WIREDGOV

In the run up to WWF’s Earth Hour - taking place on Saturday 28th March 2015 - WWF and People’s Postcode Lottery have today launched a nationwide search to find inspirational people who are making a real difference for our planet.

The Earth Hour ‘Hidden Heroes’ competitionwww.wwf.org.uk/hiddenheroes invites people within their local community to nominate themselves or others who have gone the extra mile to help create a greener, more sustainable future. 

There are three categories for the competition; young superstars (under 25s), workplace wonders, and community champions - with high profile WWF supporters Alistair McGowan, Graeme Le Saux and YouTuber Lex Croucher each championing a category. They will be presenting an award to the winners, along with a £500 prize thanks to support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, at a special ceremony on 27th January to mark the 60 day countdown to Earth Hour 2015.

WWF ambassador, Alistair McGowan, said: “There are so many incredible people who care about our world and who are doing incredible things to protect it. Earth Hour’s ‘Hidden Heroes’ competition is helping to celebrate their efforts. If you know anyone who’s inspiring others to be greener and who is creating a more sustainable future for us all, please, please nominate them as a ‘Hidden Hero’ so that they can get the recognition they deserve!”

After the success of Earth Hour’s ‘Hidden Heroes’ in 2013, which received over 150 entries from across the country, this year’s competition is being run as a partnership between WWF-UK and People’s Postcode Lottery - a charity lottery where players play with their postcodes to win cash prizes while raising money for charities and good causes local to them.
 

Clara Govier, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “We are delighted that our players support Earth Hour’s ‘Hidden Heroes’ competition to help celebrate those individuals achieving positive change for the environment – we strongly encourage all those working to drive forward environmental change to come forward and tell their story”.

WWF’s Earth Hour is an opportunity for everyone to show they care about the planet, but ‘Hidden Heroes’ is looking to recognise those who are already going above and beyond. They may have raised awareness of green issues in their community, campaigned for better recycling facilities at work, fundraised to install solar panels in a local school, or simply encouraged family and friends to reduce their own energy usage. The winners’ stories will be showcased as part of the Earth Hour UK campaign, to highlight the difference individuals can make in helping protect our brilliant planet.

Joining the judging panel for this year is Simon Jakeman, a firefighter from Surrey whose sustainable rooftop garden and dedication to making Surbiton Fire Station London’s greenest fire station helped him win the ‘Hidden Hero’ workplace award in 2013. Simon, who has continued to act as an ambassador for Earth Hour, said: ‘For me, the honour of receiving a ‘Hidden Hero’ award was a great way to pass the message on and inspire others to do their bit too. It’s a brilliant way to bring about change from the roots up.’

To enter the competition, simply complete the online entry form at wwf.org.uk/hiddenheroes, with details of your nominated ‘Hidden Hero’. The competition closes at 11.59pm on Monday 1st December and winners will be publically announced at the end of January. To nominate you must be 16 or over. Full Terms and Conditions can be found at: wwf.org.uk/hiddenheroes 

Editor's notes

Competition Dates: 
 

•    Monday October 6th – competition launches 

•    Monday December 1st 11.59pm – competition closes

•    Tuesday 27th  January - awards ceremony to take place and winners to be announced publically 

•    Saturday 28th March, 8.30pm - 9.30pm – Earth Hour 2015
 

Celebrity ambassador quotes: 
 

•    WWF ambassador, Alistair McGowan is championing the community champions category and said “Green projects are uniting communities across Great Britain and bringing people together to share their passion for nature. We need everyone to do their bit and raise awareness of the environmental challenges we all face at home and abroad. I’m really pleased to be able to recognise some of the truly inspiring people who are leading the way - they really are our planet’s heroes!”

•    WWF ambassador, Graeme Le Saux will be championing the workplace wonders category and said “Making sustainable choices is not just something people do at home or in their community. There are people out there who are striving to make difference in their workplace and to inspire those they work with, their staff and customers to be greener too. Help us find the workplace heroes who are going above and beyond their day job to protect our planet!”

•    YouTuber Lex Croucher (www.youtube.com/user/tyrannosauruslexxx) will be championing the young superstars category and said “Hidden Heroes is about everyone doing their bit, whether big or small, it’s about showing you care about our planet and using your passion to inspire others. As a young person who cares deeply about our planet, I’m really excited to be spreading the word about Hidden Heroes. Young people have such a crucial role to play in the protection of our planet, I think we’ve grown up with a really good understanding and awareness of green issues and are able to really lead the way in creating a more sustainable future. I can’t wait to hear all the exciting things this planet’s young superstars are getting up to!”
 

About People’s Postcode Lottery
 

•    People’s Postcode Lottery is a charity lottery. Players play with their postcodes to win cash prizes while raising money for charities and good causes local to them. 

•    People’s Postcode Lottery is an External Lottery Manager and manages multiple society lotteries promoted by different causes supporting a range of good causes. For details on which society lottery is running each week, visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk/society 

•    Postcode Lottery Limited is regulated by the Gambling Commission under certificate nr 829-N-102511-007 and 829-R-102513-007, dated 06 November 2012. Registered office: Titchfield House, 69/85 Tabernacle Street, London, EC2A 4RR

•    People’s Postcode Lottery players support the following Trusts – People's Postcode Trust, Postcode African Trust, Postcode Animal Trust, Postcode Care Trust, Postcode Children Trust, Postcode Community Trust, Postcode Culture Trust, Postcode Dream Trust, Postcode Global Trust, Postcode Green Trust, Postcode Heroes Trust, Postcode Planet Trust and Postcode Sport Trust.These Trusts are funded entirely by players and support a variety of charities. For further information on each charity, visit:www.postcodelottery.co.uk/Charities

•    50p from every £2 ticket goes directly to good causes and players have raised over £49.3 Million for good causes across the country

•    There are five draws a month with prizes every day and each ticket costs £2 – paid monthly in advance by direct debit. For further prize information, visit: www.postcodelottery.co.uk/Prizes 

•    Maximum prize per ticket is £400,000 or 10% of draw proceeds and all prizes are awarded by ticket

•    Players can sign up by Direct Debit or credit card online atwww.postcodelottery.co.uk, by calling 0808 10-9-8-7-6-5 or through coupons they receive through the post

About WWF

WWF is one of the world’s largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than one hundred countries. Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, creating solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature thrive.  Find out more about our work, past and present at wwf.org.uk.

About Earth Hour

WWF’s Earth Hour is an annual global event, with hundreds of millions of people turning off their lights for one hour, on the same night, all across the world, in a huge symbolic show of support for our brilliant planet. In 2015, it will take place at 8.30pm on Saturday 28 March. For more information visit: wwf.org.uk/earthhour

For further information, please contact:

Kellie Rollings, tel: 07990 661336, email: krollings@wwf.org.uk, Twitter: @kellierollings