Updates from The Heritage Alliance

Policy Updates

• We submitted a response to the Government’s Response to the Glover Review of Protected Landscapes, which is now available to read on our website. See other recent policy papers and consultation responses produced by the team on our Publications page.
• The Government has published the Prospectus for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). We’ve unpacked some further details below and will be producing a more detailed summary, which we will share soon.
• Now Parliament has returned from recess over the Easter break, we are looking ahead to the State Opening of Parliament and the upcoming Queen’s Speech on 10 May.
•  Last week, we held a meeting of our Mobile Heritage Advocacy Group (MHAG). The agenda included presentations on the impacts of the pandemic on industrial heritage, and the deep concern about the coal shortage as a result of the sanctions on Russia.
• Our CEO Lizzie met with many of the Alliance’s archaeology members for our regular Archaeology Quarterly Chat. Key topics included Levelling Up and Planning, skills pipeline, Culture and Heritage Capital, Covid impacts and the Russia/Ukraine situation.

Rebuilding Heritage - Key Insights

The full set of insight infographics ( from Rebuilding Heritage are now available to view on the project website, drawing on our findings from the live programme and our external evaluation.

Key findings included:

• 29% of Rebuilding Heritage participants had no business plan
• 69% had no communications strategy
• 'Lack of time' was reported as the biggest hurdle to gaining skills and accessing

You can follow the links below for each set of insights:

Thank you to all those who applied for the role of Rebuilding Heritage Project Manager, to lead the final stages of the project. Please note that applications are now closed.

Stay tuned for more resources – including a set of case studies highlighting the inspiring stories of some of the programme’s participants - and watch out for project developments. Why not sign up to the Rebuilding Heritage mailing list to get this directly in your inbox?

Digital Heritage – Free Upcoming Resources

Are you signed up for the new, free training modules through Heritage Digital Academy? You can still secure your place for the upcoming courses on Making a Plan for Digital (26 April) and Designing Digital Services (3 May). The featured speakers include Andrew Davis, who spoke at Heritage Day 2022, and our partners at Naomi Korn Associates [Alliance member].

Do also look out for the upcoming launch of Digital Heritage Hub – a new resource designed to support small to medium heritage organisations with their most pressing and frequently asked digital questions. Digital Heritage Hub will be launching at a special online event on 28 April (10am – 12.30pm). Booking is free and open to all.

#HeritageChat

The latest #HeritageChat took place on 19^th April and focused on ‘Places of Worship’ from a heritage perspective. Topics of discussion included climate change, redundant churches, and the religious and historical significance of buildings. Many thanks to Trevor Cooper, chair of the Heritage Religious Buildings Alliance (HRBA), for co-facilitating the chat. You can read the summary of the chat here.

The next #HeritageChat will focus on ‘#Heritage Skills’. The chat will be led in collaboration with the Heritage Alliance’s Skills, Education & Engagement Advocacy Group (SEEAG). Join the chat on Twitter on 17^th May, 1-2pm, and in the meanwhile add here the questions you would like to see discussed!

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Government News

Our summary of the latest announcements and guidance for the heritage sector.

Headlines

• World Heritage Committee Postponed

• Levelling Up Fund Round 2 - Application Guidance

• UK Shared Prosperity Fund - Prospectus

• New Data on People & Nature

Ongoing Support for Ukraine & Ukrainian Heritage

The World Heritage Bureau has agreed with UNESCO to postpone the 45th Session of the World Heritage Committee, which was scheduled to take place in Kazan, Russia from 19 to 30 June 2022. This follows a letter from 46 countries (who are party to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention) on 7 April calling for the Committee to be moved. It is not yet clear when the event will resume, or where it will be held.

As of 14 April, UNESCO confirmed that 102 cultural sites in Ukraine have been damaged by the devastating Russian invasion of Ukraine. The list, set out here in full, includes 47 religious buildings, 9 museums, 28 historical buildings, 3 theatres, 12 monuments and 3 libraries.

Efforts to protect cultural assets in Ukraine and support heritage colleagues in their efforts to do so are ongoing. Alliance members – if you have any evidence of the impact of the current situation in Ukraine on heritage, or perhaps the ongoing challenges you face relating to the pandemic, please do get in touch with Polly Martin (Head of Policy & Communications) via policy@theheritagealliance.org.uk.

COVID-19

A reminder that all the current guidance relating to COVID-19 is collected here on the Government website.

HMRC and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) are partnering to deliver webinars on helping employers get the National Minimum Wage right, which will take place on 4 and 10 May. Acas is also hosting webinars on 26 and 28 April on supporting staff through sickness absence.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has collated guidance on PPE at work, following the changes to PPE law on 6 April, and CIPD has published some helpful guidance on managing staff absence related to COVID-19, including advice on self-isolation and sick pay.

We continue to collate relevant guidance for the sector in our COVID-19 Hub. 

DCMS & Culture

Volunteering Futures Fund: awards announced

The Government has announced the 19 organisations across England which will receive funding through the £4.6 million Volunteering Futures Fund. The Fund has been designed to increase volunteering opportunities for young people and those who experience barriers to accessing volunteering. They are aiming to support over 160 community organsiations to deliver 7,800 new volunteering opportunities over the next two years.

Charities Act 2022: implementation plan

DCMS has published a plan for how it will implement the Charities Act 2022, which received Royal Assent on 24 February. Specific provisions of the Act are expected to come into force this Autumn, with others to follow in Spring and then Autumn 2023.

Platinum Jubilee Toolkit

In line with The Queen’s 96^th birthday today, DCMS has published a toolkit for the Platinum Jubilee, including activities, music and decorations to help people with their celebrations in June.

Tourism & Hospitality

Increase in Cost of Visitor Visas

The Government has increased the cost of visitor visas to the UK. As of 6 April, a new fees table is in place, with fee changes ranging from £5 - £30. There is concern around the impact this will have on the inbound tourism industry. Organisations such as the Tourism Alliance [Alliance member] continue to lobby for a low-cost 5-year visa to support the sector.

New Scheme For EV Charging Points

The Government has introduced a new Workplace Charging Scheme that will provide grants for organisations to purchase and install electric vehicle (EV) charging points – applicant can receive grant funding of up to £350 per socket (with a limit of 40 sockets across all sites per applicant). Guidance for charities and small accommodation businesses applying to the scheme can be found here.

Review of Property Income

The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) has published an online Survey and Call for Evidence to seek views on how the taxation of Property Income could be simplified, with a closing date of 5 June.

Tourism Industry Council Working Group Chairs Appointed

The Chairs of the four new Tourism Industry Council (TIC) working groups have been appointed. Each of the working groups will support the delivery of the Tourism Recovery Plan.

• Accessibility Working Group Chair: Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKHospitality
• Sustainability Working Group Chair: Patricia Yates, CEO of VisitBritain
• International Competitiveness and Demand Working Group Chair: Joss Croft, CEO of UKInbound
• Events Industry Working Group (Events Industry Board) Chair: Michael Hirst, Executive Committee Member, Business Visits & Events Partnership

Environment

Combatting Tree Disease

The Forestry Commission has warned the industry to remain cautious after new findings of the fungus-like pathogen Phytophthora pluvialis impacting trees throughout England. Action has already been taken in Devon, Cornwall, Surrey and Gloucestershire to protect further or potential spreads. Woodland managers have been asked to report any trees that may have been affected on TreeAlert. 

Nature Recovery Network Updates

The Nature Recovery Network (NRN) Policy Paper has updated its section ‘How we will set up the NRN.’ This includes using mapping and data and integrating goals for nature with funding streams, policy and statutory duties. NRN will also establish and expand partnerships with government, landowners and managers, businesses, local communities and conservation groups.

Forestry Commission Launches New Apprentice Programme

The Development Woodland Officer programme is newly designed to make the sector more inclusive through its three-year paid opportunity. It will be a combination of academic skills gained from the University of Cumbria and practical experience in Forestry Commission area teams spread across England. The first 15 out of 45 posts will start this September and the application deadline is 8 May. 

Planning

Levelling Up Fund Round 2 – Application Guidance

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DHLUC) has now published application guidance for Round 2 of the Levelling Up Fund. This document provides support for applicants with bid writing and submission for the Fund. The application portal opens on 31 May and will close 6 July 2022.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund – Prospectus Published

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)  prospectus has been published, outlining how Government will assign £2.6 billion of funding to support communities throughout the UK, targeting specific areas to extend opportunities and resources to more communities. Some charities have voiced concerns over funding gaps in some employment projects which will not be ready until 2024-2025 and will impact the progression of the scheme. We will be producing a summary of the UKSPF prospectus, which we will be sharing shortly.

The UKSPF and Levelling Up Fund are two of four investment programs in place as part of the Government's aim to assist local economic growth across the UK: The UK Community Renewal Fund, The Levelling Up Fund, The Community Ownership Fund and The UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Government Agrees Building Safety Measures with Major Developers

On 13 April, the Government announced its agreement with developers to ensure the safety of buildings through £5 billion funding. Thirty-five major developers will provide £2 billion whilst the other £3 billion will be given through an extension of the Building Safety Levy. This will protect leaseholders from the costs of historical building safety defects and place responsibility on the industry.

Demolition of Marble Arch M&S Paused

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Michael Gove, has paused the demolition of 100-year-old building until it is scrutinised by ministers to decide the next steps. The M&S Edwardian Store hopes to be transformed into a modern build but SAVE Britain’s Heritage [Alliance Member] formed a report by carbon expert Simon Sturgis on the carbon footprint of the plan which has raised concerns on the future of the project.

Education

Sustainability & Climate Change Strategy Published

The Secretary of State for Education, Nadhim Zahawi, has announced that a new GCSE in Natural History will be introduced in 2025, alongside carbon literacy training for school staff, as part of the Department’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy. The aim is to enhance young people’s knowledge of the planet and its protection, and for the UK to be “the world-leading education sector in sustainability and climate change by 2030”.

Brexit & Immigration

The Heritage Alliance Brexit Hub lists recent Brexit guidance of relevance to the heritage sector. You can also read our briefings on Heritage, Brexit and Immigration on our website.

The Historic Environment Forum Brexit FAQs Trello Board also sets out useful material to help the sector navigate the post-Brexit period.

Parliamentary & Other Government News

• John Glen MP, City Minister and Economic Secretary to the Treasury, met with the UNESCO Joint Advisory Mission this week, to look at the latest A303 Stonehenge scheme developments. Key stakeholders in attendance included Wessex Archaeology [Alliance member], who highlighted their Public Archaeology and Community Engagement (PACE) programme.
• The Online Safety Bill has reached Second Reading in the House of Commons.
• The High Court has denied planning permission for a “flawed” national memorial to the Holocaust, which was due to be constructed in Victoria Tower Gardens (next to Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster).
• The Government’s Disability Unit is seeking Disability Access Ambassadors in Advertising, Products and Services in the Built Environment and Countryside and Heritage. Applications close 31 April.
• New guidance has been published with information and advice for building owners, landlords and leaseholders where aluminium composite cladding is present on buildings.
• Waterways in the Isle of Wight and Oxford have been added to the list of designated bathing waters in England.

Funding

Funding currently available for the sector includes:

• Arts Council England (ACE) applications to join its list of National Portfolio organisations are  open, with a deadline of 26 April 2022. An addendum has been made to the application guidance, which lists the priority places where ACE is now particularly looking to allocate funds. 
• The Social Investment business, a partner of the Architectural Heritage Fund [Alliance member] have launched a Recovery Loan Fund to help organisations impacted by Covid-19 to survive, recover and grow. The application deadline is 20 May 2022.

Seeking funding or guidance for your heritage project?

The Heritage Alliance is not a funding body, but we co-manage the Heritage Funding Directory with the Architectural Heritage Fund. This free resource for the sector includes a directory we have jointly collated, listing funding sources for heritage projects across the UK (and internationally), and includes some helpful guidance on fundraising.

Sector Digest

Read on for a breakdown of the latest news from across the sector.

The People and Nature Survey – February Data

The People and Nature survey, managed by Natural England, outlines the significance of green spaces in positively impacting people’s wellbeing. New data from February has been published, displaying the number of visits households took to natural environments as well as the reasoning behind not being able to spend more time outdoors. The findings reveal that four in ten adults have linked the increased importance of nature to their wellbeing since the pandemic.

The results show a continuous trend from January to February, with 61% of adults reporting spending time in green spaces in the last 14 days. 47% of people noted ‘Bad / poor weather’ as a reason for not going outdoors, whilst 20% stated ‘Poor physical health or illness, 18% being too busy at home and 16% having work or family commitments.

Arts Council ‘Let’s Create Jubilee Fund’

On 11 April, Arts Council England announced £4.58 million for 704 organisations with creative projects as part of the ‘Let’s Create Jubilee Fund’. This funding will enable a range of activities to take place to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this June, by displaying the ‘talent and ideas of the many different cultures and communities throughout England’ which is part of Arts Council England’s ten year Let’s Create strategy.

Great Place Scheme – Final Evaluation Results

The National Lottery Heritage Fund [Alliance member] has published the final evaluation results from its Great Place Scheme, which saw £22m go to two place-based schemes over 2016 – 2018, funding 16 projects in England and 18 projects in the devolved nations.

ACEVO Survey

The Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO) have launched their annual Pay and Equalities Survey which will help form the CAF Charity Landscape report. This data will also help senior positions to gain an understanding on pay and diversity in the sector. The survey closes at 5pm on 5 May.

UK Science Museums & Centre Events Increase Climate Change Awareness

The Operation Earth Programme has released data showing that UK wide events from October 2021 – March 2022 run by the Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC) has resulted in 85% of visitors having a greater interest in climate and environmental science. A range of activities during this timeframe engaged adults and children to discover the role of environmental scientists.

Decline of Foreign Pupils Attending UK Language Schools

A new report by the Tourism Alliance [Alliance member], has revealed that 40,000 jobs are at risk due to a large decline of EU pupils being able to study English in the UK. The impact of Brexit, Covid and the war in Ukraine have all made it increasingly difficult for pupils to afford and access the UK. New guidelines mean that each child visiting the UK must have a passport and non-EU children will have to purchase a £95 visa. This fall in language schools will severely impact seaside towns such as Hastings, where 22% jobs rely on tourism.

National Trust for Scotland New Strategy

The National Trust for Scotland has published their new 10-year strategy ‘Nature, Beauty & Heritage for Everyone.’ Their aims include becoming carbon negative by 2031, increasing membership to half a million members and growing to have 6 million visitors annually.

British Heritage Railways at Risk

The UK currently has over 150 heritage rail companies, but this future is at risk due to low coal stock and availability (with coal no longer being supplied by Russia). Heritage rail organisations have been making moves to locate a new supplier or alternative fuels to keep the lines operating, but many railways have already had to cut services, putting huge pressure on Britain’s heritage railways.

Largest Ever Repatriation of Cultural Artefacts from a Scottish Museum

Glasgow City Council will return many items from its museum collections back to their original countries. This includes seven Indian antiquities, seventeen bronze Benin artefacts to Nigeria and twenty-five Lakota cultural items. It will be the largest repatriation to take place throughout Scotland’s history.

Historic England Webinar on Overheating in Historic Buildings

On 26 April at 1pm, Historic England will host a free webinar on overheating in historic buildings and registration is now open. The impact of climate change will be assessed through four case studies throughout England. This is part of Historic England’s Technical Tuesdays webinar series which focuses on conservation topics and recordings of previous subjects are available online.

Alliance Member News

A snapshot of the current work of our members.

Consultations

Open Consultations:

• DEFRA - 2030 Strategic framework for international climate and nature action - 24 April (extended)

• House of Lords Committee on Land use inquiry – How should we respond to increasing demands on land – 26 April
• DfE - Higher Education Policy Statement & Reform - 6 May 
• DfE - Lifelong Loan Entitlement - 6 May
• DEFRA - Environment Act 2021: environmental targets - 11 May
• DEFRA - Nature recovery green paper - 11 May
• Government Equalities Office - LGBT+ Business Champion’s call to engage: inclusion at work – 12 May

• DLUHC - Technical consultation on street naming – 22 May

• BEIS - Technical proposals for the Energy Bills Support Scheme – 23 May

• DfT - Improving signage at private level crossings – 1 June 2022

• DCMS - Online Advertising Programme consultation - 1 June

• DLUHC - Independent Review of Social Cohesion and Resilience: call for evidence – 2 June

• DHSC - Mental health and wellbeing plan: discussion paper and call for evidence – 5 July

• DCMS - UNESCO World Heritage Sites - UK Tentative List Review – 15 July 

Events

Upcoming Heritage Events - Quick Look

• 23 April - OPT Day School: Oxford Castle through the Ages - Celebrating 950 years

• 27 April: Historic Religious Buildings Alliance: BIG UPDATE 2022, London
• Various dates: from 13 January - 28 April: Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust 2022 Lecture Series

• 28 April - World Heritage & Sustainability – Tourism & Transport, World Heritage UK

• 30 April: A Visit to Victorian Churches in Watford, The Victorian Society

• 4 May - Free Training from London Historic Buildings Trust: Research your Building

• 7 May - Conference: The Future of Genealogy- Young Genealogists at the Helm, Society of Genealogists

• 10 May - May Second Tuesday Talk, Sharing, preserving, displaying and rethinking material culture - YCCC

• 11 May - Working with and Engaging Young Adults in Heritage, Heritage Trust Network

• 16 May - Victorian Short Story Reading Group, The Victorian Society

• 18 May - High Street Regeneration: Why Heritage is Key, Heritage Trust Network

• 24 May: The Doctor's Garden (online lecture), Georgian Group

• 25 May - Free Training from London Historic Buildings Trust: Ensure Good Governance

• 9 June - Free Training from London Historic Buildings Trust: Understand Funding and Finance

• 16-17 June: AIM Conference 2022

• 22 June - Free Training from London Historic Buildings Trust: Establish a Meanwhile Use

• 23 June – Liverpool – One Year On, World Heritage UK

• 28 June: Reinterpreting Horace Walpole's Little Gothic Castle: Strawberry Hill (online lecture), Georgian Group

Courses

Upcoming Heritage Courses:

• 25 April: Listed Buildings - myths, repairs & alterations, carringtonLIME Heritage
• 26 April: Making and Using Hot Lime, carringtonLIME Heritage
• 6 - 7 May: An Introduction to Letter Cutting in Stone, SPAB
• 9 - 13 May: The Repair of Old Buildings Course, SPAB
• 10/11/12 May: Fundamentals of Disability Inclusion ('Talking Action' Accessibility session), Historic England
• 17/18/19 May: Supporting Disabled Employees ('Talking Action' Accessibility session), Historic England
• 24/25/26 May: Accessibility in the Built Environment ('Talking Action' Accessibility session), Historic England
• 20 - 21 May: An Introduction to Ornamental Lime Plastering, SPAB
• April - June: Photographing Old Buildings Online Workshop, SPAB
• 12 May - 21 November: Libraries Preservation & Collections Care – West Dean College of Arts and Conservation & British Library

Libraries Preservation & Collections Care – Course Series

West Dean College of Arts and Conservation [Alliance member] has launched a new series of one-day courses in collaboration with the British Library, starting on 12 May. The nine one-day courses are suitable for library or conservation professionals, conservation students, or for those who are interested in continuing professional development in this area. Each course runs from 9.30am – 4.30pm and costs £175 (lunch is included).

Dates: various (12 May – 21 November 2022)
Location: The British Library, London

Jobs

Salaried

Historic Environment Forum Manager

The Historic Environment Forum (HEF) is seeking an outstanding person to manage the Forum and its Steering Group. HEF is a Historic England-funded project delivered on behalf of the wider sector by the Heritage Alliance, the heritage sector’s umbrella organisation and advocacy body.

You can find the full job description and details of how to apply on the HEF website.

Location: central London/ homeworking
Salary: £36,000 FTE (4 days per week; initial fixed term contract to the end of September 2023)
Closing date: 12 noon, 6 May 2022

Notes & Subscriptions

The voice of the independent heritage movement, Heritage Update is a free e-bulletin produced on a fortnightly basis by The Heritage Alliance.

You can also visit our website to access an archive of previous issues.

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Schedule of forthcoming issues:

• Issue 467 - Thurs  5 May (content deadline: Fri 29 April)
• Issue 468 - Thurs 19 May (content deadline: Fri 13 May)
• Issue 469 - Thurs 2 June (content deadline: Fri 27 May)
• Issue 470 - Thurs 16 June (content deadline: 10 June)

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Contact Us

Chief Executive
Lizzie Glithero-West
lizzie.glithero-west@theheritagealliance.org.uk

Advocacy & Communications Officer (Heritage Update Contact)
Daniella Briscoe-Peaple 0207 233 0800
comms@theheritagealliance.org.uk

Head of Policy & Communications
Polly Martin 0207 233 0700
policy@theheritagealliance.org.uk

Head of Development & Membership
Delphine Jasmin-Belisle 0207 233 0600
development@theheritagealliance.org.uk

A full list of our staff contact information can be found on our website here.

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Heritage Update is produced by The Heritage Alliance, with thanks to our generous sponsors the Historic Houses Foundation.

Image credits (in order of appearance): The Landmark Trust; Waterloo Uncovered; English Heritage; Heritage Open Days; Wessex Archaeology; The SPAB; National Historic Ships UK. Details of the header image are listed at the top of each issue.