Lights, Camera, Action!: Kara Tointon shines the light on National Lottery funded Youth Theatre

Mr Selfridge star Kara Tointon took a trip to Greenwich and Lewisham Young People’s Theatre (GLYPT) today to nominate the National Lottery-funded theatre for a National Lottery Award.

The National Lottery Awards are the annual search for the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects. The Awards recognise the inspirational work done by organisations like GLYPT who use National Lottery funding to transform communities and change lives.Any project which has received National Lottery-funding is eligible to enter.

The former EastEnder and Strictly Come Dancing champion, who started acting aged seven, took part in a rehearsal reading with young people from the project which empowers young adults who are regarded as marginalised in society by offering them access to the arts.

Kara said: “Getting involved in the arts and drama can be challenging for a number of reasons. National Lottery funding to projects that help make the arts accessible to everyone are so important- National Lottery players should feel proud to fund these life changing causes.

“My acting career started at a young age, but not every child gets that opportunity. The GLYPT gives children the encouragement and access to creativity that they deserve. It’s important to get youngsters into arts as early as possible, that’s why I’m nominating GLYPT in the National Lottery Awards 2018, as it is such an inspiring project.”

More than £134,000 of National Lottery funding has helped Greenwich and Lewisham Young People’s Theatre develop the ‘Progression’ project, which is being entered into the National Lottery Awards 2018. The project is a programme of training, projects and performances for young people aged 16 to 25, alongside development support for emerging artists.

Chris Williams, head of the ‘Progression’ project at the GLYPT, said: “National Lottery funding, through Arts Council England, has enabled us to deliver our Progression programme for the last 4 years – supporting creative young people and emerging artists to gain skills, develop their practice and secure creative careers.

“We believe that the arts can change lives and remove barriers for young people – funding from the National Lottery is helping us make this belief a reality.”

Jonathan Tuchner, from the National Lottery, added: “Greenwich and Lewisham Young Person’s Theatre has used National Lottery funding as a force of good for children in the local community who may not have been able to access the arts without this project. To shine a light on your favourite projects, enter the National Lottery Awards by 6 April.”

To enter the National Lottery Awards, go to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk, tweet @LottoGoodCauses with your suggestions or call 0207 293 3599. Entries must be received by midnight on 6 April 2018.

There are seven categories in the National Lottery Awards: Arts, Education, Environment, Health, Heritage, Sport and Voluntary/Charity reflect the breadth of funding that the National Lottery invests in.

You will be able to vote for your favourite finalist from 29 June until the 27 July. The winners of the seven National Lottery Awards categories will be announced in September. Winners receive a £5,000 prize, an iconic National Lottery Awards trophy and attend a star-studded Awards ceremony in London- broadcast on BBC One in September.

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For further information please contact The National Lottery Awards:

Nicola Bligh on 0207 211 3991/ 07824 569299 or Nicola.Bligh@Lotterygoodcauses.org.uk