WIREDGOV

Six groups from across ITV Borders have been chosen to take part in a TV competition that could win them up to £50,000 from the Big Lottery Fund to transform the lives of local people.

The People’s Millions 2014, which takes place on the ITV Borders evening news bulletin at the end of November, will see community groups go head-to-head in a bid to win a National Lottery funding for life-changing projects.

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

There are four £50,000 awards up for grabs in the region – one award for each night from 24 November to 26 November, as well as a bonus award for the runner up with the most phone votes across the week.

This is the ninth year that the Big Lottery Fund and ITV have teamed up to give the public the chance to choose where the Lottery good cause cash goes in their area. Since it began in 2005, the competition has funded over 599 diverse community projects across the UK with an incredible £31.3 million in Big Lottery Fund good cause money.

On Monday 24 November, the first two projects to go head-to-head will be Gretna Supporters Society Ltd and Wallace Hall Academy. If Gretna Supporters Society Ltd’s ‘Gretna Community Sport’  project polls the most votes they will use their winnings to run a series of sporting activities for local young people, but if Wallace Hall Academy’s ‘Whapples Orchard’ project secure a victory they will  develop a local orchard into a community space and outdoor learning resource in Thornhill, Dumfrieshire .

On Tuesday 25 November, The Laurie Brewis Trust will battle it out with South Lakeland District Council. If The Laurie Brewis Trust’s ‘The Heathlands City Project’ pulls in the most phone votes they will  run a training programme for adults with disabilities in Brampton or acquired brain injuries however if South Lakeland District Council’s ‘Windermere RePlay’ project comes out on top they will design a children’s playground on the shores of Lake Windermere.

On Wednesday 26 November, the final night of voting, NOMAD BEAT LIMITED will take onA Heart for Duns.  If NOMAD BEAT LIMITED’S ‘Breaking Sound Barriers’ project tops the polls they will be able to offer music making opportunities to a wide variety of local people in Peebles but if ‘A Heart for Duns ‘ Duns Community Theatre’ project  gets the most support they will create a community theatre and cinema space in the local volunteer hall in the town.

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 People’s Millions competition is a brilliant opportunity for people to have a say in how Lottery money is spent in their communities. Voters will have some difficult choices to make in deciding which of the excellent projects going head to head will get their support. But most importantly, the end result will benefit people and communities most in need.”

Adam Crozier, Chief Executive of ITV plc, said: “The People's Millions is an exciting way for people around the UK, through the ITV regions, to win up to £50,000 of Lottery money to improve their communities. We congratulate all the projects on making the final shortlist and wish them all the very best of luck.”

Big Lottery Fund Scotland Press Office: 0141 242 1400 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 599 good causes across the UK have been awarded grants through the contest, sharing in £31.3 million of Lottery funding. Over 3.3million 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 is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised 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 2004 it has awarded close to £6bn.
• In the year ending 31 March 2013, 28% of total National Lottery revenue was awarded to projects. Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £32 billion has been raised and more than 400,000 grants awarded.