People in Bradford are being called on to nominate their favourite Lottery-funded project for recognition in The National Lottery Awards 2011.
In the last year alone[1], over £5 million of Lottery funding has been invested in good causes in Bradford and now The National Lottery is encouraging these projects, and any organisation that has received Lottery funding over the past 16 years, to enter the Awards and gain national recognition for their work.
Rebecca Gowrley of The National Lottery Awards, says: “These Awards are the annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects. Lottery players raise £28 million every week for projects both large and small, which benefit people, places and communities all across the UK. The National Lottery Awards recognise how Lottery-funded projects put that money to good use and celebrate the people behind the projects who work so tirelessly to make their organisations a success.
“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, we want to hear from you.”
The entrants that make it to the finals of The National Lottery Awards will receive national recognition at a star-studded event broadcast on BBC One later this year. They will also have a chance to win a £2000 cash prize.[2]
Martin Crossland, Strategic Development Manager from Chances For Life, is joining Rebecca in encouraging Lottery-funded projects to get involved. The Yorkshire-based project which provides support to young homeless people was named as runner-up in the Best Education category in 2010. Martin says: "Taking part in The National Lottery Awards last year was a great experience. We reached the final stage and were named as a runner-up in the Best Education category. Being involved in the Awards helped us to raise our profile, engage with the public and celebrate the work that we do – and of course appearing on national television was a great boost for our project! The support that we received from the community was fantastic. It would be great to see a winner from Yorkshire this year."
The National Lottery Awards have seven categories - each reflecting an area of Lottery funding: Sport; Heritage; Arts; Environment; Health; Education; and Voluntary/Charity.
If you want to see a project from Bradford celebrated in this year’s National Lottery Awards, visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk to find out more or call 0207 960 6828. The Awards are now open for entries and any projects wishing to enter can do so by visiting the website. Entries must be received by 5pm on Friday 18 February.
1 Figures based on financial year running 1 April 2009 – 31 March 2010
2 The £2000 is a cash prize for winners to spend on their project; it is not a Lottery grant
For further information please contact:
Rob Seaton at the National Lottery Promotions Unit on 020 7211 3991 or email rob.seaton@lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
