DAVID MORRISSEY GEARS UP SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL LOTTERY AWARDS
19th July 2018
Actor and campaigner David Morrissey set the wheels in motion for The Bike Project today, by supporting their campaign for votes in the National Lottery Awards.
The Bike Project is one of 49 finalists through to the public voting round of the National Lottery Awards – the annual search for the nation’s favourite Lottery-funded projects.
The London project beat of stiff competition from over 700 entrants from National Lottery-funded organisations throughout the UK. The National Lottery Awards celebrate the inspirational people and projects who do extraordinary things with National Lottery funding.
David Morrisey, star of hit TV series, The Walking Dead, The Missing and blockbuster film The Other Boleyn Girl, took part in a workshop at The Bike Project, meeting with refugees and asylum seekers who have used the service upon their arrival to the UK.
The Bike Project, which was set up thanks to £10,000 of National Lottery-funding, helps refugees who often face a stark choice between paying for food or public transport. 27,000 bikes are abandoned in London each year. The Bike Project recycles second hand bicycles and donates them to refugees and asylum seekers, giving them better access to food banks, legal advice, healthcare and job interviews.
The founder of the project, Jem Stein, was there to meet David. Jem started the project after mentoring refugees at university and noticing that one of the biggest challenges they faced was the cost of travel.
Jem, who is delighted that his project is through to the finals of the National Lottery Awards, says:
“Making it through to the finals of the National Lottery Awards is such an honour, I hope it will create awareness and get every refugee in London on a bike!
The Bike Project is a simple way to utilise an excess resource to help some of the UK’s most disadvantaged people, and we’re thrilled that our work has been recognised at this stage of the awards. We would be so grateful if you vote for us to win.”
Throwing his support behind the inspirational projects in the finals of the National Lottery Awards, David says:
“I am in awe of the incredible service that National Lottery funded organisations, like The Bike Project, deliver day in and day out across the UK. Their life-changing work is made possible thanks to National Lottery players.
Please take a minute to show your support by voting for the extraordinary finalists in the National Lottery Awards!”
There are seven projects competing for votes across seven categories, reflecting the main areas of National Lottery funding: arts, education, environment, health, heritage, sport and voluntary/charity.
The winners of the seven National Lottery Awards will each get a £5,000 cash prize to spend on their project, an iconic National Lottery Awards trophy and attend a star-studded glitzy awards ceremony to be broadcast on BBC One on 26 September 2018.
To vote go to lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards. You can also follow the campaign on Twitter: hashtag #NLAwards. Voting runs until midnight on 27 July.
Ends
For further information please contact The National Lottery Awards:
Nicola Bligh, nicola.bligh@lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
02072113991/ 07914157667
Notes to editors
Notes to Editors
Telephone voting calls cost 5p max. A connection charge may be applied by some networks. Please check with your provider.
The Bike Project received £10,000 of funding from the Big Lottery Fund.
All voting will be independently adjudicated and verified by Electoral Reform Services.
Thanks to National Lottery players, £30 million is raised each week for good causes in the UK
There are seven projects competing for votes across seven categories, reflecting the main areas of National Lottery funding: arts, education, environment, health, heritage, sport and voluntary/charity.