The winners of The National Lottery Awards 2008 were announced on The National Lottery: Big 7 - a special live BBC1 show, broadcast on Saturday 30 August. Click here to see backstage footage of the show.
21 Lottery-funded projects from all over the UK gathered at the star-studded event to find out who'd won this year's National Lottery Awards. Now in their fifth year, the Awards recognise the difference that Lottery-funded projects - both large and small - make to local communities, and celebrate the achievements of the people behind them.
The 21 finalists had battled through two rounds of public voting to decide who would take home the National Lottery Award for each of the seven categories, as well as a cash prize of £2,000 to spend on their project.
The Awards were presented by high-profile celebrities, including boxing sensation Ricky Hatton, Gethin Jones and Holby City's Amanda Mealing. The glittering gala evening also featured a one-off celebrity quiz, as well as special live performances from McFly and Gabriella Cilmi.
The winners of this year's Awards are:
Best Arts Project
Winner - Oska Bright Film Festival, presented by Eastenders' Emma Barton
The Oska Bright Film Festival is the only film festival in the world that is run by, and screens films made by, people with learning disabilities. Its 2007 Festival was such a success that Oska Bright is touring throughout 2008, covering 21 towns and cities in the UK, as well as Ireland and Europe. The project received £4,000 from the Lottery, which has covered marketing and publicity costs for the project, as well as providing support to the Festival during their tour.
Best Education project
Winner - Airspace, Imperial War Museum Duxford, presented by Gethin Jones
AirSpace is an exploration of British and Commonwealth aviation, celebrating the UK's rich military and civilian heritage. The exhibition aims to increase the public's understanding of aircraft through its interactive gallery, as well as providing educational opportunities for visitors to the museum. Lottery funding of £10 million contributed to the construction of the building, the design and installation of the exhibitions, as well as the conservation of the pieces used in the displays.
Best Environment project
Winner - Nell Bank Outdoor Education Centre, presented by McFly
The Nell Bank Outdoor Education Centre provides outdoor learning facilities for young people, including those from disadvantaged communities and many individuals with learning, visual, hearing and other physical difficulties. The project received over £260,000 of Lottery funding, which was used to develop an all-weather amphitheatre as a meet and greet area, enabling an additional 2,000 people to visit the Centre every year.
iVillage.co.uk Award for Best Health Project
Winner - The Macular Disease Society's Train the Trainer Course, presented by Holby City's Amanda Mealing
The Macular Disease Society's Train the Trainer provides an intensive 3 day training course to teach Eccentric Viewing technique, for people with macular degeneration. More than half a million people in the UK are affected by vision loss through macular degeneration, which makes everyday tasks difficult and can lead to feelings of isolation or depression. The technique teaches participants to make the most of their remaining peripheral vision, so that they can improve their reading and as a result, live more independently. By training people to teach the technique, the project is equipping them to help others to regain their independence, while building their confidence and self-esteem.
Best Heritage project
Winner - The Armed Forces Memorial (at the National Memorial Arboretum), presented by Anne Robinson
The Armed Forces Memorial is situated at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. Its white curved walls are a striking and emotional tribute honouring the men and women of the UK Armed Services who have given their lives in the service of their country, since the end of the Second World War. The £2.4 million of Lottery funding helped to create the Memorial, which pays tribute to the 16,000 men and women, whose names are engraved on its walls.
Best Sports project
Winner - Get Active in the Forest, presented by Ricky Hatton
Get Active in the Forest offers outdoor activities to the people of South Derbyshire, providing many local people with an opportunity to improve their health and fitness whilst taking in the natural beauty of the surrounding countryside. The project received £480,000 of Lottery funding, which helped to buy equipment for a wide range of activities such as archery, woodland laser combat and cycling.
Woman magazine Award for Best Charity/Voluntary Project
Winner - Redditch Nightstop, presented by the Yngling Girls
Redditch Nightstop aims to provide safe emergency accommodation in a family home for one night, for young homeless people aged between 16-25. If the young person needs a place to stay the following night, Nightstop will provide another bed and also help them to find a place in secure accommodation more permanently and support them throughout the process. The project also runs an education programme for children and young people that highlights the realities of homelessness.
