Review

A report has been published looking into the attitudes, behaviours and skills needed in the UK museum workforce for the next 10 years.

Focusing on diversifying and developing the museum workforce, the report shows where investment is most needed to best support the museums sector, and highlights areas of future development.

A new report by the Nuffield Trust and the King’s Fund has highlighted the impact of local authority cuts to social care on the NHS. Local authority spending on community services for older people has fallen by 30 per cent over the past six years.

The report highlights the impact of these cuts on hospitals - particularly in delaying the discharge of older people from hospital. It notes the significant impact these cuts are having on the wellbeing of older people.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has announced a “tailored review” of Arts Council England and is asking for feedback on the organisation’s functions, efficiency and effectiveness.

The deadline for feedback is 20 September 2016.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/tailored-review-of-arts-council-england

The Government is undertaking a review of museums to explore the ways in which museums can better increase participation from all members of society. The review will examine the ways in which museums can contribute to the health and wellbeing of local populations.

The Government has made clear that free admission to museums will not be changed and is not part of the review. Comments, feedback and submissions are sought from people who use or work with museums, as well as from museums themselves. The deadline for submissions is 31 October 2016.

Following the EU referendum last week, a number of industry bodies have offered advice and responses to support arts organisations and artists dealing with the aftermath of the vote to leave the EU. Among others the Creative Industries Federation is planning a series of events to help develop a co-ordinated response from the culture sector to the referendum result.

As part of an Inquiry into the role of the arts in health and social care, the All Party Parliamentary Group for Arts, Health and Wellbeing is seeking examples of the arts and culture influencing health and wellbeing outcomes. The APPG is interested in examples of practice from the past decade, where there is reasonably reliable evidence of outcomes or evidence that a pilot or new approach has promise. Submissions are invited of up to 1,000 words, arranged according to headings outlined in the guidance.

The Government is planning a new strategy for carers that sets out how more can be done to support them. In order to develop this views are being sought from carers, people being cared for, NHS staff and other professionals that support carers.

The closing date for the survey is 31 July 2016.

https://consultations.dh.gov.uk/carers/how-can-we-improve-support-for-carers

A new survey has shown 85% of people think GPs and pharmacists should be signposting people to physical activity programmes to support their mental health.

The survey, commissioned by mental health charity Mind and the Sport and Recreation Alliance also revealed that 80% of people thought there was a correlation between physical activity and mental wellbeing.

The Arts and Humanities Research Council has published its report on the value of culture following a three year investigation and the commissioning of 70 different pieces of research. With an emphasis on the role of culture in the health of individuals and communities, the report makes a number of recommendations for how cultural impact can be measured - especially using qualitative research.

The Government has promised to respond to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Arts Health and Wellbeing’s recommendations for the role of culture in health and wellbeing when the results of the APPG’s inquiry is published next year. In the recently published Culture White Paper, the Government sets out a range of pledges to elevate the role of culture in supporting health and wellbeing. The National Alliance for Arts, Health and Wellbeing was instrumental in establishing the APPG in 2014 and provides the secretariat for the APPG in its current inquiry.