Since 1994, The National Lottery has raised more than £47billion for good causes. We have distributed £8.2bn of this to more than 46,000 projects across the UK.

Each year, the National Lottery Awards celebrate the inspirational people and projects who do extraordinary things with the help of that funding. An Tobar won the 2022 Project of the Year award for their work engaging young people with the natural and cultural heritage of Brian’s Wood in Northern Ireland.

This year’s shortlist includes four heritage projects funded by us. Which one will you vote for?

Bangor Court House

The Court House, which opened in October 2022, engages the community with its extensive creative programme, having held 500 events in its first year. It has boosted the local economy and reconnected people with their city centre.

The Victorian building dates back to the 1860s and has been left unused since 2013, until local arts charity Open House Festival transformed it into a vibrant non-profit music and arts venue.

Vote on the Lottery Good Causes website or by using #NLACourtHouseBangor on Twitter.

Punk: Rage & Revolution

Based in Leicester, the programme connects 250 young people from under-served communities with 50 people who were part of the local and iconic 1970s Punk scene. The participants shared their thoughts on social and cultural issues and created art, music and fashion during the 18-month project.

Led by Soft Touch Arts in partnership with Arch Creative and the independent curator Shaun Knapp, the collaborative work has been brought together in an exhibition at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery.

Vote on the Lottery Good Causes website or by using #NLAPunk on Twitter.

Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery

This local community group have spent over three years rejuvenating Hartwood Cemetery and giving the names and dignity back to 1,255 once forgotten individuals.

Hartwood Cemetery became the final resting place for those who died after being admitted to Hartwood Asylum, once the largest asylum in Europe. Since 2019 the volunteer-led group successfully matched the 1,255 names to their grave plots and notified their family members.

The volunteers have also turned the cemetery into a blossoming green space by planting trees and introducing beehives.

Vote on the Lottery Good Causes website or by using #NLAFriendsofHPC on Twitter.

Project SIARC

Project SIARC – Sharks Inspiring Action and Research with Communities – aims to protect sea life as well as engage communities with Wales’ coastal environment.

Scientists and fishers in Wales are working to collect historical and current data on sharks, skates and rays.

This research is then used to engage primary schools through a range of interactive sessions and inspire a new generation of conservationists.

Vote on the Lottery Good Causes website or by using #NLASIARC on Twitter.

Find out more and cast your vote today

Visit the Lottery Good Causes website to see the full list of projects and to cast your vote. Voting closes on Monday 9 October.

Winners receive a £5,000 prize and a trophy. They will be announced later this year.