In the last year alone over £132 million of Lottery funding has gone to projects across Scotland. Now The National Lottery is encouraging these projects, and the thousands like them across the UK that have received funding over the past 15 years, to enter the awards and gain recognition for their work.  

National Lottery Awards ambassador and former Coronation Street actress, Sally, says: “These awards are an annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects and recognise the dedication of the people behind them who are making a difference in their communities.”
 
Sally continues: “Lottery players raise £25 million every week for projects both large and small, which are benefiting people, places and communities all across the UK. If a Lottery-funded project has had a positive impact on your local area, made a real difference to your life or if you are personally involved with a project that is transforming your community with the help of Lottery funding, then now is your chance to nominate it.”

The entrants that make it to the finals of The National Lottery Awards will appear on a star-studded prime-time BBC1 TV show later this year. They will also have a chance to win a £2,000 cash prize.

Able2sail, a charity which offers youngsters affected by disability, from across Scotland, the unique opportunity to sail on a specially adapted yacht, was a runner-up in The National Lottery Awards last year.

Gerry Campbell, Chairperson of Able2Sail, is joining Sally in encouraging Scots to nominate projects for this year’s Awards. She says: "Taking part in The National Lottery Awards last year was a great experience. We reached the final stage and were named as a runner-up in our category. Being involved in the awards helped us to raise our profile, engage with the public and celebrate the work that our volunteers do. We’d certainly encourage other Lottery-funded projects to get involved."

The awards have seven categories, each reflecting an area of Lottery funding: Sport; Heritage; Arts; Environment; Voluntary/Charity (in association with Woman magazine), Health and Education.

Nominations can be made from 9am on Monday 11 January by calling 020 7324 4366.  Entries must be received by 5pm on Friday 12 February. 

Notes to editors

Now in their seventh year, The National Lottery Awards recognise the difference that Lottery-funded projects – both large and small - make to communities across the UK, and celebrate the difference that the people behind them are making              

• Entries will compete in a public vote. All voting will be independently verified.
• Shortlisted projects will go through to the finals where the winners in each category will be announced on a special BBC1 TV show later this year. Winning entrants will receive a £2,000 cash prize to spend on their project.
• Photographs of last year’s Award winners and the Awards show are available on request.
• Since The National Lottery began in 1994, Lottery players have raised over £23 billion for Good Causes, an average of £25 million a week, and over 330,000 grants have been made to projects across the UK.
• For more information on The National Lottery Good Causes.

Further information

Sarah McKenna, National Lottery Good Causes on 0141 242 1414 / 07825 823 945 or sarah.mckenna@lotterygoodcauses.org.uk