National Lottery Awards open for 2010

In the last year alone over £244 million of Lottery funding has gone to projects in the Heritage sector. And now, the National Lottery is encouraging any projects that have received funding over the past 15 years to enter the National Lottery Awards 2010. The Awards are the annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects and to celebrate the people behind them.

National Lottery Awards ambassador and former Coronation Street actress, Sally Lindsay says: "Lottery players raise £25 million every week for projects both large and small, which are benefiting people and communities all across the UK. The National Lottery Awards recognise the dedication of the people behind these amazing projects who are making a difference."

The entrants 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.

Restoration of Stourport-on-Severn Canal Basins, which played a vital role in developing the UK’s canal transport system, won the Heritage category in last year's National Lottery Awards.

"Huge boost to everyone involved"

Chris Bailey, Programme Manager of the Restoration of Stourport-on-Severn Canal Basins says: "Winning our category in last year’s National Lottery Awards was the most fantastic experience. Knowing that so many people in our local community supported us throughout the whole process was the best feeling and it has been a huge boost to everyone involved in this project, which has successfully transformed the area. Receiving the national exposure of appearing on the BBC1 show has raised our profile tremendously."

If you want to nominate a project for the Heritage category, visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk to find out more. Nominations can be made from 9am on Monday 11 January by calling 0207 324 4366 or visiting the website. Entries must be received by 5pm on Friday 12 February.

The Awards have seven categories - each reflect an area of Lottery funding: Sport; Heritage; Arts; Environment; Voluntary/Charity (in association with Woman magazine); Health and Education.