Entries wanted for the National Lottery Awards

Entries wanted for the National Lottery Awards

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

In the last year alone, over £2 million of Lottery funding has been invested in good causes in Rochdale and now The National Lottery is encouraging these projects, and any organisation that has received Lottery funding over the past 16 years, to enter the Awards and gain national recognition for their work.

Rebecca Gowrley of The National Lottery Awards said: “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.”

Any entrants that make it through to the final will receive recognition across the whole of the UK at a star-studded event. The Awards ceremony will be broadcast on BBC One later this year. A cash prize of £2000 will also be awarded.

Gemma Castle, Development Officer at Children’s Able and Disabled Sport is joining Ms Gowrely in encouraging Lottery-funded projects to get involved.

Based in Greater Manchester, the all-inclusive sport organisation won the Best Sport Project category in 2010. Ms Castle said: "Taking part in The National Lottery Awards last year was a fantastic experience from start to finish. Just seeing the overwhelming support that we received was so inspiring for everyone at CADS. When we were announced as the winner of the Best Sport Project category we were absolutely thrilled, and to receive recognition on national television was an honour. It would be great to see another winner from the Manchester area this year.”

The National Lottery Awards have seven categories - each reflecting an area of Lottery funding: Sport; Heritage; Arts; Environment; Health; Education; and Voluntary/Charity.

Now in their eighth year, The National Lottery Awards recognise and celebrate 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.

If you want to see a project from Rochdale celebrated in this year’s National Lottery Awards, visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk. To find out more call : 0207 960 6828

The awards are now open for entries and any projects wishing to enter can do so by visiting the website. Entries must be received by 5pm on Friday 18 February.