Tag: Department for Culture and Media

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.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 21 August 2025.

The Secretary of State has appointed Professor Aoife Hunt MBE as Board Member to The Sports Ground Safety Authority for 3 years from 12 May 2025 to 11 May 2028.

Professor Aoife Hunt MBE

Aoife is a Professor of Crowd Safety and Security Science at the University of Greenwich and a leading specialist in crowd dynamics, simulation modelling and emergency evacuation strategies. She has over 17 years’ experience leading projects and research studies to advance the safety and security of crowded places, supporting the design and operation of sports grounds, arenas, major events, the public realm, hospitals, and transport systems. Aoife has extensive experience in designing video studies of human behaviour and led the world’s largest study into virus transmission risk behaviours in crowded places during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aoife regularly contributes to national and international guidance documents and is currently co-authoring the chapter on evacuation modelling in the SFPE Fire Engineering handbook. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland, and Co-Chair of the Security Institute’s Protective Security Special Interest Group. Aoife is passionate about inspiring children to continue studying mathematics and regularly works with national educational programmes to deliver outreach talks for schools and colleges. She holds memberships and committee roles across the industry and in 2023 was awarded an MBE for her services to the COVID-19 response.

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 14 August 2025.

Their Majesties The King and Queen will join Second World War veterans at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

• Iconic buildings from The Shard to Cardiff Castle will light up on Friday evening in tribute
• National two-minute silence will be held at midday on Friday 15 August

Their Majesties The King and Queen will lead the nation in commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire today (Friday 15 August).

The National Service of Remembrance will honour and remember those who continued to fight and those who lost their lives during the final three months of the Second World War in the Far East.

This includes hundreds of thousands of soldiers who served alongside British Armed Forces from countries including pre-partition India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Nepal and various African nations. Victory over Japan (VJ Day) was declared on 15 August 1945, following Imperial Japan’s surrender to Allied Forces.

The service, run in partnership with the Royal British Legion, will be attended by Burma Star recipients, a veteran of the British Indian Army and those involved in the Battles of Kohima and Imphal, as well as Prisoners of War held across the region and veterans stationed in the UK or Commonwealth countries, who contributed to the war effort.

It will also be attended by the Prime Minister, Cabinet ministers, Parliamentarians, the Japanese Ambassador and other High Commissioners from across the Commonwealth.

A special tribute will be hosted by 400 members of the Armed Forces, including a guard of honour from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, with music provided by military bands. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will lead a flypast featuring the historic Dakota, Hurricane and Spitfire aircraft.

The event will be broadcast live on BBC One, and members of the public are encouraged to participate in the national two-minute silence at midday.

From 9pm on Friday evening, hundreds of buildings across the country will be lit up to mark VJ 80, including Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London, Tower42, The Shard, Blackpool Tower, Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Durham Cathedral, Cardiff Castle, the Cenotaph, the Kranji War Memorial in Singapore and the White Cliffs of Dover.

At a special reception hosted in Downing Street for veterans, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

Eighty years since our victory in the Second World War, we pay our respects to the many who fought, were captured, and made the ultimate sacrifice in the Far East.

Our country owes a great debt to those who fought for a better future, so we could have the freedoms and the life we enjoy today.

We must honour that sacrifice with every new generation.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

Eighty years ago today the Second World War finally came to a close after years of sacrifice from the greatest generation this country has ever seen.

We must never forget this vital part of our national story. By coming together to hear the stories of our brave VJ Day veterans first-hand, we can ensure that the legacy of our British Armed Forces and those from across the Commonwealth is passed on to future generations.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

As the nation unites today to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, we honour those who served and remember those who gave their lives.

Thirty thousand British personnel, alongside many more from Commonwealth and Allied forces, lost their lives in the Far East campaign. Their bravery and resilience forged a brighter future and after years of conflict, a lasting peace.

Today, their courage, dedication, and sacrifice continues to inspire every member of our Armed Forces.

Commemorations have been taking place throughout this week, including a reception for veterans hosted by the Prime Minister and Lady Starmer in Downing Street on Thursday and a sunset wreath-laying ceremony at the Memorial Gates in London last night to pay tribute to Commonwealth personnel.

At dawn, military bagpipers will perform the lament ‘Battle’s O’er’ at The Cenotaph, in the Far East section of the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, and at Edinburgh Castle. A piper will also perform at a Japanese peace garden to reflect the reconciliation which has taken place between the UK and Japan in the decades since the Second World War.

The Imperial War Museums new contemporary film ‘August 1945: It Was Over Then’ will be shown in screenings around the country, alongside a free augmented reality trail August 1945: A World Changed taking place at IWM North to tell the story of VJ Day.

Throughout the week, an immersive ‘Letters to Loved Ones’ display at Outernet’s Now Trending space in London has brought to life the stories of six individuals who served in the Far East, narrated by their families. The installation is free and open until Saturday 16 August. The film will also be shown on London’s Piccadilly Lights at 12:30pm today.

A reception will be held in the autumn at Windsor Castle to honour VJ veterans and the Commonwealth’s contributions.

The VJ Day 80 events are part of the Government’s commemorations throughout 2025 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. This year’s commemorations have paid tribute to the millions across the UK and Commonwealth who served, telling the stories of those who fought, the children who were evacuated, and those who stepped into the essential roles on the Home Front.

VJ Day 80 marks the culmination of this year’s commemorations, following four days of events in May to mark VE Day.

ENDS

Notes to editors

• Access to the service at the base of the Arboretum’s Armed Forces Memorial will be strictly by event ticket only.
• Members of the public can participate in the commemorations by attending a live screening at the nearby Naval Review and observe the two-minute national silence; pre-booking of car parking via the National Memorial Arboretum website is strongly recommended to guarantee entry.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 11 August 2025.

A temporary export bar has been placed on a Historic British Maritime Chart Collection, which is at risk of leaving the UK.

• Export bar is to allow time for a UK museum or institution to acquire the collection
• Records of Britain’s most significant commercial chart makers from the late 18th and 19th centuries has been valued at £6 million

An export bar has been placed on an extraordinary collection documenting Britain’s rise as the world’s leading maritime power to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire it.

The historic archive of Imray, Laurie, Norie and Wilson – comprising the records of Britain’s most significant commercial chart makers from the late 18th and 19th centuries – has been valued at £6 million and represents an important source of knowledge relating to British commercial chartmaking at its prime.

The collection spans over 200 working charts, rare maritime atlases in their original ‘blueback’ bindings, and unique artefacts including a copper plate for an original chart by explorer James Cook and a chair believed to have been used by Lord Nelson.

It is the largest surviving archive documenting the work of commercial chart-making firms from this era. These firms were essential to Britain’s expanding maritime power during the period when the nation rose from being one of several competing European powers to become the dominant global force of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Arts Minister, Sir Chris Bryant said:

This extraordinary collection helps us better understand Britain’s transformation into a global maritime power.

I hope that a museum or institution can come forward to help secure this collection for future generations so that researchers and the public can learn about this crucial chapter in British history.

Caroline Shenton, Committee member:

Britain’s position as a global superpower in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was in large part due to its dominance at sea. For this, the Royal Navy and merchant shipping relied on accurate maritime charts of the world’s oceans and far-flung coastlines. This incredible archive, the surviving records of the premier chart-making firm and its predecessors of Imray, Laurie, Norie, and Wilson, sheds light on one of the principal means by which Britannia ruled the waves for several centuries. It is my fervent hope that a suitable home in the UK will be found for this outstanding, beautiful and fascinating collection.

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

The Committee made its recommendation on the basis that the collection met the first, second, and third Waverley criteria for its outstanding connection with our history and national life, its outstanding aesthetic importance, and its outstanding significance to the study of British commercial chart making, the British Empire and naval history. It was also of outstanding significance to the study of the businesses involved in the commercial publication of maritime charts in the UK from the late 18th century to the early 1900s, shipping routes, and climate change.

The decision on the export licence application for the collection will be deferred for a period ending on 10 November 2025 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 collection at the recommended price of £6,000,000 (plus VAT 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.

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the panel should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk.
2. Details of the item are as follows: The manuscript and printed archive of the maritime publisher Imray, Laurie, Norie and Wilson. Charting the firm’s birth, rise, and heyday, from the 18th to the beginning of the 20th century.
3. Provenance: Imray, Laurie, Norie and Wilson Ltd
4. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an  independent body, serviced by Arts Council England (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.

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

Heritage buildings are set to benefit from £15 million of funding as part of the government’s ongoing commitment to ensure our heritage is fit for the future.

• 37 local heritage sites will receive grants to help with repairs, in many cases helping turn historic buildings into the vibrant community spaces people need today
• Fund will deliver on the government’s Plan for Change by increasing opportunities and ensuring communities can enjoy heritage in the places they call home

Unseen Arts in Grimsby, MusicAbility Centre in Penzance and St Michael’s Mount Artist’s Studio in Newcastle are among 37 projects set to receive a share of more than £15 million through the government’s Heritage at Risk Fund.

The funding will support repair works and conservation of heritage buildings at risk, restoring local heritage to ensure it can be enjoyed for many generations to come.

These projects will provide much needed funding to ensure heritage buildings are fit for the future so they can continue to tell our national story at a local level in communities across the country. The fund has prioritised projects that will restore heritage sites serving disadvantaged communities and which demonstrate strong local benefits, from job creation to cultural events.

The Heritage at Risk Fund is part of the £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund, which was announced by the Culture Secretary earlier this year. The fund will deliver on the government’s Plan for Change by breaking down barriers to opportunity by transforming historic buildings, creating jobs and spaces that are fit for communities to enjoy in the places they call home.

Heritage Minister, Baroness Twycross said:

Our extraordinary heritage weaves together the stories that define who we are as communities and as a nation, connecting us to the generations who came before us and shining a light on the pathways that brought us to where we stand today.

We are delivering on our Plan for Change, through the Heritage at Risk Fund, by breathing new life into treasured places, buildings and monuments across the country, helping to increase opportunities and ensuring that future generations have access to our rich heritage.

Some of the recipients of the fund include:

• Unseen Arts, in Grimsby, which will receive a share of over £430,000 to create a new creative community centre on Grimsby’s historic docks. The funding will repair and convert two unlisted historic buildings in the Kasbah conservation area, celebrating the historic docks, breathing new life into what was once the world’s largest fishing port, at the heart of Grimsby’s local identity. The creative community centre will provide a programme of movement classes, visual arts workshops, exhibitions and performances, outreach and open days, and a café, creating jobs for local people and driving economic growth.
• MusicAbility Centre in Penzance, which will receive more than £400,000 to restore the music centre and deliver music to the community. The project involves a full restoration of the elegant building, built in 1828, bringing it back into public use as the MusicAbility Centre. The building will welcome visitors 250 days annually, offering music lessons and groups, music therapy and regular concerts. The MusicAbility Centre will add to Penzance’s rich cultural legacy by sharing the beauty of music, ensuring young people have access to learn and experience music and the arts, with a performance space to host inclusive programmes.
• Two Grade II listed Hobby Rooms on Newcastle’s Byker Wall Estate, which will receive more than £98,000 of funding. Karbon Homes will convert Spires Lane hobby room into a new community hub, whilst St Michael’s Mount will become an artist’s studio for creative production and community engagement. These unique buildings were originally designed as part of architect Ralph Erskine’s bold 1960s social housing vision to encourage community interaction. After years of neglect, the funding will restore their original purpose whilst addressing contemporary needs.  The project is part of Karbon Homes’ Fair Foundations approach to place-making, delivering projects and initiatives in its communities that help make lasting change and support social growth.

Lou Brennan, Director of Regions at Historic England said:

Thanks to the extra funding from the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, we are able to breathe new life into neglected historic buildings that we haven’t been able to help through our existing grant schemes. This initiative will not only boost economic growth but also create amazing opportunities for people in some of the nation’s most disadvantaged areas.

We’re thrilled to support projects that harness the power of heritage to make a real difference where it’s needed most.

Notes to editors:

Full list of recipients receiving a share of the fund:

North East

• Woodhorn Colliery Shaft Heads, Ashington, Northumberland – £997,265
• Byker Estate Hobby Rooms, Newcastle upon Tyne – £98,735
• Tyre Shop, Sunderland, 177 High St West, Sunderland – £858,208
• St Michael’s Mount Artist’s Studio, Newcastle – £42,047

Yorkshire:

• St Catherine of Siena, Sheffield – £497,615
• St John’s Church, Goole, East Yorkshire – £100,000

North West

• Salford Lads Club, Greater Manchester – £437,961
• Gawthorpe Great Barn, Burnley. Lancashire – £337,975
• Morecambe Winter Gardens, Lancashire – £767,222
• Tullie House, Carlisle, Cumbria – £200,000
• National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port
• Gosforth Public Hall, Seascale, Cumbria – £424,785

East of England

• Lowestoft Town Hall, Suffolk – £707,000
• St George’s Guildhall and Creative Hub, King’s Lynn, Norfolk – £721,330
• The Iron Duke Public House, Great Yarmouth – £136,500
• Laurel Court, Peterborough – £136,653
• Chapelfield Gardens Bandstand, Norwich – £315,249
• Greenland Fishery House, King’s Lynn – £99,442

Midlands

• Golden Lion, Birmingham – £344,265
• Worksop Priory Gatehouse, Nottinghamshire – £178,147
• Burslem Indoor Market, Stoke on Trent – £1,000,000
• Bethesda Methodist Chapel, Stoke on Trent – £521,737
• St Mary Magdalene, Newark-on-Trent – £151,163
• Corporation Bridge, Grimsby – £495,000
• Bromwich Manor House, Sandwell – £200,000
• Spilsby Sessions House, Lincolnshire – £1,006,000
• Unseen Arts, Grimsby – £437,741

London & South East

• Treadgolds, Portsea, Portsmouth – £485,200
• Church of St Mary the Virgin, Somers Town, London – £639,064
• The Greenhouse Centre, London – £663,100

South West

• Market House (Grade I), Penzance Regeneration Company – £672,707
• Newlyn’s Old Harbour (Grade II*), Newlyn Harbour – £199,301
• Gaumont Cinema, Nudge Community Builders – £253,494
• Toll House at Birnbeck Pier (Grade II), North Somerset Council – £111,496
• Turkish Baths Health Hydro, Swindon – £550,218
• The Folk Pin Factory (Grade II), Gloucester Civic Trust – £142,871
• MusicAbility Centre (Grade II), MusicAbility Foundation – £402,000