NEW figures reveal that more than £100,000 of National Lottery funding was invested in west Somerset projects last year alone.

Across the area, ten grants were awarded last year; benefiting local arts, sports and heritage projects alongside community groups helping those most in need.

Grants were awarded to a wide range of projects in 2014, including:  

·         £5,490 to Minehead Football Academy for new dugouts.

·         £41,000 to Halsway Manor Society for a major oral history project to record its unique role in the revival of folk music. 

·         £10,000 to 1st Watchet Sea Scout Group for new sail training boats.

These projects, or any organisation that has ever received Lottery funding, has the possibility of gaining national recognition through entering the National Lottery Awards 2015.

The National Lottery Awards have seven categories to reflect the range of areas that the Lottery funds - 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 ceremony broadcast on BBC One later this year.

If you want to nominate your favourite project or enter your own project in this year’s National Lottery Awards, visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk or call 0207 293 3599  to find out more. Entries must be received by midnight on March 25, 2015.