Local projects hit the jackpot
New figures show that more than £22.1 million of National Lottery funding was awarded across South Wales in the last year alone.
A total of 745 National Lottery grants were given out in Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and The Vale of Glamorgan during 2016. These are 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 grants last year, including:
- £1,438 to Abercynon RFC Minis and Juniors for their new under sevens team and coach development
- £2,754 to Cwrt Alun Lewis Tenants and Friends Association to upgrade their communal garden and hold events for residents, family, friends and the local community.
- £737 to Mountain Ash Flyfishers Association to install lighting around the car park and pathways at Penderyn Reservoir, improving the site for people with physical disabilities, encouraging them to join the group.
- £28,600 to The Cory Band for the fourth year of the Cory Band Academy, working with other brass bands and schools towards a massed brass band concert.
- £1,900 to Cardiff and Vale Health Charity to run a photography project for patients of the South Wales Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit at Rookwood Hospital, culminating in an exhibition and launch to bring people together in University Hospital Llandough.
From today, these examples, along with any organisation that has ever received National Lottery funding, have the possibility of gaining nationwide acclaim by entering The National Lottery Awards 2017 – the annual search for the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects.
National Lottery Awards winners will receive a £3,000 cash prize and national recognition at a glittering ceremony broadcast on BBC One later in the year.
John Barrowman MBE, presenter of the National Lottery Awards show, said: “The National Lottery Awards are a fabulous celebration of the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects as voted for by the public. The Awards rightly put the focus on ordinary people doing extraordinary things with National Lottery funding, whose efforts go such a long way and are indeed changing lives. National Lottery players can be very proud to have contributed towards their fine work.”
National Lottery Awards cover seven categories; Sport, Heritage, Arts, Environment, Health, Education and Voluntary/Charity, to reflect the range of funding that the National Lottery gives out. There is also a Special Achievement Award to recognise the outstanding contribution made by an individual to improving the lives of others.
If you wish to nominate your favourite project in this year’s National Lottery Awards, tweet @LottoGoodCauses with your suggestions or call 0207 293 3329 to find out more and to enter. Entries must be received by midnight on 7 April 2017.
