An environmentally-friendly community project in Pontypool 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 Neighbourhood Learning Centre – known locally as the ‘log cabin’ – 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. People in Pontypool and across Torfaen are being urged to show their support by casting a vote to help the Neighbourhood Learning Centre 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 Neighbourhood Learning Centre opened to the community in June last year, and so far over 20,000 people have come along to enjoy the range of indoor and outdoor activities on offer. Grants from the Lottery were used to build the ‘log cabin’ and also ensure the project is as green as possible, including kitting it out with a shingling roof, geo-thermal heating and a system for harvesting rainwater.
Kevin Weaver, Manager of the Neighbourhood Learning Centre, says:
“We’re delighted our project has reached the semi-finals of The National Lottery Awards. Lottery funding was crucial to the construction of the log cabin and the project has gone from strength to strength since opening. We’re the pride of the local community – it’s fantastic. 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 all the hard work of everyone involved.”
This year’s National Lottery Awards are supported by actress Fay Ripley, who attended last year’s Awards ceremony, which was broadcast 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 Neighbourhood Learning Centre call 0844 6865997 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.
