Actor John Barrowman backs National Lottery awards as £2m in grants was handed out in Amber Valley

More than £2 million in National Lottery funding was invested into Amber Valley last year, figures reveal.

Across Amber Valley, 47 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:

£9,950 to Amber Valley Gymnastics Development Group to provide extracurricular workshops in movement and disability awareness for children and those living with disabilities;

£472,000 to Community Transport for Town and County to provide an improved safe, affordable and reliable service for people who have difficulty accessing public transport to reduce isolation;

£9,983 to Horsley Woodhouse Primary School to run extracurricular fitness and healthy eating activities for children.

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.

Actor 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 Amber Valley 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 Amber Valley 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 March 12.