Swindon's Green Fingered Gardeners Weave the Winning Numbers!

Members of TWIGS (Therapeutic Gardening Work in Swindon) are putting the finishing touches to the world’s largest willow Lottery ball. Made of organic willow grown at the project, this unique five-foot giant Lottery ball is the project’s way of saying thank you to Lottery players, who raise £25 million a week for Good Causes projects across the UK, which make a huge difference to people, like those with mental health problems, who benefit from the garden therapy classes at TWIGS.

1 in 4 people in the UK suffer with mental health issues and members of the TWIGS project credit it with helping to turn their lives around. Julian, 45, struggles to feel comfortable in social settings and suffers from a virtually debilitating lack of self-confidence. However, since he discovered TWIGS, eight months ago, he has already started to integrate with small groups at the project and is learning new skills to cope with his disability. Julian says: “There's more to this project than digging - there's a great community spirit here; everyone is treated as a person not as an illness. Before I came to TWIGS I struggled to motivate myself even to leave the house in the mornings, but now I get real pleasure from tasks like the willow weaving, which really helps with my depression.”

In the last year alone, over £118 million of Lottery funding has been invested in arts, sports, heritage, education, environment, health, charity and voluntary projects across the South West. Today's special willow weaving is part of a UK-wide roadshow, which aims to bring to life the diverse range of people and projects that benefit from Lottery funding. Giant Lottery balls will be popping up at various locations around the South West this week, so local residents can see a few more examples of how Lottery funding benefits their area. Look out for them at Action Indoor Sport in Bristol, The Hall for Cornwall in Truro, The Lighthouse in Poole and Horizon’s Sailing Centre in Plymouth.

Corin Brett from The National Lottery explains: “We think it’s important that Lottery players know about all the fantastic projects, both in their area and across the UK, that are made possible thanks to the money they help raise each week. We hope that John's experience at TWIGS and the giant Lottery balls here and at community projects across the region, will help make people more aware of how Lottery funding has benefited their local community.”

Ten Lottery funding facts you might not know:

1. Each week Lottery players raise £25 million for Good Causes across the UK
2. Last year alone, more than £118 million was invested in projects in the South West
3. More than 25,500 Good Causes in the South West - both big and small - have benefited from funding since the Lottery began
4. The Lottery is 15 this year! The first Lottery draw was on 19 November 1994
5. Since its launch in 1994 more than £22 billion has been raised for Good Causes
6. Over 300,000 Lottery grants have been given out across the arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment since 1994. But they all have one thing in common, they make a positive difference to communities across the region, helping the lives of local people and improving the places they enjoy
7. Over half of all Lottery grants are for under £5,000, helping local projects make a big difference to people in their communities
8. Since the Lottery began in 1994, over £1 billion has been raised for projects that support people’s health and wellbeing
 9. A total of 436 Olympic and Paralympic medals have been won by athletes funded by the Lottery, with Beijing 2008 being Team GB’s best medal haul for 100 years
10. Over £10 billion of National Lottery funding has gone to projects that benefit children and young people

For more information/photography please contact: Sarah Johnston on 020 7025 6537/sarah.johnston@redconsultancy.com or Suzi Culshaw on 020 7025 6450/suzi.culshaw@redconsultancy.com

To find out how to apply for National Lottery funding, visit: www.lotteryfunding.org.uk or call 0845 275 0000.