National Lottery player surprises charities with big funding cheque
Melanie May | 28 October 2016 | News
The British Red Cross in Abergele, Wales and Royal Voluntary Service received a surprise when a National Lottery player turned up and presented them with the news that their application for funding had been successful, along with a very big cheque.
The organisations were presented with a cheque for £932,766 at the launch of the National Lottery’s ‘Thank You Wales’ campaign, which allows players to visit projects that benefit when they buy a ticket.
Roxanne Rylance from Colwyn Bay visited the charities in Abergele to tell them that that their Big Lottery Fund application for funding to launch a new Positive Steps service had been successful.
The service is a joint initiative from both charities and aims to help older people across North and Mid Wales by increasing confidence, improving mental and emotional wellbeing and reducing isolation, with volunteers from the charities supporting them in playing a more active role within their community.
[youtube height=”450″width=”800″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK0ypbWkS8A[/youtube]
Dave Worrall, service manager at the Red Cross said:
“Sadly, many older people have lost contact with their communities due to illness, mobility problems or bereavement. The Red Cross and Royal Voluntary Service will work together to help them regain their confidence, improve their mental and emotional wellbeing and ultimately support them to find solutions that re-establish their independence and allow them to re-connect with their community.”
Roxanne Rylance said:
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“I’ve been playing the National Lottery for more than 10 years and am part of a syndicate at work. When you buy a ticket you usually think about the money up for grabs, but I’ve never really thought too much about the fact that some of my ticket money goes to such deserving charities and community groups like this. It’s been a great experience to be involved in the campaign.”
Positive Steps is one of seven projects across Wales sharing in £3,479,433 as part of the latest round of the Big Lottery Fund’s People and Places funding.
Main image: Lottery player Roxanne Rylance meets Rhyl Men’s Shed manager Richard Angell (centre) and Dave Worrall, service manager, Red Cross, Rhyl.
About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.