Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport

The Government is investing at least £400 million in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities over the next four years, promoting health, wellbeing and community cohesion, while removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, such as women and girls, and people with disabilities.

At least £15 million is being invested into new delivery models across England in 2026/27, to allow more people to participate in sports they wish to. At least £2.5 million will be invested through the LTA for covered courts in England for tennis, padel and other activities, with additional funding will also enable a wider range of sporting bodies to trial innovative funding pathways.

We are also investing £85 million across the UK via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2026/27, funding projects such as new artificial grass pitches, changing rooms and pavilions, and floodlights which provide communities with access to the facilities they need.

A key objective of the programme is to increase access and participation levels for women and girls, disabled players and communities most in need across the UK. We will ensure these communities are prioritised using deprivation and inactivity data. Projects are also required to generate partner funding, ensuring we achieve value for money on Government investment.

We are now working closely with the sports sector and local leaders to develop plans for funding for a range of sports across the country based on what each community needs. Although a decision has yet to be made regarding future funding year allocations, we understand the value of multi-year commitments to our delivery partners and will aim to confirm allocations as soon as possible.

The Government is investing at least £400 million in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities over the next four years, promoting health, wellbeing and community cohesion, while removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, such as women and girls, and people with disabilities.

At least £15 million is being invested into new delivery models across England in 2026/27, to allow more people to participate in sports they wish to. At least £2.5 million will be invested through the LTA for covered courts in England for tennis, padel and other activities, with additional funding will also enable a wider range of sporting bodies to trial innovative funding pathways.

We are also investing £85 million across the UK via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2026/27, funding projects such as new artificial grass pitches, changing rooms and pavilions, and floodlights which provide communities with access to the facilities they need.

A key objective of the programme is to increase access and participation levels for women and girls, disabled players and communities most in need across the UK. We will ensure these communities are prioritised using deprivation and inactivity data. Projects are also required to generate partner funding, ensuring we achieve value for money on Government investment.

We are now working closely with the sports sector and local leaders to develop plans for funding for a range of sports across the country based on what each community needs. Although a decision has yet to be made regarding future funding year allocations, we understand the value of multi-year commitments to our delivery partners and will aim to confirm allocations as soon as possible.

The Government is investing at least £400 million in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities over the next four years, promoting health, wellbeing and community cohesion, while removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, such as women and girls, and people with disabilities.

At least £15 million is being invested into new delivery models across England in 2026/27, to allow more people to participate in sports they wish to. At least £2.5 million will be invested through the LTA for covered courts in England for tennis, padel and other activities, with additional funding will also enable a wider range of sporting bodies to trial innovative funding pathways.

We are also investing £85 million across the UK via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2026/27, funding projects such as new artificial grass pitches, changing rooms and pavilions, and floodlights which provide communities with access to the facilities they need.

A key objective of the programme is to increase access and participation levels for women and girls, disabled players and communities most in need across the UK. We will ensure these communities are prioritised using deprivation and inactivity data. Projects are also required to generate partner funding, ensuring we achieve value for money on Government investment.

We are now working closely with the sports sector and local leaders to develop plans for funding for a range of sports across the country based on what each community needs. Although a decision has yet to be made regarding future funding year allocations, we understand the value of multi-year commitments to our delivery partners and will aim to confirm allocations as soon as possible.

The Government believes that opportunities to play sport and get physically active should be available to everyone. We are committed to breaking down the barriers that contribute to the persisting inequalities in participation and want to ensure that everyone can experience the physical, mental and social benefits that come with being active.

Our Arm’s Length Body Sport England engages with Special Olympics Great Britain and other sector partners to understand participation rates amongst underrepresented groups including people with intellectual disabilities, and how access for all can be improved. The most recent statistics from Special Olympics Great Britain outline that as many as 59% of people with a learning disability do not participate in sport. Sport England recognises these challenges, and has invested £1.5 million across 4 years into Special Olympics Great Britain as part of its Uniting the Movement strategy.

The Government believes that opportunities to play sport and get physically active should be available to everyone. We are committed to breaking down the barriers that contribute to the persisting inequalities in participation and want to ensure that everyone can experience the physical, mental and social benefits that come with being active.

Our Arm’s Length Body Sport England engages with Special Olympics Great Britain and other sector partners to understand participation rates amongst underrepresented groups including people with intellectual disabilities, and how access for all can be improved. The most recent statistics from Special Olympics Great Britain outline that as many as 59% of people with a learning disability do not participate in sport. Sport England recognises these challenges, and has invested £1.5 million across 4 years into Special Olympics Great Britain as part of its Uniting the Movement strategy.

The Government is committed to supporting grassroots sport clubs, including those in rural areas, which play an important role within communities across the country.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport clubs through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery Funding. They invest in over 90 Place Partnerships in various locations across the country, including in rural areas, to promote sport and physical activity.

The Civil Society Council has been established by the Prime Minister to build a new partnership between civil society and the Government, driving the implementation of the Civil Society Covenant. It will have its inaugural meeting at No10 this month, bringing leading voices from across the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors into the heart of Government decision-making. Through its work to strengthen the partnership between government and civil society, the Council will support more meaningful interactions and unlock opportunities for different civil society organisations to contribute across government, including on the environment and climate change. This marks a renewed commitment to working together in tackling the country’s most complex challenges in partnership.

The British Council plays a vital role in promoting the UK’s values, language, and culture around the world, and is central to projecting the UK's soft power. My Department values the British Council’s work supporting the UK’s cultural and creative industries, helping organisations and artists to build networks, collaborate and develop markets across the world.

As the international partner for Bradford UK City of Culture 2025, the British Council elevated the city’s global profile by spotlighting its vibrant cultural diversity, creative energy and warm, welcoming spirit. This included facilitating collaboration with partners from 11 countries and delegations from 23 nations across four continents.

British Council funding and structure are a matter for the FCDO as the British Council’s sponsoring Department. On 19 March 2026, as part of the FCDO’s allocation of Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding for the next three years, it was announced that ODA funding for the British Council would be protected at its current levels up to the end of 2028/29, while non-ODA funding will be increased by £40 million over the same period.

The Government recognises that high-quality, inclusive facilities help people get active. Accessible, covered and indoor sports facilities are essential to increasing participation by disabled people.

In June last year, we committed £400 million to transform sports and leisure facilities over the next four years. We will ensure that this funding promotes health, wellbeing and community cohesion and helps remove the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups. We are working closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need, before setting out further plans on how future funding will be allocated.

This Government does not have any plans to rejoin Creative Europe, though we are committed to finding constructive ways to work with the EU and deliver for the British people on shared priorities and global challenges.

Any such representations on this topic would be for the relevant governing body to make, as the domestic member of the international federation.

Any such representations on this topic would be for the relevant governing body to make, as the domestic member of the international federation.

Any such representations on this topic would be for the relevant governing body to make, as the domestic member of the international federation.

Any such representations on this topic would be for the relevant governing body to make, as the domestic member of the international federation.

The BBC is a vital national institution and an engine of the nations and regions. In that context, this news is concerning for the BBC workforce who are facing significant uncertainty, and for the sector as a whole. The BBC is delivering significant savings, which requires difficult decisions to be made independent of the Government. The BBC have stated that there will be more information on their plans later this year. Looking ahead, the Charter Review aims to deliver a BBC that is sustainably funded in a way that sets the BBC on a path to thrive until well into the latter half of this century.

The BBC is a vital national institution and an engine of the nations and regions. In that context, this news is concerning for the BBC workforce who are facing significant uncertainty, and for the sector as a whole. The BBC is delivering significant savings, which requires difficult decisions to be made independent of the Government. The BBC have stated that there will be more information on their plans later this year. Looking ahead, the Charter Review aims to deliver a BBC that is sustainably funded in a way that sets the BBC on a path to thrive until well into the latter half of this century.

The BBC is a vital national institution and an engine of the nations and regions. In that context, this news is concerning for the BBC workforce who are facing significant uncertainty, and for the sector as a whole. The BBC is delivering significant savings, which requires difficult decisions to be made independent of the Government. The BBC have stated that there will be more information on their plans later this year. Looking ahead, the Charter Review aims to deliver a BBC that is sustainably funded in a way that sets the BBC on a path to thrive until well into the latter half of this century.

The BBC is a vital national institution and an engine of the nations and regions. In that context, this news is concerning for the BBC workforce who are facing significant uncertainty, and for the sector as a whole. The BBC is delivering significant savings, which requires difficult decisions to be made independent of the Government. The BBC have stated that there will be more information on their plans later this year. Looking ahead, the Charter Review aims to deliver a BBC that is sustainably funded in a way that sets the BBC on a path to thrive until well into the latter half of this century.

The BBC is a vital national institution and an engine of the nations and regions. In that context, this news is concerning for the BBC workforce who are facing significant uncertainty, and for the sector as a whole. The BBC is delivering significant savings, which requires difficult decisions to be made independent of the Government. The BBC have stated that there will be more information on their plans later this year. Looking ahead, the Charter Review aims to deliver a BBC that is sustainably funded in a way that sets the BBC on a path to thrive until well into the latter half of this century.

The BBC is a vital national institution and an engine of the nations and regions. In that context, this news is concerning for the BBC workforce who are facing significant uncertainty, and for the sector as a whole. The BBC is delivering significant savings, which requires difficult decisions to be made independent of the Government. The BBC have stated that there will be more information on their plans later this year. Looking ahead, the Charter Review aims to deliver a BBC that is sustainably funded in a way that sets the BBC on a path to thrive until well into the latter half of this century.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and its Arms Length Bodies record Exchequer funded grants data on the Government Grant Information System. The Government Grant Information System does not record grants by constituency or local authority level, however we have conducted a search based on postcodes and have identified the attached list of grants awarded to organisations within Telford since 2020 when central recording commenced. Information on grant giving can also be found at 360Giving (https://www.360giving.org/).

There will be instances where a grant has been given to an organisation with a postcode based outside of Telford but where the grant recipient will have spent some or all the grant within projects that included Telford. This analysis is not included as this information is not recorded on the Government Grant Information System.

Please note, information where a grant has been made to a voluntary sector organisation and that organisation has made onward grants in its own right is not included.

Funding provided by Arts Council England (ACE) to projects and organisations in the Telford constituency over the same period, is set out in the table.

The Government will invest £15 million into new delivery models across England in 2026/27, to allow more people to participate in sports they wish to. At least £2.5 million will be invested through the LTA for covered courts in England for tennis, padel and other activities, with additional funding will also enable a wider range of sporting bodies to trial innovative funding pathways. We are working closely with the sport sector, including the Lawn Tennis Association, to learn from these pathways to develop plans for future grassroots sport funding.

We are also investing £85 million across the UK via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2026/27, funding projects such as multi-sport hubs which provide communities with access to the facilities they need.

We recognise the need for funding to target a range of sports across the country based on what types of facilities each community needs, ensuring that our investment in community grassroots sports facilities reaches as many people as possible.

We provide the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding into grassroots sport across England, including providing £10.2 million in funding for the Lawn Tennis Association between 2022-27.

The ongoing responsibility of providing access to public leisure facilities lies at local authority level, with funding levels set as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement. The Government encourages local authorities to make investments which offer the right opportunities and facilities for the communities they serve.

The ongoing responsibility of providing access to public leisure facilities lies at local authority level, with funding levels set as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement. The Government encourages local authorities to make investments which offer the right opportunities and facilities for the communities they serve.

Comprehensive guidance on eligibility and how to apply to the Places of Worship Renewal Fund will be made available in the coming weeks.

Shakespeare has no equal for global recognition and influence in English literature and continues to be a source of inspiration for new productions and creations across all artforms and media which the British Council supports and champions globally.

The UK Government provides support to the British Council through the grant-in-aid for its arts and culture work, supporting organisations such as the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre. In addition, many Shakespeare organisations receive support through Arts Council England (ACE).

The British Council has a number of digital resources available on their website following the major year-long global programme of events on the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death in 2016, where more than 140 countries took part in the festivities, with people experiencing Shakespeare through film screenings, exhibitions, performances and in schools, alongside a programme of unique online collaborations.

The government provides support for international touring theatre, including Shakespeare productions, primarily through strategic funding delivered by Arts Council England (ACE).

ACE's core investment strengthens theatre resilience across England via the National Portfolio Investment Programme. In 2025/26, ACE provided over £112 million to nearly 200 theatres, while total funding to theatre organisations across all programmes reached £276.9 million, helping organisations such as the Royal Shakespeare Company remain globally competitive.

Recent sector analysis shows that theatre contributes around £2.39 billion in GVA and supports over 200,000 jobs, with international activity forming a key part of this footprint. Evidence from Arts Council England’s State of Touring demonstrates that while domestic touring is often loss-making, international touring can generate surplus income, supported by higher fees and guarantees overseas, which helps subsidise UK-based work.

Additional touring support includes the Incentivising Touring programme, which offers repayable grants, as well as National Lottery Project Grants for international partnerships.

My Department also seeks to address practical barriers for touring professionals through ongoing engagement with international partners.

The 'Our Place to Give' plan, published on 13 April 2026, sets out actions the Government will take to increase philanthropic investment across England. It specifically targets regional disparities, as data indicates London currently receives over a third of all funding from the largest philanthropic foundations and four times the value of Gift Aid donations compared to the UK average.

Departmental assessments identified several barriers preventing high-net-worth individuals from increasing their charitable giving. These include:

• difficulty in identifying and developing relationships with local organisations, particularly in deprived areas;

• limited access to information regarding the specific impact of donations;

• lack of integration of philanthropy into wealth planning; and

• challenges effectively partnering with the Government.

The plan responds to these barriers. We will convene a network of regional philanthropic ambassadors to broker better links between donors and communities, establish a working group to improve philanthropic wealth advice and have developed a toolkit for Members of Parliament to help them convene local giving opportunities.

Regarding Essex, the Essex Community Foundation remains a vital partner, having awarded over £3.8 million to local causes last year. While specific trends for Essex show a strong foundation of local giving, the Department is taking steps to ensure all high-deprivation areas in the county benefit from the new national framework. Our £1 million Community of Practice support programme will be open to organisations across Essex. This funding aims to help local organisations share expertise, attract new investment, and create sustainable growth.

The Department plans to monitor the outcomes of 'Our Place to Give' as part of its wider work through the Office for the Impact Economy. We will provide initial updates on the progress of the plan and the allocation of the Community of Practice funding by Summer 2026.

The 'Our Place to Give' plan, published on 13 April 2026, sets out actions the Government will take to increase philanthropic investment across England. It specifically targets regional disparities, as data indicates London currently receives over a third of all funding from the largest philanthropic foundations and four times the value of Gift Aid donations compared to the UK average.

Departmental assessments identified several barriers preventing high-net-worth individuals from increasing their charitable giving. These include:

• difficulty in identifying and developing relationships with local organisations, particularly in deprived areas;

• limited access to information regarding the specific impact of donations;

• lack of integration of philanthropy into wealth planning; and

• challenges effectively partnering with the Government.

The plan responds to these barriers. We will convene a network of regional philanthropic ambassadors to broker better links between donors and communities, establish a working group to improve philanthropic wealth advice and have developed a toolkit for Members of Parliament to help them convene local giving opportunities.

Regarding Essex, the Essex Community Foundation remains a vital partner, having awarded over £3.8 million to local causes last year. While specific trends for Essex show a strong foundation of local giving, the Department is taking steps to ensure all high-deprivation areas in the county benefit from the new national framework. Our £1 million Community of Practice support programme will be open to organisations across Essex. This funding aims to help local organisations share expertise, attract new investment, and create sustainable growth.

The Department plans to monitor the outcomes of 'Our Place to Give' as part of its wider work through the Office for the Impact Economy. We will provide initial updates on the progress of the plan and the allocation of the Community of Practice funding by Summer 2026.

The 'Our Place to Give' plan, published on 13 April 2026, sets out actions the Government will take to increase philanthropic investment across England. It specifically targets regional disparities, as data indicates London currently receives over a third of all funding from the largest philanthropic foundations and four times the value of Gift Aid donations compared to the UK average.

Departmental assessments identified several barriers preventing high-net-worth individuals from increasing their charitable giving. These include:

• difficulty in identifying and developing relationships with local organisations, particularly in deprived areas;

• limited access to information regarding the specific impact of donations;

• lack of integration of philanthropy into wealth planning; and

• challenges effectively partnering with the Government.

The plan responds to these barriers. We will convene a network of regional philanthropic ambassadors to broker better links between donors and communities, establish a working group to improve philanthropic wealth advice and have developed a toolkit for Members of Parliament to help them convene local giving opportunities.

Regarding Essex, the Essex Community Foundation remains a vital partner, having awarded over £3.8 million to local causes last year. While specific trends for Essex show a strong foundation of local giving, the Department is taking steps to ensure all high-deprivation areas in the county benefit from the new national framework. Our £1 million Community of Practice support programme will be open to organisations across Essex. This funding aims to help local organisations share expertise, attract new investment, and create sustainable growth.

The Department plans to monitor the outcomes of 'Our Place to Give' as part of its wider work through the Office for the Impact Economy. We will provide initial updates on the progress of the plan and the allocation of the Community of Practice funding by Summer 2026.

The 'Our Place to Give' plan, published on 13 April 2026, sets out actions the Government will take to increase philanthropic investment across England. It specifically targets regional disparities, as data indicates London currently receives over a third of all funding from the largest philanthropic foundations and four times the value of Gift Aid donations compared to the UK average.

Departmental assessments identified several barriers preventing high-net-worth individuals from increasing their charitable giving. These include:

• difficulty in identifying and developing relationships with local organisations, particularly in deprived areas;

• limited access to information regarding the specific impact of donations;

• lack of integration of philanthropy into wealth planning; and

• challenges effectively partnering with the Government.

The plan responds to these barriers. We will convene a network of regional philanthropic ambassadors to broker better links between donors and communities, establish a working group to improve philanthropic wealth advice and have developed a toolkit for Members of Parliament to help them convene local giving opportunities.

Regarding Essex, the Essex Community Foundation remains a vital partner, having awarded over £3.8 million to local causes last year. While specific trends for Essex show a strong foundation of local giving, the Department is taking steps to ensure all high-deprivation areas in the county benefit from the new national framework. Our £1 million Community of Practice support programme will be open to organisations across Essex. This funding aims to help local organisations share expertise, attract new investment, and create sustainable growth.

The Department plans to monitor the outcomes of 'Our Place to Give' as part of its wider work through the Office for the Impact Economy. We will provide initial updates on the progress of the plan and the allocation of the Community of Practice funding by Summer 2026.

The 'Our Place to Give' plan, published on 13 April 2026, sets out actions the Government will take to increase philanthropic investment across England. It specifically targets regional disparities, as data indicates London currently receives over a third of all funding from the largest philanthropic foundations and four times the value of Gift Aid donations compared to the UK average.

Departmental assessments identified several barriers preventing high-net-worth individuals from increasing their charitable giving. These include:

• difficulty in identifying and developing relationships with local organisations, particularly in deprived areas;

• limited access to information regarding the specific impact of donations;

• lack of integration of philanthropy into wealth planning; and

• challenges effectively partnering with the Government.

The plan responds to these barriers. We will convene a network of regional philanthropic ambassadors to broker better links between donors and communities, establish a working group to improve philanthropic wealth advice and have developed a toolkit for Members of Parliament to help them convene local giving opportunities.

Regarding Essex, the Essex Community Foundation remains a vital partner, having awarded over £3.8 million to local causes last year. While specific trends for Essex show a strong foundation of local giving, the Department is taking steps to ensure all high-deprivation areas in the county benefit from the new national framework. Our £1 million Community of Practice support programme will be open to organisations across Essex. This funding aims to help local organisations share expertise, attract new investment, and create sustainable growth.

The Department plans to monitor the outcomes of 'Our Place to Give' as part of its wider work through the Office for the Impact Economy. We will provide initial updates on the progress of the plan and the allocation of the Community of Practice funding by Summer 2026.

The 'Our Place to Give' plan, published on 13 April 2026, sets out actions the Government will take to increase philanthropic investment across England. It specifically targets regional disparities, as data indicates London currently receives over a third of all funding from the largest philanthropic foundations and four times the value of Gift Aid donations compared to the UK average.

Departmental assessments identified several barriers preventing high-net-worth individuals from increasing their charitable giving. These include:

• difficulty in identifying and developing relationships with local organisations, particularly in deprived areas;

• limited access to information regarding the specific impact of donations;

• lack of integration of philanthropy into wealth planning; and

• challenges effectively partnering with the Government.

The plan responds to these barriers. We will convene a network of regional philanthropic ambassadors to broker better links between donors and communities, establish a working group to improve philanthropic wealth advice and have developed a toolkit for Members of Parliament to help them convene local giving opportunities.

Regarding Essex, the Essex Community Foundation remains a vital partner, having awarded over £3.8 million to local causes last year. While specific trends for Essex show a strong foundation of local giving, the Department is taking steps to ensure all high-deprivation areas in the county benefit from the new national framework. Our £1 million Community of Practice support programme will be open to organisations across Essex. This funding aims to help local organisations share expertise, attract new investment, and create sustainable growth.

The Department plans to monitor the outcomes of 'Our Place to Give' as part of its wider work through the Office for the Impact Economy. We will provide initial updates on the progress of the plan and the allocation of the Community of Practice funding by Summer 2026.

Unleashing the potential of our regions is a core objective of the Creative Industries Sector Plan. The Plan commits £25 million to the North East Combined Authority (NECA) as a high-potential Mayoral Strategic Authority, via our new Creative Places Growth Fund (CPGF). The CPGF will drive growth, innovation, and support greater access to growth capital for regional creative-industry organisations. Local Mayors can use it to drive the growth of their creative sectors, including those in the publishing sector. Additionally, the Sector Plan includes a universal offer to drive UK-wide growth with cross-cutting measures like IP protection and export support that will benefit regional writing and publishing bodies.

This government recognises the impact that the deterioration of heritage buildings can have on local communities, including those in Stoke-on-Trent. I am aware the Minister for Heritage, Baroness Twycross will be meeting with you in the coming weeks to discuss Stoke-on-Trent’s heritage in more detail.

The recently announced £1.5 billion funding allocation for the Arts Everywhere Package includes nearly £200 million new spend, across multiple years, for protecting and preserving heritage buildings across the country and giving funding certainty to the end of the parliament, including £60 million for at risk heritage which provides grants towards repairs and conservation of historic buildings and £42 million for the Heritage Revival Fund, which helps communities to take control of and look after local heritage and bring buildings back into public use.

Funding is administered through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Arms-Length Bodies. Since 2006, Historic England has invested more than £7 million in 36 projects in the Stoke-on-Trent area and actively engages with Stoke-on-Trent with advice to support the local authority and heritage owners.

Similarly, since 1994, the National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded more than £11m to 53 projects in the constituency of Stoke-on-Trent North, and more than £34m in 161 projects in Stoke-on-Trent as a whole. This includes the September 2024 grant of £249,954 in support of Re-Form Heritage, an organisation that transforms historic buildings at risk for the benefit of the local and wider community. Focused on organisational resilience, this award builds on past Lottery investment, which has supported the organisation to redevelop the Grade II* listed Middleport Pottery and the neighbouring Harper Street, which was once home to pottery workers.

The Government remains committed to supporting the Gambling Commission in their implementation of key measures in the 2023 white paper, including the introduction of Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs), which have been piloted by the Gambling Commission. The white paper recognised the “chilling effect” that asking customers for bank documents can have. This is why it set out an alternative approach to assessing financial risk which would be considerably more frictionless. The vast majority of customers will not experience friction or be asked to provide documents, should FRAs be implemented as intended by the Gambling Commission.

The Gambling Commission has recently published an updated blog on its pilot findings and plans to publish the pilot data results upon its decision on implementation, as is standard practice. The pilot adheres to General Data Protection Rules with approval from the Steering Committee on Reciprocity, a cross industry forum made up of credit industry representatives.

The threat posed by illegal gambling does not mean we should avoid sensible controls on licensed operators. However as stated in the White Paper, the threat of movement to the illegal market does exist. This is why we have launched the Illegal Gambling Taskforce; are working to give the Gambling Commission increased powers to support disruption and enforcement activity; and are providing £26 million of funding to the Gambling Commission over 3 years to increase their disruption activity.

The Government remains committed to supporting the Gambling Commission in their implementation of key measures in the 2023 white paper, including the introduction of Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs), which have been piloted by the Gambling Commission. The white paper recognised the “chilling effect” that asking customers for bank documents can have. This is why it set out an alternative approach to assessing financial risk which would be considerably more frictionless. The vast majority of customers will not experience friction or be asked to provide documents, should FRAs be implemented as intended by the Gambling Commission.

The Gambling Commission has recently published an updated blog on its pilot findings and plans to publish the pilot data results upon its decision on implementation, as is standard practice. The pilot adheres to General Data Protection Rules with approval from the Steering Committee on Reciprocity, a cross industry forum made up of credit industry representatives.

The threat posed by illegal gambling does not mean we should avoid sensible controls on licensed operators. However as stated in the White Paper, the threat of movement to the illegal market does exist. This is why we have launched the Illegal Gambling Taskforce; are working to give the Gambling Commission increased powers to support disruption and enforcement activity; and are providing £26 million of funding to the Gambling Commission over 3 years to increase their disruption activity.

The Government remains committed to supporting the Gambling Commission in their implementation of key measures in the 2023 white paper, including the introduction of Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs), which have been piloted by the Gambling Commission. The white paper recognised the “chilling effect” that asking customers for bank documents can have. This is why it set out an alternative approach to assessing financial risk which would be considerably more frictionless. The vast majority of customers will not experience friction or be asked to provide documents, should FRAs be implemented as intended by the Gambling Commission.

The Gambling Commission has recently published an updated blog on its pilot findings and plans to publish the pilot data results upon its decision on implementation, as is standard practice. The pilot adheres to General Data Protection Rules with approval from the Steering Committee on Reciprocity, a cross industry forum made up of credit industry representatives.

The threat posed by illegal gambling does not mean we should avoid sensible controls on licensed operators. However as stated in the White Paper, the threat of movement to the illegal market does exist. This is why we have launched the Illegal Gambling Taskforce; are working to give the Gambling Commission increased powers to support disruption and enforcement activity; and are providing £26 million of funding to the Gambling Commission over 3 years to increase their disruption activity.

The Government remains committed to supporting the Gambling Commission in their implementation of key measures in the 2023 white paper, including the introduction of Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs), which have been piloted by the Gambling Commission. The white paper recognised the “chilling effect” that asking customers for bank documents can have. This is why it set out an alternative approach to assessing financial risk which would be considerably more frictionless. The vast majority of customers will not experience friction or be asked to provide documents, should FRAs be implemented as intended by the Gambling Commission.

The Gambling Commission has recently published an updated blog on its pilot findings and plans to publish the pilot data results upon its decision on implementation, as is standard practice. The pilot adheres to General Data Protection Rules with approval from the Steering Committee on Reciprocity, a cross industry forum made up of credit industry representatives.

The threat posed by illegal gambling does not mean we should avoid sensible controls on licensed operators. However as stated in the White Paper, the threat of movement to the illegal market does exist. This is why we have launched the Illegal Gambling Taskforce; are working to give the Gambling Commission increased powers to support disruption and enforcement activity; and are providing £26 million of funding to the Gambling Commission over 3 years to increase their disruption activity.

The Enrichment Expansion Programme (EEP) will invest £22.5 million across 3 years to support up to 400 schools to provide a youth-voice led, tailored enrichment offer.

Through the EEP, DCMS is providing £16.8m grant funding to a delivery partner to enhance the coordination of enrichment provision and to support secondary schools to improve their offer.

£2.8 million will be allocated separately to school grants to cover staff costs associated with improving their enrichment offer.

The funding requirement has been benchmarked against related enrichment programmes.

The Enrichment Expansion Programme (EEP) will invest £22.5 million across 3 years to support up to 400 schools to provide a youth-voice led, tailored enrichment offer.

Through the EEP, DCMS is providing £16.8m grant funding to a delivery partner to enhance the coordination of enrichment provision and to support secondary schools to improve their offer.

£2.8 million will be allocated separately to school grants to cover staff costs associated with improving their enrichment offer.

The funding requirement has been benchmarked against related enrichment programmes.

We are committed to strengthening protections through a range of safer gambling measures to protect those at-risk of or experiencing gambling-related harm. No recent assessment has been made by the department in relation to greyhound racing.

The Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government supports grassroots programmes, such as Near Neighbours, which promotes dialogue, relationship building and civic engagement across religiously and ethnically diverse communities. In the previous financial year, MHCLG provided £587,000 of grant funding to the Near Neighbours programme. MHCLG also supported Inter Faith Week 2025, ensuring it remains a key part of the national calendar for dialogue, learning, and connection between people of different faiths and beliefs.

The Charity Commission is alive to the threat of hostile foreign state influence in charities and works with other agencies to protect the sector from the risks of being exploited. Any allegation or evidence of criminal offences, including terrorism, is referred to the police to investigate.

As part of the Government’s action plan for social cohesion we have announced that the Charity Commission’s powers to tackle extremist abuse of charities will be extended. This includes automatically disqualifying individuals with a criminal conviction for hate crimes from serving as charity trustees or senior managers, and helping the Charity Commission to disqualify charity trustees who have been excluded from the UK, deprived of British citizenship or are engaged in conduct which promotes violence or hatred.

HMRC require that for a charity to qualify for an exemption from tax, their income and gains should be applied solely to charitable purposes. Charities may use Gift Aid funds for purposes that align with their charitable objectives and comply with UK charity law. Misuse would breach the Charity Commission rules and could result in regulatory action and tax charges.