• Massive jump in visitors to sponsored museums and galleries outside of London
• New initiatives and exhibitions saw number of visits from children swell to 8.5 million, with the number of visitors from overseas growing as well

Almost 50 million people visited DCMS-sponsored museums and galleries last year, the highest number since records began more than 15 years ago, new figures published by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) reveal.

DCMS-sponsored museums make up seven of the top 10 most popular free visitor attractions in the UK, and the British Museum, the Tate Modern, the Natural History Museum and V&A were in the top 10 most popular art museums in the world in 2018.

Overall, visitor numbers at the 15 DCMS-sponsored museums and galleries saw a 5.5 per cent increase in 2018/19 compared to the previous year. The figures also reveal that around half of all visitors were from overseas, confirming the important role that our museums and galleries play in attracting international tourists.

Arts Minister Helen Whately said:

It’s been a blockbuster year for our museums and galleries. I’m delighted that they’re going from strength to strength and attracting audiences from all over the world.

It’s fantastic to see the huge rise in the number of visits by children and young people – showing that our museums and galleries are doing a great job attracting new audiences and reaching a new generation.

There has also been a dramatic increase in the number of visitors to museums and galleries outside of London, with the figures revealing an 11 per cent jump compared to the previous year.

This was in part driven by National Museums Liverpool’s (NML) hugely successful China’s first Emperor and The Terracotta Warriors and the Double Fantasy: John and Yoko exhibitions. Overall, NML saw a huge 20 per cent increase in visitor numbers, attracting more than 4 million people last year.

Visits by children and young people also increased, accounting for 17 per cent of the total number of visitors to the museums and galleries. This was driven in part by new initiatives and exhibitions like the Natural History Museum’s Life in the Dark exhibition and their “Kids Go Free” campaign which helped attract more than 1.5 million young people to the South Kensington site last year.

It wasn’t just the number of physical visitors to the museums and galleries that had a tremendous boost last year – visits to the institution’s websites also jumped significantly.

Together, there were more than 123 million unique website visits in 2018/19, an increase of 8 per cent from the previous year.

Sir Ian Blatchford, Chairman of the National Museum Directors’ Council and Director of the Science Museum Group, said:

The strong and consistent growth in visits to museums, and the increase in self-generated income, reflects the creativity and ingenuity of those who work in our sector. Today’s announcement shows not only the important part museums play in encouraging tourism, but also their vibrant, vital role at the heart of our communities.

ENDS

Background:

• In 2018/19, there were 49.8 million visits to DCMS-sponsored museums and galleries.

• The Tate Gallery Group, comprising of five branches across England, is the most visited DCMS sponsored museum-body for the third year running with 8.2 million visits. The British Museum remains the most visited single site with over 6 million visits annually.

• 48% of visits to DCMS-sponsored museums were made by overseas visitors.

• DCMS sponsored museums and galleries included in the report are: the British Museum, the Geffrye Museum, the Horniman Museum, Imperial War Museums, the National Gallery, National Museums Liverpool, the National Portrait Gallery, the Natural History Museum, Royal Armouries, Royal Museums Greenwich, the Science Museum Group, Sir John Soane’s Museum, the Tate Gallery Group, the Victoria & Albert Museum and The Wallace Collection. The Geffrye Museum closed on 7 January 2018 to commence a two year capital refurbishment project, but continues to host commercial events which the museum includes within the visitor numbers.

• As of 2015, Tyne and Wear museums are no longer sponsored by DCMS and have therefore been excluded from DCMS total visits for all years. Figures reported here therefore may not match those that were previously published.

• You can find the full report here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/sponsored-museums-and-galleries-annual-performance-indicators-201819

• Challenges and Choices consultation to seek input from members of the public, businesses and environmental organisations
• Consultation to run for six months, seeking views on how river basin districts will be managed from 2021
• Challenges covered include dry weather, climate change, pollution in our waters and invasive non-native species

Residents and organisations invited to give views on future management of our water environments.

The Environment Agency has invited the public to share their views and ideas on the future of our water environment and rivers through its ‘Challenges and Choices’ consultation, launched today (Thursday 24 October).

Members of the public, businesses and environmental organisations are being urged to give their views on how water in the eight river basin districts will be managed and looked after from 2021 onwards.

The current river basin management plans were published in February 2016. Each river basin district has its own plan, which is now being updated to provide a framework for improvements from 2021.

The water environment is a precious resource that must be preserved for the future prosperity of wildlife, people and business. We have already lost 90 per cent of the UK’s wetland habitats in the last 100 years and urgent action is needed to ensure we can protect what is left.

Better, faster ways to encourage greater investment in our water environment must be developed if we are to reverse the damage caused to these precious habitats.

Pete Fox, Director of Water, Land and Biodiversity at the Environment Agency said:

The climate crisis and a growing population are adding to the mounting pressures on our water environment. It >is vitally important that we find the right balance between our daily water needs, industry and nature to ensure >that it is protected.

This consultation will provide valuable insight into how we can work together to best manage and maintain this >previous natural resource for the future generations.

‘Challenges and Choices’ will compile the necessary views to demonstrate what difficult choices must be made to overcome the environmental challenges faced by our whole water environment. It will look at measures on how we can all adapt to a changing climate and will outline the current challenges we are facing, including:

• River flow
• Climate change and the biodiversity crisis
• Chemicals in the water environment
• Pollution in our waters
• Invasive non-native species
• Physical modifications to our river habitats
• Ways of working

The consultation will run for six months. It will be open to any interested parties in the eight river basin districts.

The deadline for response is Friday 24 April 2020.

On Monday (28/10), the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) will welcome 10 police officers who are transferring from Home Office police forces.

The 10 officers come from across the UK and bring with them a wealth of experience and skills having worked in many policing departments, including response, firearms, surveillance, public order, specialist operations, neighbourhood policing, CBRN, operational firearms command and firearms tactical advisor.

All officers on the transferee course will undertake a two-week induction programme at CNC headquarters in Oxfordshire where they be sworn in as officers of the CNC. They will cover areas of legislation, protective security and health and safety that are specific to the role of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, as well as being issued with and trained in the use of Personal Protective Equipment.

Following the induction, the officers will embark upon their nationally accredited firearms course, the duration of which will depend upon the qualifications gained in their previous force. Eight of our 10 transferee officers will undertake a nine-week initial firearms training package. Two of our transferees bring with them a vast amount of firearms experience and are existing Armed Response Vehicle (ARV) officers. They will complete the induction followed by a one-week, bespoke firearms conversion course before being deployed to their operational unit.

Chief Constable Simon Chesterman said: “I am looking forward to meeting the transferee officers next week and welcoming them into the CNC. They bring with them a wealth of experience and we have designed a bespoke training package to ensure this is recognised whilst ensuring they are equipped to undertake their new roles with the CNC. I see them as a valuable addition to the existing CNC officer compliment.

“The CNC offers a unique challenge and excellent work/life balance in some beautiful parts of the UK, why not visit our jobs website to find out more?”

All transferees on the course join the CNC with their salary and annual leave entitlements at their last force being honoured.

We will be following one of our transferees, Kay, who is transferring to join the CNC from West Yorkshire Police, where she worked as a response officer, as she completes the course. In her first vlog, filmed for us at the weekend, Kay tells us about why she joined the CNC and how she feels about starting her training next week.

See Kay’s first vlog

Each IFCA needs members who will take a balanced approach to caring for our seas, assessing the priority and importance of all users and stakeholders. The Devon and Severn IFCA is seeking three proactive individuals with good communication skills and a demonstrable ability to disseminate IFCA regulations, policies and guidance through their network of contacts to serve as a member. Applications will be particularly welcome from those with experience in the environmental sector and/or recreational angling sector to help maintain balance of membership.

Andrew Wareing, Director of Business Development and Transformation for the Marine Management Organisation, which is responsible for appointing local people with relevant expertise to the IFCAs, said:

“These are rare, exciting opportunities for people with experience and a passion for their inshore marine area to play a major part in shaping how their local area is managed. If you want to make a positive difference and help balance economic, social and environmental needs, we would be pleased to hear from you.”

The deadline for applications is 12:00 Friday 15 November 2019.

The role is on a voluntary basis although relevant expenses may be reimbursed.

More information on the vacancies and how to apply click here

You can email ifcarecruitment@marinemanagement.org.uk or telephone 0208 225 6659 for more information.

There are 10 IFCAs around the English coastline and they are responsible for sustainably managing sea fisheries and conservation within 6 nautical miles from shore. They have the power to make byelaws to protect resources and the environment in their area as well as also enforcing national and European fisheries legislation.

IFCAs are either committees or joint committees of the local authorities that fall within an IFC district. They are tasked with sustainably managing inshore sea fisheries and conserving their local marine environment. They are made up of representatives from local councils along with people from across the different sectors that use or are knowledgeable about the inshore marine area, such as commercial and recreational fishermen, environmental groups and marine researchers, who offer their time voluntarily.

The Marine Management Organisation, Environment Agency and Natural England also each has a statutory seat on the IFCA. Through their local management and funding structures, IFCAs help put local councils, communities and businesses, and individual citizens in the driving seat, allowing them to play a bigger part in the protection and enhancement of their inshore marine environment.

Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCA)

The MMO is responsible for appointing local people with relevant expertise to IFCA committees. Appointees make up roughly half of IFCA committees and are appointed on a voluntary basis.

The members of the IFCA contribute their knowledge and experience to provide sustainable management of the inshore marine area of their IFCA district. They guide the IFCA to deliver its mandate under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and in line with Defra guidance.

We seek to achieve a balanced membership across various interest groups, including those with commercial, recreational and environmental interests. We are also keen to appoint people who represent the economic, social and environmental needs of their IFCA district and who, collectively, bring a variety of relevant interests such as fishing groups (commercial and non-commercial), conservation groups and other parties interested in the work of IFCAs.

Each appointment is made for a period of 3 to 5 years, with the possibility of reappointment up to a maximum of 10 years. It is conditional upon the member following terms and conditions for the appointment. Appointments are made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments and guidance issued by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Appointees must follow relevant IFCA codes of conduct as well as abiding by the terms and conditions of appointment.

We are currently looking to appoint three members to the Devon and Severn IFCA

The MMO is looking to recruit three members to the Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA).

To apply for this vacancy, you will need to return a completed application form to the MMO by 12:00, Friday 15 November 2019.

Application form and information for candidates

IFCA Recruitment Application Form (PDF, 291KB, 9 pages)

IFCA Recruitment Information for candidates (MS Word Document, 586KB)

More information on the work of the IFCAs is available from the Association of IFCAs website and from Devon and Severn IFCA website.

A new guide will help join together data on the country’s infrastructure and natural features – from housing and railways to roads, rivers and forests.

Published today by the government’s Geospatial Commission, the Linked Identifiers Best Practice Guide recommends that every geographical object in the UK – be it a building, waterway or road – should have a unique identifier or code.

Any data produced by other organisations responsible for different objects at the same location would then be linked together using that unique identifier.

Following the guide’s instructions will make it quicker and easier to get an exact overview of the information connected to a particular location. This saves time and money for people or organisations accessing information typically spread across different datasets, when, for example, buying a house, managing a road network or responding to an emergency.

Minister for Implementation, Simon Hart MP, said:

This guide makes gathering together different pieces of information relating to one place or object easier and quicker.

Organisations that follow the guidance will really help to start unlocking the value of this data for the benefit of users, innovators, businesses, and ultimately the wider UK economy.

Thalia Baldwin, Director of the Geospatial Commission, added:

This guide is part of the Geospatial Commission’s £5million investment into our partner bodies to make the data held by them more easily discoverable, simplifying their licensing landscapes and identifying ways of linking data from different agencies.