STRICTLY STAR CALLS ON SCOTTISH CHARITIES TO PUT THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD

Strictly Come Dancing star, Susan Calman, got in the swing of things today as she joined line-dancers at The Senior Centre Castlemilk project in Glasgow to launch the National Lottery Awards 2018.

The comedian put her newly acquired dance skills to the test when she visited the centre, which uses National Lottery funding to run a programme of activities - including line-dancing, art and exercise classes - to tackle isolation and loneliness of older people in the local community.

Described as a ‘youth club for the over 50s’, The Senior Centre is just one of the projects to have entered this year’s National Lottery Awards, the annual search to find the UK’s favourite National Lottery-funded projects.

Susan Calman said: “I know first-hand how much joy dance brings so it was fantastic to come here today to see the brilliant work of The Senior Centre Castlemilk and what they do to support older people in the local community with the help of National Lottery funding. The line dancing group have certainly given me a run for my money!

“Anyone who plays the National Lottery should feel proud to support such a worthwhile project. I’d love to see them recognised in the National Lottery Awards this year.”

Melanie O’Donnell, Manager of The Senior Centre Castlemilk, said: “It’s been really fun having Susan visit the Centre and take part in our line-dancing class, which is one of the most popular sessions that we run.

“It’s only with the funding raised by National Lottery players that we can do what we do to get older people out of their homes and back to playing an active part in the community again.

“We’re excited to have entered our project into the National Lottery Awards this year – it’s rare to have an opportunity to celebrate the work of our staff, volunteers and everyone who uses the Centre so we are really hopeful to make it to the next stage.”

Jonathan Tuchner, from The National Lottery, said: “Over £3 billion of National Lottery funding has been invested in Scotland – supporting community, arts, heritage and sports projects around the country.

“We are currently calling on people to give us their nominations for the National Lottery Awards 2018 – whether they are involved in a National Lottery funded project directly, or know of a really deserving good cause in their community that's had funding, we want to hear about it.”

Last year more than 1,300 projects entered the National Lottery Awards by visiting www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk, by tweeting @LottoGoodCauses with a suggestion or calling 0207 293 3599. This year 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.

Seven projects will battle it out in each category in a public vote from 29 June until 27 July. The winners, who will be announced in September will receive a £5,000 prize, an iconic National Lottery Awards trophy and will be honoured a star-studded ceremony in London which will be broadcast on BBC One later in the year.

PICTURE CAPTION:

Strictly Come Dancing star, Susan Calman, got in the swing of things today as she joined line-dancers at The Senior Centre Castlemilk project in Glasgow to launch the National Lottery Awards 2018, the annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects.

ENDS

For more information, please contact: Sarah Myers on 07828 617962 or email sarah.myers@lotterygoodcauses.org.uk