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From London’s Aquatics Centre to a bowling club in Southampton, yesterday we’re celebrating projects we have invested in far and wide as we reach a major milestone.

In the last 20 years, £5 billion has been invested by us in grassroots sport, supporting projects that make important differences to communities.

Big or small, tens of thousands of projects have been supported with National Lottery and taxpayer funding.

A boxing club in the Jamia Majid and Usmania mosque in Sheffield has been used by more than 600 young men and 300 young women; the World Cup-winning England women’s rugby team was supported with funding which paid for coaches, physiotherapy and training camps; and Ebony Horse Club was founded in 2011 in Brixton – the first purpose-built riding centre in inner London for more than 30 years.

But that just scratches the surface of how that £5 billion has changed communities and changed lives.

Since 1994:

• Almost 15,000 playing fields have been protected from development
• More than 2000 schools, colleges and universities have received funding to get more young people active
• Over 100 sports funded to get more people playing and support talented athletes to progress – from football, rugby and tennis through to ultimate frisbee, rounders and water polo
• The smallest project funded was Lockswood Bowling Club in Southampton (£300 to repair the green after flood damage).

“There is no doubt that £5 billion is an enormous amount of money and we’re exceptionally grateful to the people who’ve bought National Lottery tickets, and taxpayers, for making it possible for us to invest much needed funds in grassroots sport,” said Sport England Chief Executive Jennie Price as she launched the Five Billion Stories campaign.

"Today we particularly want to thank the people behind the projects we have funded – without their vision, drive and commitment, they would simply not have happened.

"They have made an important contribution to their communities and to sport, and should take great pride in their achievements."

And we’re not easing up on funding great projects, as we unveil 149 sports facilities which have been awarded new funding.

Changing rooms, pavilions and artificial grass pitches will be created as part of the £16.5 million of National Lottery money.

Get in touch

Throughout the rest of this year, we’ll be celebrating the many projects supported in the last two decades and spreading the word.

We want you to tell us your stories. Did we inspire you to get active or try something new? Have we helped reinvigorate your local swimming pool or tennis court?

Get in touch via email or social media using #fivebillionstories and tell us if we've made a difference.

To see our infographics on the £5 billion milestone, click here.