MAGNIFICENT SEVEN NATIONAL LOTTERY AWARD WINNERS CELEBRATED ON TV

The winners of this year’s National Lottery Awards will be acclaimed on a special TV show on BBC One next week after picking up their gongs at a star-studded ceremony.

The National Lottery Awards will be broadcast on BBC One at 2245 on Wednesday 27 September and will feature the life changing work of seven magnificent organisations.

From more than 1,300 entrants, 49 were select as finalists in seven categories reflecting the different areas of National Lottery funding, with the winners chosen by a public vote.

A Special Achievement Award was presented by adventurer and TV presenter, Bear Grylls, to honour the tireless work of Debbie Turnbull, who secured National Lottery funding for her River and Sea Sense project, which she set up following the tragic drowning of her 15-year-old son Christopher.

Hosted for the first time by sports presenter and Strictly Come Dancing champion Ore Oduba, the show will feature a number of celebrity guest presenters including Jessica Hynes, Martin Clunes, Tamzin Outhwaite and double gold Paralympic medallist Libby Clegg.

Viewers will also see the likes of Bill Bailey, Hermione Norris, Cerys Matthews and Rochelle Humes surprise the projects with news of their awards success.

The seven winners of the public vote are:

Best Arts Project, presented by Martin Clunes: The Man Engine, a colossal 10m mechanical tin miner created to celebrate the Cornish Mining Landscape’s World Heritage status.

Best Education Project, presented by Kimberley Walsh: Magi Ann, a series of beloved Welsh language children’s books brought to life through six free apps which help parents and children to read and enjoy Welsh together.

Best Environment Project, presented by Tamzin Outhwaite: Avalon Marshes Somerset, a project which has conserved the landscape, heritage and wildlife of this unique wetland area in the heart of Somerset.

Best Health Project, presented by Martin Kemp: HeadSmart, a campaign run by The Brain Tumour Charity designed to reduce diagnosis times of childhood brain tumours, save lives and reduce the chance of long-term disabilities.

Best Heritage Project, presented by Jessica Hynes: We’re here because we’re here, a poignant and moving art event to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of the Somme which saw the ‘ghosts’ of 1,400 soldiers killed on the first day of battle appear across the UK.

Best Sports Project, presented by Libby Clegg: parkrun UK, for their visually impaired scheme which helps support visually impaired people to be more active.

Best Voluntary/Charity Project, presented by Richard Blackwood: Bravehound, a project which matches companion dogs to veterans suffering from PTSD to help them adjust to civilian life.

Ore Oduba said: “The National Lottery Awards celebrate the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects as voted for by the public. They give deserved recognition to ordinary people who do extraordinary things with National Lottery funding.

“Their stories will make you smile, they will make you cry, but above all, if you play the National Lottery, they will make you swell with pride to have supported these inspirational individuals and organisations.”

There are seven categories in the National Lottery Awards, reflecting the main areas of Lottery funding: arts, education, environment, health, heritage, sport, and voluntary/charity.

Winners receive a £5,000 cash prize, in addition to a National Lottery Awards trophy.

National Lottery players have been changing lives for 22 years - they currently raise more than £30 million every week for projects across the UK. The National Lottery Awards recognise and celebrate the difference that Lottery-funded organisations, both large and small, make to local communities the length and breadth of the UK.