10/01/11

By Andrew Holt

The National Lottery Awards 2011 are now open for entries from Lottery-funded projects across the UK.

The Awards are the annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded project.

In the last year alone over £392 million of Lottery funding has been invested in charities, and now The National Lottery is encouraging these charities, and any other 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: “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.”

The entrants that make it to the finals of The National Lottery Awards will receive national recognition at a star-studded event broadcast on BBC One later this year.

They will also have a chance to win a £2000 cash prize.

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

To nominate a project for recognition in the Best Voluntary/Charity Project category in this year’s National Lottery Awards, visit the websiteor call 0207 960 6828.

Nominations can be made from today, 10 January and entries must be received by 5pm on Friday 18 February.

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