Five groups progress in contest for Lottery ‘Good Causes’ funds

FIVE organisations from County Wicklow are in the running for National Lottery ‘Good Causes’ funding.

Bray Cardiac First Responders, Wicklow Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Dublin and Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team, Greystones Tidy Towns and Arklow Youth Centre are all county winners in various categories.

Having impressed the adjudicators with their work and efforts, all five now go through for regional selection with a hope of being picked to compete in the national final.

The awards honour the inspiring work of projects, clubs and individuals all over Ireland with the help of Good Causes funding. Nearly 30 cent of every euro spent on National Lottery games goes back to good causes, which has a big impact on communities across the country.

Announcing the County Wicklow winners, National Lottery CEO Dermot Griffin, said: ‘We were bowled over by the calibre of entries and the impact that these organisations are having in their local communities. We know that these groups are doing extraordinary things and the Good Causes awards recognise and celebrate their achievements.’

These winners will represent Wicklow in the east regional finals, which take place in September, and compete for a place in the national finals in Dublin on Saturday, November 3.

Broadcaster and entrepreneur Bobby Kerr, Chair of the judging panel, said: ‘ The competition is fierce in the National Lottery Good Causes Awards. The standard of entries is really impressive. I congratulate all of the county winners and look forward to seeing Wicklow competing in the regional finals next month.’

At the national finals, each category winner will received €10,000 and the overall Good Cause of the Year will receive an additional €25,000. Awards will be presented in the categories of sports, arts, culture, heritage, community, health, youth and the Irish language.