National Lottery Awards open for entries
The search is on to find the UK's favourite Lottery-funded projects
Since 1994, over £23 billion has been raised by Lottery players for projects across the UK, and now, The National Lottery is encouraging any project that has received funding over the past 15 years to enter the Awards and gain recognition for their work.
National Lottery Awards ambassador and former Coronation Street actress, Sally, says: "These Awards are an annual search to find the UK's favourite Lottery-funded projects and recognise the dedication of the people behind them who are making a difference in their communities."
Sally continues: "Lottery players raise £25 million every week for projects both large and small, which are benefiting people, places and communities all across the UK. If a Lottery-funded project has had a positive impact on your local area, made a real difference to your life or if you are personally involved with a project that is transforming your community with the help of Lottery funding, then now is your chance to nominate it."
The entrants that make it to the finals of The National Lottery Awards will appear on a star-studded prime-time BBC1 TV show later this year. They will also have a chance to win a £2,000 cash prize[1].
Allen Young, Project Director of Harbour Place Day Centre, is joining Sally in encouraging other projects to get involved. Harbour Place won the Best Voluntary/Charity project category in 2009, for their work supporting some of the most vulnerable people in North East Lincolnshire. Allen explains, "Taking part in The National Lottery Awards last year was an amazing experience from start to finish. Just seeing the overwhelming support that we received was so inspiring for everyone at Harbour Place. When we were announced as the winner of our category on the night we were absolutely thrilled and to receive recognition on a national TV show was an honour."
The Awards have seven categories - each reflecting an area of Lottery funding: Sport; Heritage; Arts; Environment; Voluntary/Charity (in association with Woman magazine), Health and Education.
So if you want to see a winner from your areain one or more of these categories in 2010,visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk to find out more. Nominations can be made from 9am on Monday 11 January by calling 020 7324 4366 or visiting the website. Entries must be received by 5pm on Friday 12 February.
For further information please contact:
Jessica Cain on 0207 211 3991 or jessica.cain@lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
- Now in their seventh year, The National Lottery Awards recognise the difference that Lottery-funded projects - both large and small - make to communities across the UK, and celebrate the difference that the people behind them are making
- Entries will compete in a public vote. All voting will be independently verified
- Shortlisted projects will go through to the finals where the winners in each category will be announced on a special BBC1 TV show later this year. Winning entrants will receive a £2,000 cash prize to spend on their project
- Photographs of last year's Award winners and the Awards show are available on request
- Since The National Lottery began in 1994, Lottery players have raised over £23 billion for Good Causes, an average of £25 million a week, and over 330,000 grants have been made to projects across the UK
- For more information on The National Lottery Good Causes or the Awards visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
