WIREDGOV

Six groups in ITV Meridian East have been shortlisted to battle for the public vote and £50,000 of Lottery cash in this years The People’s Millions TV competition. 
 
Since The People’s Millions began in 2005 the competition has funded over 520 diverse community projects UK-wide with an incredible £27.8 million in Big Lottery Fund good cause money.

The People’s Millions 2013, which takes place on ITV Meridian East evening regional news during the week of November 25, will give six selected community groups across the region from Hastings to Herne Bay the opportunity to win the public vote on why they deserve a life changing Lottery award.

Each night two groups will make their bid for viewers’ support to take home up to £50,000, with the public voting by phone to decide who wins the prize.

There are three, £50,000 awards up for grabs in the region – one award for each night, as well as a bonus award for the runner up with the most phone votes across the week.

This is the eighth year that the Big Lottery Fund and ITV have given the public the chance to choose where the Lottery good cause cash goes in their region.

On Monday 25 November, the first two projects to run the gauntlet will be Broadstairs Town Shed and Newhaven Community Development Association’s Food 4 Seahaven: Community Kitchen. If Broadstairs Town Shed pulls in the most votes they will use their winnings to create a town shed initiative providing a community hub for social activities and an opportunity for sharing DIY skills across generations. Primarily the project will target men however the service will be available to the whole community. The project aims to reduce isolation, promote health and wellbeing and enhance community cohesion. But if Food 4 Seahaven: Community Kitchen secure a victory, they will recruit and train volunteers to deliver community cookery sessions and health and food hygiene training in Newhaven. The project will set up Seahaven Community Kitchen, to complement the existing food bank. Food bank beneficiaries will be offered cookery sessions and advice on other issues such as debt and budget management.

On Tuesday 26 November, Herne Bay Coastal Park run by Canterbury City Council will battle it out with The Ellington Park Wildlife Garden. If Herne Bay Coastal Park pulls in the most phone votes they will improve and develop the coastline by creating a seaside park to attract people from the local area and beyond. Local people have helped write the management plan, enabling participants to gain skills through involvement in maintaining and developing the coastline. The park will include picnic tables, improved beach access and a mural. However if The Ellington Park Wildlife Garden come out on top they will give the community in Ramsgate access to wildlife conservation by installing a wildlife area within the park. The new area will include a new pond, indigenous plants and wildlife habitats. The project will provide volunteering opportunities for both young and older people, allowing different age groups to mix and helping create community cohesion.

On Wednesday 27 November, the final night of voting, Have a Break, Have a Respite run by Cerebral Palsy Care Kent will take on St Michael’s Hospice Days to Remember in Hastings. If Have a Break, Have a Respite tops the polls they will provide an accessible holiday home to give disabled children and their families the chance to enjoy a comfortable break at a reduced cost. Specialist educational sessions for disabled children will also be on offer to support their development. The project will help improve quality of life for disabled children and their families. But if St Michael’s Hospice Days to Remember get the most support they will improve facilities at the hospice’s day centre to provide a more comfortable experience for patients and their families. The project will include a new internet cafe with a digital photography studio and a bistro style dining area. Local volunteers will be recruited to support the delivery of activities requested by service users.
.
Voting numbers will be available on the day the projects are due to appear on ITV with Telephone voting lines* opening at 9am on each day and winners announced the following day.

Dawn Austwick Big Lottery Fund Chief Executive, said: “The highly imaginative range of projects shortlisted for The People’s Millions this year really will enable local lives to be changed by you. While it will undoubtedly present a challenge for the public to decide which good cause to choose, the end result is certain to benefit communities in need. We want to encourage everyone to show their support for the projects which capture their imagination, as every vote counts!”

Adam Crozier, Chief Executive of ITV plc, said: "We're looking forward to another great year with The People's Millions where local groups showcase inspiring projects in the ITV regions. The winners will each have up to £50,000 of Lottery money to make a real difference to the lives of people in their communities."

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888    Out of Hours contact: 07867 500 572
Full details of Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available at:www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Notes to editors

ITV broadcast regions in The People’s Millions: ITV Anglia East; ITV Anglia West; ITV Central East; ITV Central West; ITV Granada; ITV London; ITV Meridian East; ITV Meridian West; ITV Tyne Tees; ITV Westcountry East; ITV Westcountry West, ITV Yorkshire North; ITV Yorkshire South; STV West; STV East; STV North; STV Borders ; UTV; and ITV Wales.

• The People’s Millions is a partnership between Big Lottery Fund and ITV which gives the public the chance to have a say in how Lottery funding is spent in their community through a telephone vote.
• The competition funds projects that improve the lives of people and communities across the UK. 
• This year 76 awards of up to £50,000 are up for grabs across the UK – four awards in each ITV region (including a bonus award for the runner-up with the highest number of votes).
• To date 523 good causes across the UK have been awarded grants through the contest, sharing in £27.8 million of Lottery funding. Close to three million votes have been cast by the public.
• For more information on shortlisted groups, visit The People’s Millions websitewww.peoplesmillions.org.uk
• As in previous years, ITV and the Big Lottery Fund will use a low cost premium rate telephone number. ITV and Big do not make a profit from the voting telephone numbers.
• The Big Lottery Fund, the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
• The Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since its inception in June 2004 the Fund has awarded close to £6 bn.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £30 billion has now been raised and more than 400,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment