The team behind Cynon Valley-based Green Valley Centre are celebrating after their project was voted the UK’s Best Environment Project at the National Lottery Awards 2011 event in London on Saturday (5 November).
The Green Valley Centre won the prestigious title at the glittering gala ceremony, which was broadcast live on BBC One and hosted by Myleene Klass.
Representatives from The Green Valley Centre mingled with celebrity guests at this year’s star-studded awards event, including Ashley Banjo and Perri Kiely from Diversity, Holby City’s Laila Rouass, Dragons’ Den’s Hilary Devey, Professor Robert Winston and Dr Pamela Stephenson.
The Green Valley Centre, run by Bryncynon Strategy, won its National Lottery Award for its work to engage local people. They took derelict land and turned it into a green oasis for all to enjoy. Where the riverbanks had knotweed and litter, they now have otters and kingfishers. The two-acre garden is used to produce food boxes for some of the most vulnerable people locally, with fresh, affordable food going to people on low incomes – helping to teach about healthy eating. This community green space offers practical training and qualifications for young people, building their skills, fitness and confidence, and acts as a training facility for a range of people. Activities on the four-and-a-half-acre site include a reading group for toddlers and recreational facilities. Local school Ysgol Abercynon have their own garden where they grow vegetables and learn about nature, conservation, environmental awareness and sustainable living.
Accepting the award for Best Environment Project, The Green Valley Centre’s Michelle Lenton-Johnson said: “It is an absolute honour to win this award and a real boost for everyone involved to receive national recognition for their hard work and dedication. Lottery funding has been absolutely crucial to this project. The Awards have given us a great opportunity to highlight our project. We have received fantastic support throughout all stages of the competition, and I would especially like to thank everyone who has voted for us.”
Awards presenter and world record holding (60 metres hurdles) former athlete Colin Jackson said: “National Lottery players raise £30 million every week for large and small projects across the UK. The National Lottery Awards are a fantastic way of celebrating the enormous amount of hard work that goes into making these projects a success. All the finalists make a real difference to people and communities every day with their Lottery funding. Lottery players should be proud of the life-changing impact that their money has.”
The National Lottery Awards are an annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects. Over 800 projects entered this year, and all the projects entered in the competition had already received Lottery funding. The Awards recognise the difference that these projects make to local communities, and celebrate the achievements of the people behind them. There were seven categories in the Awards, each reflecting an area of Lottery funding. A short film on each of the finalists was also played during the special BBC One programme.
For more information on the National Lottery Awards 2011 (in association with the Telegraph) and the winners across all seven categories go to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
