Lottery Awards final for charity

The Young Pioneers project, the ‘Be Healthy’ programme, has reached the final in the Best Health Project category after receiving overwhelming support from the public at the semi-final voting stage.

Young Pioneers will now enjoy the limelight at a star-studded awards ceremony, which will be broadcast on BBC One later in the year.

Founded four years ago by schoolboy Luke Lancaster, then aged 12, the Be Healthy programme is a practical set of skills which enables young people to lead a healthy lifestyle.

It trains young people who in turn train other young people how to eat healthily, manage stress, tackle obesity and take exercise.

CEO and Founder Luke, 16, said: “We are proud of how we are changing lives with National Lottery funding.

“We’re really grateful to our friends and supporters who have taken the time to vote for us.

“It means so much to everyone involved in the project to get national recognition for our work.

“I’d like to thank all the local people who gave their support and the local businesses and Battle Rotary Club.

“Hastings Direct were amazing, they not only contacted their customers but helped out by providing staff to support our young people collecting votes.

“From September 11 we need everyone to get behind us again as we have to secure votes for the final.”

There are seven categories in the National Lottery Awards each reflecting the main areas of Lottery funding: arts, sport, heritage, health, environment, education and voluntary/charity.

The winners in each category will be decided by another round of public voting in September.

The project getting the highest number of votes in each category will receive a coveted trophy and a £2,000 prize to spend on their project.

The National Lottery Awards recognise the positive impact that Lottery-funded projects make to their local communities.

National Lottery players raise £30 million for good causes across the UK every week.