06/02/2009
Fresh from strutting her stuff on Strictly Come Dancing, Lisa Snowdon is calling on the people of Northern Ireland to nominate their favourite Lottery-funded project in The National Lottery Awards 2009 – the annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects.
In the last year alone , over £54 million of Lottery funding has gone to projects in Northern Ireland. And now, The National Lottery is encouraging these projects, and the thousands like them across the UK, 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 Good Causes. The National Lottery Awards recognise the hard work, talent and amazing dedication of the people involved in running Lottery-funded projects, large and small. 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.
Northern Ireland charity, Musical Theatre for Youth (MT4Uth) was a finalist in the 2008 Awards. It helps young people from across Northern Ireland improve their stage skills and better prepare them to compete for roles in the UK, like ‘I’d Do Anything’ star, Niamh Perry. MT4UTH founder Brenda Kent, is joining Lisa in urging local people to nominate their favourite Lottery-funded project for this year’s Awards. "It would have been great to have won our category, but 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."
So if you want a project from Northern Ireland to be a winner, visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk to find out more. Nominations can be made by calling 0845 070 0112 or visiting the website. 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 a public vote and 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.
