DCMS blog

Great North Run – millionth runner

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, September 5, 2014 — Sport

Helen Grant is the Minister for Sport and Tourism

In the 33 years since it first took place, The Great North Run has become one of the major fixtures in Britain’s incredible annual sporting calendar. A mass participation event that brings thousands of runners back every year and, thanks to the inspirational coverage provided by the BBC, encourages thousands more new entrants to join…

Tackling long walks like a pro

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, — First World War

Conservative Party politician serving in the House of Lords

One question that is regularly asked when I set myself these challenges is what qualities are needed to tackle such walks? Now some way into my #walk4peace I’ve certainly had the chance to reflect on the qualities needed and thought I would share some of them with you. The first, in my opinion, is purpose.…

Getting more women into sport – the tide is turning

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, September 3, 2014 — Sport

Helen Grant is the Minister for Sport and Tourism

I’ve never made any secret of my ambition as Minister for Sport to get more women, young and old, taking part in sport.   I’m evangelical about this because ‘doing sport’ is just such an important thing, and especially for women. The thing is, it worked for me. As a girl I took up all sorts…

Tackling the second stage of the #walk4peace

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, September 1, 2014 — First World War

Conservative Party politician serving in the House of Lords

Following an exhausting ferry journey from Portsmouth, I think I only managed to grab a few hours’ sleep; I arrived in Le Havre to kick off the second stage of my 1,000 mile journey to Berlin. Le Havre is a significant stop in my walk as it is France’s second biggest port and during WWI…

Good news for the Arts in the UK

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, August 29, 2014 — Culture

Ed Vaizey was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries in May 2010 and promoted to Minister of State for Culture and Digital Industries in 2014.

Monday is an important day for the performing arts in the UK. Why? Because it is the day on which an important new tax relief for theatre production comes into effect. Originally announced in the Autumn Statement nearly a year ago, it will provide an additional corporation tax deduction, or a payable tax credit, worth…

The First World War and the surprising debt we owe to ‘The West Coast Boys’ from South America

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, August 26, 2014 — Culture

Helen Grant is the Minister for Sport and Tourism

One very rewarding, aspect of the work that’s been done to mark the First World War Centenary is the sheer range of historical oddities that come to the surface as you start to look into it.  I don’t mean ‘oddities’ in any negative or derogatory way, I should stress; rather, I’m thinking of the surprising…

The 1,000 mile #walk4peace

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, — Culture

Conservative Party politician serving in the House of Lords

I’m now well into my two month, 1,000 mile #walk4peace from London to Berlin to raise money for the German charity, Friedendorf International which means in English Peace Village. By completing this walk I hope to raise both money and awareness for children who are victims of war. Stage one of the walk kicked off…

Yorkshire’s popularity soars

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, August 22, 2014 — Sport

Gary Verity is the Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire

It has been seven weeks since the Grand Départ of the Tour de France swept through Yorkshire and even now, almost two months later, people are still talking about that amazing weekend. Yorkshire was the undoubted star of the show. The huge crowds, their passion, the laughing, smiling faces and of course our breathtaking landscapes…

Reflecting on my first months

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, August 20, 2014 — Culture

The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP was appointed as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Minister for Equalities at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 9 April 2014.

They say that a week is a long time in politics. Well, it’s been about 18 weeks since the Prime Minister appointed me as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, so you can imagine the amount of incredible work and events I’ve seen and been involved with since then. First and foremost, there…

Investing in tourism & hospitality talent

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, August 14, 2014 — Culture

Chairman of the Tourism Alliance and Chief Executive of the British Hospitality Association

The latest Labour Market Statistics published yesterday has seen the largest youth unemployment annual fall since records began alongside the steepest annual fall in unemployment in 25 years. We hear from Chairman of the Tourism Alliance and Chief Executive of the British Hospitality Association Ufi Ibrahim on how the sector is promoting careers in tourism and hospitality.…