Voting is open online until midday on Sunday 13th March, and the three most popular schemes in each region will receive funding from the Big Lottery Fund. The fund awards around 40 percent of the cash from the National Lottery’s Good Causes pool to community groups across the UK every year. ITV is backing the campaign through regular reporting on its network of regional news programmes.
Among the hopeful projects this year are Aberdeen Action on Disability Limited, who require £23,139 to increase the number of disabled adults who can take part in its media lessons on topics such as creating websites and making podcasts. Happy Days Ministries UK, based in Halifax, West Yorkshire, is asking for £49,365 to teach those who have become or are at risk of becoming homeless to maintain bicycles. The skills the participants learn allow them to spend more time cycling, which creates opportunities for them as well as positively affecting their health. Inspiro needs £50,000 to increase the reach of its SowGood2Eat scheme in the Basingstoke area into women’s refuges, providing residents with healthy food and education about nutrition.
UK National Lottery players help raise £34 million every week for worthy charities within the country, with 28p of every £1 spent on tickets for games like UK Lotto, EuroMillions and Thunderball being paid directly into the Good Causes Fund. When you play these fun lottery games, you can be assured that not only do you stand the chance of winning a gigantic cash prize, you are also helping fantastic community projects to thrive.
