The Inclusion Advocacy Group will hold its summer study day Making a Difference at the Tower of London on 7 September.

Focusing on the heritage offer in the areas of education and learning (inside and outside the classroom), skills development and volunteering, this free event includes speakers from Historic Royal Palaces, the Council for British Archaeology, The National Trust, CABE, the Black Environment Network, York Archaeological Trust, the Waterways Trust and the Conference on Training in Architectural Conservation (COTAC). The event is open to both members and non-members and will be of interest to those involved in inclusion and access, education, volunteering and skills development in the heritage sector and the wider education and skills field.

Spaces are limited; to reserve your place download a booking form here and return it by email or post ASAP and no later than Friday 20 August to Emma Robinson. For the programme, click here.

This morning (21 July) The Heritage Alliance’s Chairman Loyd Grossman OBE FSA joined Jonathan Edwards CBE, gold medallist, triple jump world record holder and Athlete Representative for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) at the Houses of Parliament to launch the Discovering Places campaign – part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, delivered in partnership by The Heritage Alliance and London 2012.

Discovering Places will use the power of the Games to inspire communities across the UK to celebrate and discover the hidden gems on their doorstep; from historic castles to contemporary townscapes, woodland trails and local wildlife. Over the launch weekend of 23-25 July 2010, more than 100 free Discovering Places events will take place throughout the country. Most of the events will be run on a voluntary basis and all will be free to anyone interested in discovering more about their local environment. For a full list of the events on offer, click here.

For more on the Discovering Places project, click here.

Two Government Ministers have replied to letters from their constituents suggesting that the proposed increased Lottery share to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) will somehow ensure that more funds are available for projects such as church repairs, and thus compensate for the loss of the Listed Places of Worship Grant scheme (LPWS).  This scheme, which recompenses listed places of worship for VAT on the cost of repairs and maintenance, is due to end in March 2011.

Chairman of The Heritage Alliance Loyd Grossman has pointed out firmly to one of the Ministers, Dr Liam Fox MP for North Somerset, the value of  the LPWS : it goes directly to local communities and has attracted five times the Government investment through donations and match-funding.

The Alliance welcomes the Government’s intention to increase  HLF’s share of Lottery funding but this does not necessarily mean that funds will flow to churches, since HLF grants are awarded on a competitive basis whereas the repayment of VAT under the LPWS is automatic.  LPWS grants are relatively easy to apply for and follow the actual work undertaken for new facilities as well as the historic fabric. Some places of worship may find it difficult to satisfy HLF’s access and education criteria, and even if a special programme was established under HLF, certain denominations and faiths would not accept the profits of gambling.

Our Chairman’s letter has been brought to the attention of Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Heritage & Tourism Minister John Penrose, and copied to Theresa May Home Secretary and MP for Maidenhead who replied similarly to a constituent.  

Loyd Grossman, Chairman of The Heritage Alliance, has written (20 July 2010) to Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport enclosing a formal statement in response to the Department’s recently published Structural Reform Plan (SRP).  In advance of the more detailed polices and plans for heritage and culture expected in the autumn, the statement offers thoughts on how best to achieve efficiency savings whilst maintaining the health and prosperity of a sector that contributes £20.6 billion to GDP in heritage tourism a year, supporting a total of 466,000 jobs

Whilst THA accepts the need for tough decisions to bring public finances back under control, it also believes that the contribution heritage makes to our national wellbeing – our quality of life, for jobs, economic prosperity and for local communities – needs to be properly recognised.

For the full statement see: DCMS Structural Reform Plan – Alliance comment

For the Alliance press release see:  DCMS SRP Press release 20 7 10

Press coverage: Planning Daily, The Evening Standard, The Institute of Historic Building Conservation Blog, The Council for British Archaeology Blog

Come on the heritage sector; let’s really blow our trumpets this year!  (Or perhaps more fittingly for the times, our vuvuzelas…)

This new initiative is the pilot for an annual Award scheme to celebrate our members and to demonstrate the energy and achievements of heritage volunteers.  The Award, which is open to Alliance member organisations and their members, should showcase an inspirational project that was completed in the past 12 months (to May 2010) by a volunteer individual or team (professional work is not excluded if funded and managed by volunteer effort) where the project has had a long-term impact and commanded the respect of the sector.

We’re particularly interested to hear about projects that are likely to appeal to a wider non-heritage audience and offer a powerful human story, which we can tell to the nation.

Please submit proposals in fewer than 500 words, with one image that encapsulates the project, by email before 31 July to Denis Dunstone, Transport Trust  and member of the Alliance Board at denis.dunstone@talktalk.net  Enquiries also to Denis please on 02795 941595.

Entries will be judged by The Heritage Alliance Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Board member and CEO. Their decision is final.  The winner will be notified by 30 September. The member promoting the winner will be asked to produce a maximum 5 minute slide show or video of the achievement for presentation at The Heritage Alliance’s  AGM & Heritage Day (8 December 2010). Technical assistance may be provided. The winner will also receive a memento of the event.

For further information and to download the entry form, click here.

“Of course we understand the need to bring the public finances back under control and were- like everyone else- fully prepared for a tough budget.

The new rates of corporate tax and small profits tax is welcome. So many small businesses in the construction industry are vital to the local economy: they also have the knowledge and skills to maintain and repair the historic buildings that contribute so much to our quality of life.

“Sadly increasing VAT to 20% further aggravates the difference between looking after our historic environment and the zero rate of VAT on new construction.  This new rate of VAT is a colossal and damaging as well as an irrational tax on our heritage. And remember that our heritage supports social and economic regeneration as well as a recession-busting tourism industry. The coalition government retains some VAT exemptions and we will redouble our already considerable efforts  to explain why 20% VAT on maintenance and repair will not contribute to a balanced and sustainable recovery.

“The new higher rate of VAT also means that the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme is now more valuable than ever.  Communities up and down the country have benefited from the schemes help in keeping beautiful and historic places of worship open and in public use. The Heritage Alliance will continue to campaign for the extension of the scheme beyond March 2011. In the meantime communities should act fast in order to take advantage of the compensation which is currently available.

“Finally, the DCMS as a non exempt department is likely to experience a 25% cut in funding over the next four years and this is bound to mean a reduction in frontline activity undertaken by a great number of arms length bodies.  This is especially bad news for our heritage as we have lived with frozen grants for the last eight years. However we intend to work closely with DCMS to get the best deal for our national heritage and we are determined to play a prominent role in rebuilding the economy and contributing our future national prosperity.”

Loyd Grossman OBE FSA

Chairman

The Heritage Alliance

22 June 2010

English Heritage has just announced some new dates for additional PPS5 training events and places are currently available for all dates. Anyone interested in attending should email Rachel Prosser at English Heritage: Rachel.Prosser@english-heritage.org.uk

All events run from 10.00am – 16.00 and are free of charge.

New dates are:

18 June – Kendal

22 June – London - Places Limited

25 June – Birmingham

6 July – Bury St Edmunds

16 July – Truro - Full

20 July – Gatwick - Places limited

22 July – Nottingham

On 1 June The Heritage Alliance responded to the consultation for Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a Low Carbon Future in a Changing Climate March 2010.  The new draft policy in the PPS sets out a planning framework for securing progress against the UK’s targets to cut greenhouse emissions and use more renewable and low carbon energy, and to mitigate against climate change. The draft PPS combines and updates existing planning policy statements on climate change (PPS1 supplement) and renewable energy (PPS22).

In responding to the consultation, The Heritage Alliance emphasised heritage sector support for Government aims and initiatives to reduce harmful carbon emissions, and also stressed the historic environment’s potential contribution to these aims. On a less positive note, The Alliance outlined concerns about the draft PPS not reflecting the policy principles of PPS5 and overlooking opportunities to utilise heritage assets as part of a flexible, mixed approach to achieving a low carbon future.

Read the full response here.

Everybody has hidden gems on their doorstep but few of us have discovered them or the stories they have to tell. Discovering Places aims to change that. The project will intrigue and surprise people, giving them the opportunity to discover, explore and be inspired by the UK’s hidden gems. These might be historic or contemporary buildings, public spaces or natural places in and around the cities, towns and villages where we live and work.

We are launching Discovering Places on 23 – 25 July as part of London 2012 Open Weekend, the annual UK-wide celebration counting down to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

See Discovering Places

Jeremy Hunt MP is Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (COMS)

John Penrose MP is Minister for Heritage and Tourism

Ed Vaizey MP is Minister for Culture,  Communications and Creative Industries (joint Minister with Department of Business, Innovation and Skills)

Nick Hurd MP is the new Charities Minister

Caroline Spelman MP is Secretary of State for DEFRA

Eric Pickles MP is Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

Chris Huhne MP  is Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change

Michael Gove MP is Secretary of State for Education

Nick Gibb MP is Minister of State for Schools