Lisa Snowdon With War Veterans
From Strictly Come Dancing,straight into The National Lottery Awards - Model, dancer and celebrity Lisa Snowdon joined war veterans at London's Imperial War Museum to launch The National Lottery Awards 2009 - the annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects. The Imperial War Museum and the decorated military men represent some of projects that have benefited from the £150 million of Lottery money that has been invested to honour our veterans.
So now its your chance to make sure your favourite project gets the recognition it deserves.
Since The National Lottery began nearly 15 years ago, over £22 billion has been invested in projects across the UK. And now, The National Lottery is encouraging the hundreds of thousands who have received Lottery funding over the years to enter the Awards and gain recognition for their fantastic work.
National Lottery Awards ambassador, Lisa, says: "Each week Lottery players raise £25 million for causes. The National Lottery Awards recognise the hard work, talent and amazing dedication of the every day heroes involved in running Lottery-funded projects, both large and small, up and down the UK. So now it’s your chance to make sure your favourite project gets the recognition it deserves."
The projects 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. "Whether a local community project has made a positive impact in your neighbourhood or the achievements of the Olympic and Paralympic athletes in Beijing inspired you, or if you are personally involved in a Lottery-funded project that is transforming lives, then now is your chance to nominate." says Lisa.
Alexia Murphy, one of the mums involved with Werewolves of London Special Ice Hockey Club - a London group for young people and children with disabilities and a finalist at the 2008 Awards - is urging the public to nominate their favourite Lottery-funded project for this year’s Awards. She says: "Getting to the finals of a national competition through the votes of our supporters was tremendous and really helped us raise our profile, especially within the local community."
All Lottery-funded projects - large or small - can be nominated by the public or can enter themselves. Nominations can be made by calling 0845 070 0112 or Click Here. Entries must be received by 5pm on Friday 13 March 2009.
More about The National Lottery Awards
Now in their sixth year, The National Lottery Awards recognise the difference that Lottery-funded projects - both large and small - make to local communities across the UK, and celebrate the difference that the people behind them are making.
The Awards have seven categories, each reflecting an area of Lottery funding: Sport; Heritage; Arts; Environment; Voluntary/Charity, Health and Education.
Projects will compete in two rounds of public voting and the shortlisted projects will go through to the finals where the winning projects in each category will be announced on a special live BBC1 TV show later this year.