforcement and sanctions guidance

The new regime will assess the honesty, integrity and financial soundness of those who want to own or run a football club, ensuring they have the necessary skills and experience to do so. It will promote responsible ownership and protect the financial health of the 116 regulated football clubs, and is the first element of the new IFR regime to be consulted on.

The rules that will determine whether prospective owners, directors and senior executives are fit and proper have been significantly tightened, while the criteria used to protect against illicit finance and criminal funding entering football have also been widened.

Incumbent owners, directors and senior executives will not need to apply for approval. Good owners, running clubs effectively, will experience minimal impact. However, if the IFR has concerns about the suitability of an incumbent, it will be able to take action.

Under the new rules, the IFR will be able to go further and undertake greater due diligence and checks compared to those currently run by competition organisers. For example, the IFR will be able to consider domestic and international cases in applying its test and be able to check with banks where funds may be held, as well as with law enforcement agencies and other regulatory bodies.

At the same time, the IFR is also consulting on how it will use its powers to determine a prospective owner or director’s ability to finance their purchase of a club as well as their intent and strategy.

The ODSE proposals are part of a series of key consultations being launched today, which also include proposals on the IFR’s Information Gathering, Enforcement and Sanctions powers. These powers will be essential to allowing the IFR to enforce its rules efficiently and uphold standards across the game.

The law gives the IFR the power to hold clubs and individuals to account as and when needed — from financial penalties, and public censure, to requiring an owner to divest from a club. These powers will be used proportionately, in accordance with the IFR’s statutory duties, and with an understanding of the importance of owner investment and risk-taking in English football.

The IFR will work collaboratively with clubs to prevent issues occurring. Powers will be used if necessary, to incentivise clubs and individuals to comply and to make sure the IFR can act swiftly and fairly when rules are not followed.

Members of the public, fan groups, clubs, competition organisers and related businesses are all invited to participate in the consultation and share their views, which will run until Monday 6 October.

The IFR will publish its response to these consultations later this year, with the regime expected to go live as soon as possible.