Lotto money for Exeter Good Causes

More than £4 million of National Lottery funding was invested into Exeter last year, figures released today reveal.

Across Exeter, 63 grants were awarded, providing a vital cash boost to local arts, sport and heritage and community groups helping the area’s most vulnerable people.

In 2013, grants were awarded to:

• £9,540 to Exeter City Football in the Community to purchase IT equipment, office furniture and kitchen equipment. This will enable the group to provide an enhanced learning space for children who attend the group activities.
• £355,522 to Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau to provide advice and guidance on issues that include welfare benefits, tax credit and employment related queries.
• £8,819 to St Sidwell's Centre Exeter to use the funding to provide training for vulnerable and marginalised people to work in their community cafe. This will improve confidence for beneficiaries, developing life skills. 

Now these projects, and any organisation which has received Lottery funding, have a chance to gain national recognition for their work as the National Lottery Awards 2014 open for entries.

John Barrowman, presenter of last year’s National Lottery Awards show, said: “National Lottery players raise £33 million every week for a wide range of projects which make a life changing difference to local communities. The Awards are a great way of celebrating their work and the unsung heroes helping people with National Lottery funding.

“Everyone in Exeter who plays the National Lottery should be proud of the difference their money is making in the local community. If you know of a Lottery-funded organisation that deserves to be nominated, we want to hear from you.”

The National Lottery Awards have seven categories - each reflecting an area of Lottery funding: Sport; Heritage; Arts; Environment; Health; Education; and Voluntary/Charity.

The winners of The National Lottery Awards will receive a £2,000 cash prize and national recognition at a star-studded event broadcast on BBC One later this year.

If you want to see a project from Exeter celebrated in this year’s National Lottery Awards, visit www.nationallotteryawards.org.uk to find out more or call 0207 293 3599. Projects wishing to enter can do so by visiting the website. Entries must be received by midnight on 12 March.