Leek Post & Times

Moorlands causes are awarded more than £680k in lottery cash

Eastenders star joins up with award scheme

- By Les Jackson leslie.jackson@reachplc.com

MORE than £680,000 of National Lottery finding was given to good causes in the Staffordsh­ire Moorlands during 2019/20.

A total of 27 National Lottery grants were allocated during this period which provided crucial support to arts, sports, heritage and community organisati­ons in Staffordsh­ire Moorlands.

The National Lottery Awards are the annual search for the UK’S favourite National Lottery funded people and projects and, this year, actress and TV presenter, Jacqueline Jossa, has joined forces with the National Lottery in the search for inspiratio­nal individual­s and groups throughout the UK.

Jacqueline, who is known for portraying Lauren Branning in the BBC soap opera Eastenders from 2010 to 2018, and winning the nineteenth series of the ITV series I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2019, is encouragin­g the public to nominate the people and projects who do extraordin­ary things in their community with the help of National Lottery funding – especially during these challengin­g times.

Last year there were 5000 nomination­s made and once again, the National Lottery is looking to hear about those who are going the extra mile, doing amazing things and inspiring others. Anyone who has received National Lottery funding is eligible for nomination.

Winners in each category will receive a £3,000 cash prize for their organisati­on and a coveted National Lottery Awards trophy.

Urging people to get their nomination­s in, Jacqueline said: “I really hope lots of people nominate (a local hero) because these people deserve to be celebrated, especially during these challengin­g times when many need the support more than ever.

“So much National Lottery funding goes to great causes and allows these local heroes to continue their inspiratio­nal work within our communitie­s and its thanks to National Lottery players that this can continue.”

Encompassi­ng all aspects of National Lottery good causes funding, the 2021 National Lottery Awards are seeking to recognise outstandin­g individual­s in the following sectors: Culture; arts and film; heritage; sport; community/charity.

There will be a special Young Hero Award for someone under the age of 18 who has gone that extra mile in their organisati­on.

All nominees must work or act for a National Lottery funded organisati­on or have received National Lottery funding.

Winners of these categories will be chosen by a judging panel made up of members of the National Lottery family and partners.

In addition, projects from any sector who have received National Lottery funding are eligible to enter The National Lottery Project of the Year category.

Sixteen shortliste­d finalists will compete in a Uk-wide public vote in September to claim this title.

To make your nomination for this year’s National Lottery Awards, tweet @ Lottogoodc­auses with your suggestion­s or complete an entry form through our website www.lotterygoo­dcauses/ awards.

Entries must be received by midnight on June 7, 2021.

 ??  ?? Former Eastenders star and I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here winner Jacqueline Jossa.
Former Eastenders star and I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here winner Jacqueline Jossa.

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