Big Lottery Fund
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Final call for votes ahead of Jubilee People’s Millions showdown

NINETY community groups across the UK are making vital efforts to rally the public’s support ahead of a TV competition which could see them win up to £60,000 from the Big Lottery Fund for a community project.

The groups are competing in The Jubilee People’s Millions – a televised competition marking the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and run by the Big Lottery Fund in partnership with ITV and with the approval of Buckingham Palace.

The Jubilee People’s Millions will be broadcast in each of the 15 ITV evening regional news programmes from 27 to 30 June. Each night two groups will appeal for viewers’ support with the public voting by phone to decide who wins the prize for their community project. There will also be a bonus award for the runner up who receives the most phone votes across the week.

There are 60 awards of £60,000 awards up for grabs across the UK - a total prize pot of £3.6 million – and all of the projects that win the funding will open during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year, 2012. For a full list of competing projects visit www.peoplesmillions.org.uk

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.

Peter Wanless, Big Lottery Fund’s Chief Executive, said: “We’re delighted to be able to help mark 60 years of the Queen’s reign and we look forward to seeing a hotly contested competition where the public will be able to choose which projects take home these special grants.

“2012 will be a momentous year for many reasons but £60,000 could make it even more amazing for 60 local communities across the UK. I encourage everyone to tune in and vote for their favourite project – every vote counts.”

Adam Crozier, ITV Chief Executive said: “We’re delighted to be able to support the Jubilee People’s Millions, which is a terrific partnership between ITV and the Big Lottery Fund, and gives our viewers the opportunity to influence how thousands of pounds of Lottery funding is spent in their community.”

Further Information

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888    
Out of Hours contact: 07867 500 572

ITV Press Contact: James Macleod on 020 7156 7236
Full details of Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available at: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Diary Dates

  • 27-30 June 2011: Voting week  and winner

Notes to Editors

  • *Calls cost no more than 11p per call from BT landlines. Calls from other networks may be higher and from mobile phones will be considerably more. Text Relay users should dial 18001 before the number they want to vote for.
  • The Jubilee People’s Millions is a Big Lottery Fund initiative in partnership with ITV, and with the approval of Buckingham Palace.
  • Through The Jubilee People’s Millions BIG will be making 60 awards of up to £60,000 to new projects that will take place in 2012 and improve local places or the lives of people in the community.
  • The Jubilee People’s Millions builds on the success of The People’s Millions that has given the public the chance to vote on which local projects should receive Lottery good-cause funding since its launch in 2005.
  • The Jubilee People’s Millions will run in place of The People’s Millions competition in 2011.
  • New and existing voluntary or community organisations, schools, local authorities and health bodies were all eligible to apply. The deadline for applications was Friday 4 February 2011.
  • Telephone voting numbers – as with previous years, ITV and the Big Lottery Fund will use a low cost telephone number. ITV and Big do not make a profit from the voting telephone numbers.
  • The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) is the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, responsible for giving out 46% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery. BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need.
  • Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £26 billion has now been raised and more than 330,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.

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