Hartlepool's a winner as £1.3m National Lottery cash handed to town

Lottery bosses say there were 20 grants given out in Hartlepool during 2016 providing a vital boost to arts, sports and heritage projects alongside community groups helping those most in need.

They say a wide variety of local projects received National Lottery grants last year, including:

• £8,376 to Mindskills to provide support and training for people with mental health and emotional difficulties;

• £9,400 to Hartlepool Community Restoration Society to deliver art therapy workshops;

• £9,800 to 40th Hartlepool Scout Group to replace the doors and windows of their building.

From today, these examples, or any organisation that has ever received National Lottery funding, has the possibility of gaining nationwide acclaim by entering The National Lottery Awards 2017 – the annual search for the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects.

National Lottery Awards winners will receive a £3,000 cash prize and national recognition at a glittering ceremony broadcast on BBC One later in the year.

John Barrowman MBE, presenter of the National Lottery Awards show, said the awards are a celebration of people and organisations that change lives and communities.

He said: “The National Lottery Awards are a fabulous celebration of the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects as voted for by the public.

“The awards rightly put the focus on ordinary people doing extraordinary things with National Lottery funding, whose efforts go such a long way and are indeed changing lives.

“National Lottery players can be very proud to have contributed towards their fine work.”

National Lottery Awards cover seven categories; Sport, Heritage, Arts, Environment, Health, Education and Voluntary/Charity, to reflect the range of funding that the Lottery gives out.

There is also a Special Achievement Award to recognise the outstanding contribution made by an individual to improving the lives of others.

If you wish to nominate your favourite project in this year’s National Lottery Awards, tweet @LottoGoodCauses with your suggestions or call 0207 293 3329 to find out more and to enter.

Entries must be received by midnight on April 7.