UK projects hit the jackpot!

New figures show that more than £1.3 billion of National Lottery funding was invested across the UK in 2017.

A total of 17,048 National Lottery grants were awarded across the UK during last year; providing a vital boost to arts, sports and heritage projects alongside community groups helping those most in need.

A wide variety of local projects received National Lottery funding last year, including:

· £3.5 million to StreetGames UK, a sporting charity which helps disadvantaged communities

· £9.4 million to National Portrait Gallery for the Inspiring People Transforming Our National Portrait Gallery.

· £4.8 million to Film Nation UK for the Into Film Programme 2017-22.

· £3.5 million to the Scottish Natural Heritage for the Orkney Native Wildlife Project.

· £447,000 to Fishguard & Goodwick Young Persons Trust Ltd, Pembrokeshire, to provide activities and services for young people to increase their employability, life skills and sense of belonging within the community.

· £1.9m to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council for the Lurgan Townscape Heritage project – a five-year project to regenerate the historic market town in Northern Ireland.

From today, these examples, or any organisation that has ever received National Lottery funding, has the possibility of gaining nationwide acclaim by entering The National Lottery Awards 2018 – the annual search for the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects.

National Lottery Awards winners’ will receive a £5,000 cash prize and national recognition at a glittering ceremony broadcast on BBC One later in the year.

Strictly Come Dancing winner and TV Presenter, Ore Oduba, hosted the National Lottery Awards 2017 BBC One show. He said: “Every week National Lottery players raise £30 million for good causes and that funding is invested in life changing projects around the UK.

“There are thousands of ordinary people doing extraordinary things with National Lottery funding within communities across the country. The National Lottery Awards are a rare opportunity to put the spotlight on those who truly deserve it. So if you know a Lottery project that’s making a positive difference, now’s the time to nominate.”

Last year, UK-wide running network, parkrun, won Best Sport Project for its National Lottery funded programme supporting visually impaired runners. Chris Jones from parkrun says it has had a really positive impact on the project: “Since winning, we’ve seen an increase in numbers of people living with sight loss participating at parkrun. Perhaps more importantly, we’ve seen a transformation in self-confidence for individuals who have found that they can achieve more than they ever thought possible.”

Projects can be nominated for a National Lottery Award in seven categories; Arts, Education, Environment, Health, Heritage, Sport and Voluntary/Charity to reflect the breadth of funding that the National Lottery invests in.

To enter your favourite project in this year’s National Lottery Awards, tweet @LottoGoodCauses with your suggestions or call 02072933599. Entries must be received by midnight on 6 April 2018.

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