Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans her Department has to include local communities in (a) VE and (b) VJ Day commemorations.

The 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day are important opportunities for communities to come together to pay tribute to the millions of people across the UK and Commonwealth who served in the Second World War, telling the stories of those who fought and sacrificed in delivering lasting peace. 80 years on, we will come together through a series of national and local events to show our gratitude.

This week, the Government announced a UK-wide programme to mark the commemorations, with the early May Bank Holiday ushering in the beginning of the events to mark VE and VJ Day 80 for communities. The announcement included plans for the 5th May including street parties, barbecues and community get togethers across the UK, to be supported by the Big Lunch and Together Coalition, kicking off with an event on HMS Belfast. These events will echo the celebrations 80 years ago as the population welcomed the end of the war. Funding will be made available through the National Lottery Community Fund Awards for All for organisations across the UK to bid for grants to host community events, activities and exhibitions to help tell the stories of the Second World War at a local level, ensuring the legacy of the war and its impact on individuals and communities across the country is not forgotten.

There will be a service to mark the end of the war in the Far East on 15 August, and a nationwide engagement programme through Spring and Summer 2025 to recognise and honour all those who fought and sacrificed across the UK and Commonwealth.

Further details regarding community events and school resources will be announced soon.