Two Scotland-based projects have been named as finalists in The National Lottery Awards 2010, and are now calling on the public vote to help them win their categories.
The Awards are the annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects. All the projects in the running have already received Lottery funding and the Awards celebrate how they have put that money to good use.
The Scottish finalists are:
The Bumblebee Conservation Trust – competing for Best Environment Project - is based at Stirling University and was founded in 2006 to raise awareness about the decline of bumblebees and the consequences for our countryside and food security. Set up with Lottery funding to cover running and staff costs, the Trust has grown rapidly in the last four years. It now has over 6,000 members and works with the public, farmers and land managers right across the UK to prevent further declines and look after bumblebee populations for future generations. The public can vote for BBCT by calling 0844 686 1189 or going online to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards
Sportworx – competing for Best Sport Project - works with 15 – 20 year olds across some of the most highly deprived areas of South Lanarkshire, including Hamilton, Rutherglen, Larkhall and Clydesdale. The project aims to recognise the good in young people by highlighting their achievements, abilities and potential and giving them the opportunity to improve their self esteem, confidence and life skills. It does this by giving young people the opportunity to become sports and dance coaches and gain nationally accredited qualifications. To vote for Sportworx call 0844 686 7913 or go online to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards
This year’s National Lottery Awards are supported by actress Fay Ripley, who attended last year’s Awards ceremony, which was broadcast on BBC1. She says: “Each year The National Lottery Awards recognise the incredible impact that Lottery-funded projects have on people and communities across the UK. Lottery players raise £25 million every week to support projects like these, which have done so well to reach the final of The National Lottery Awards. Please take the time to show your support – every vote really does make a difference!”
About The National Lottery Awards
The National Lottery Awards recognise the difference that Lottery-funded projects – both big and small – make to local communities, and celebrate the achievements of the people behind them. The Awards have seven categories – each reflecting an area of Lottery funding: sport; heritage; arts; environment; education; health (in association with iVillage.co.uk) and voluntary/charity (in association with Woman magazine).
The winners of each category will be announced during a star-studded Awards event, broadcast on BBC1 in September, and this year held at London’s Roundhouse, which is Lottery-funded.
Public voting for the final starts at 9am on 26 July and ends at midday on 13 August. For more information or to cast a vote, go to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards
Notes to Editors
- In addition to the Lottery funding that they have already received, the winning project in each of the seven categories will receive a £2,000 cash prize
- BBCT received Lottery funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund; Sportworx received Lottery funding from the Big Lottery Fund
- Calls cost 5p from a BT landline. Calls from other networks may vary, calls from mobiles could cost considerably more. Callers are advised to check with their telephone network provider to be certain of the cost. No profit will be made from the cost of the phone vote by the National Lottery Promotions Unit or The National Lottery
- All voting will be independently adjudicated and verified by Electoral Reform Services
- Since the Lottery began in 1994, over £24 billion has been raised for Good Causes by Lottery players and over 340,000 grants have been made across the UK
- For more information on the Awards or Lottery-funded projects log on to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
Semi- Finals
- The semi-final stage ran from 1 – 18 June. There were a total of 70 projects in the semi-finals – 10 in each of the seven categories
- The three projects with the most votes in each category have gone through to the final round of public voting
Finals
- There are 21 projects in the final stage – three in each of the seven categories. The public can vote from 9am on 26 July and any vote cast before midday on 13 August will be counted
- There will be only one winner in each category. The seven winners will be announced at the Awards event, broadcast on BBC1 in September, and this year held at London’s Roundhouse. The Roundhouse received Lottery funding from Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund