Powys-based environmental project, the Phoenix Community Furniture Scheme, needs your vote this week as it goes head to head with other Lottery-funded projects from across the UK in the semi-finals of The National Lottery Awards 2010.
The Phoenix Community Furniture Scheme, which has bases in Newtown and Llandrindod Wells, is one of only 10 projects to make it through in the Best Environment Project category of The National Lottery Awards, which are an annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects. All the projects in the running have already received Lottery funding and the Awards celebrate how they have put that money to good use. The project works across Powys and people in the area are being urged to show their support by casting a vote to help the scheme make it through to the final stage.
The winning project in each of the seven categories will receive national recognition on a star-studded BBC 1 TV show later this year and, in addition to the Lottery funding they have already been awarded, will receive a £2,000 cash prize1 to spend on their project.
The Phoenix Community Furniture Scheme aims to cut landfill waste by collecting redundant furniture and white goods, like fridges, washing machines and electrical items, and making them available to people in Powys who are on low incomes and can’t afford to buy such items themselves. Lottery funding has enabled the scheme to become better established, with a new IT system to record stock and customer details, as well as allowing them to purchase two old lorry boxes to use as extra storage space and more office equipment for both sites.
David Birch, Manager of the Phoenix Community Furniture Scheme, says:
“We’re delighted our project has reached the semi-finals of The National Lottery Awards. Lottery funding has allowed us to grow the project and tackle the problem of waste head on. Not only were we able to divert over 1,000 tons of furniture from going to landfill last year, we’re also ensuring people on low incomes have the opportunity to improve their standard of living and we are creating work experience for disadvantaged groups.
“We’re really hoping the public gets behind us and votes for us in The National Lottery Awards as it would be great to get national recognition for our project and all the hard work of the team involved.”
This year’s National Lottery Awards are supported by Fay Ripley who attended last year’s Awards show, which was screened on BBC1. She says: “Lottery players raise £25 million every week, which funds projects and organisations that are making a real difference to people and communities across Wales and the rest of the UK. The National Lottery Awards recognise the amazing talent and hard work of the people involved in running Lottery-funded projects, so please get behind your local project and vote to give them your support.”
About The National Lottery Awards
The National Lottery Awards recognise the difference that Lottery-funded projects – both big and small – make to local communities, and celebrate the achievements of the people behind them. The Awards have seven categories – each reflecting an area of Lottery funding: sport; heritage; arts; environment; education; health (in association with iVillage.co.uk) and voluntary/charity (in association with Woman magazine).
Voting for the semi-finals starts at 9am on Tuesday 1 June and ends at midday on Friday 18 June. To cast a vote for the Phoenix Community Furniture Scheme call 0844 6867838 or log on to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards
The three projects in each category with the highest number of votes will go through to the final round of public voting in July.
