A TOTAL of £7 million of National Lottery funding went to projects in Bradford in 2020/21, according to new figures released to mark the launch of this year’s National Lottery Awards.

National Lottery grants for 278 projects were allocated in this period, providing crucial support to arts, sports, heritage and community organisations in Bradford.

These included Play Bradford which was awarded £25,234 in funding to encourage disadvantaged children to connect with nature through outdoor learning.

The money was used to build the Natural Fun project, built at the charity’s main site, The Big Swing, in Eccleshill.

 

Play Bradford, has supported vulnerable children throughout the pandemic by providing outdoor adventure play sessions and has seen a huge improvement in the children’s physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

Funding from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund, distributed by the National Lottery Community Fund, was awarded in recognition of the charity’s continued play support it provides disadvantaged families and children within the Bradford district.

The National Lottery Awards are an annual celebration of the inspirational individuals and groups who do extraordinary things in their community with the help of National Lottery funding.

More than 1,500 inspirational people and projects were nominated for last year’s National Lottery Awards, and now the search is on once again for 2022’s nominees.

Anyone who has received National Lottery funding is eligible for nomination.

Model and radio presenter Kelly Brook, who is leading the hunt for this year’s favourite National Lottery-funded people and projects, said: “There are so many people up and down the country working tirelessly to make a difference in their communities, so it’s really important that we take a step back and recognise that.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Kelly Brook is calling on people from Bradford to put their name forward for a National Lottery Award Kelly Brook is calling on people from Bradford to put their name forward for a National Lottery Award

The National Lottery Awards will seek to celebrate outstanding individuals in the following categories: Community/Charity; Art, Culture & Film; Sport; Heritage; Environment and Young Hero (Under-25s).

A new addition for 2022, the Environment category will look to celebrate an individual who has gone above and beyond to keep their community on the green path.

Winners of these categories will be chosen by a judging panel and will receive a £5,000 cash prize and a National Lottery Awards trophy.

Any projects that have benefitted from National Lottery funding are also eligible to enter the Project of the Year category. The nominees will be whittled down to 16 finalists, with a UK-wide public vote in September deciding the winner.

To make your nomination for this year’s National Lottery Awards, tweet @LottoGoodCauses, go to lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards. Entries must be received by midnight on June 1.