Search for a National Lottery funded Star!

WHICH LOCAL LOTTERY FUNDED PROJECT, in your view, has made a real difference to the area?

People across the UK are being called on to nominate their favourite Lottery-funded project for recognition in The National Lottery Awards 2011.

"The National Lottery was launched in 1994. National Lottery players have raised £25 billion for Good Causes since then."

Since 1994 over £25 billion of Lottery funding has been invested in Good Causes across the UK and now The National Lottery is encouraging any organisation that has received Lottery funding to enter the Awards and gain national recognition for their work.

Rebecca Gowrley of The National Lottery Awards says: “These Awards are the annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects. Lottery players raise £28 million every week for projects both large and small, which benefit people, places and communities all across the UK. The National Lottery Awards recognise how Lottery-funded projects put that money to good use and celebrate the people behind the projects who work so tirelessly to make their organisations a success. 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, we want to hear from you.”

The entrants that make it to the finals of The National Lottery Awards will receive national recognition at a star-studded event broadcast on BBC One later this year. They will also have a chance to win a £2,000 cash prize.

The National Lottery Awards have seven categories - each reflecting an area of Lottery funding:

• Best Arts Project
• Best Education Project
• Best Environment Project
• Best Health Project
• Best Heritage Project
• Best Sport Project
• Best Voluntary/Charity Project

If you want to see a project from our local area celebrated in this year’s National Lottery Awards, visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards to find out more. Any projects wishing to enter can do so by visiting the website. Entries must be received by 5pm on Friday 18 February.