Published: 30 November 2006
People’s Millions contest
Close to 350,000 votes were cast across the UK in the People’s Millions contest as the public vote awarded 85 local projects featured on ITV a share of £4.2 million in Big Lottery Fund good cause cash.
The contest ran on ITV regional news screens between 13 and 16 November and 131 projects battled it out for the awards of up to £50,000 each in the competition where viewers decide who gets Lottery cash.
Two projects were screened in each region every night, in a head to head contest to win public votes and the Big Lottery Fund cash. Awards were not only dished out to each night’s winning projects, but an additional bonus prize went to the runner up in each ITV region that chalked up the most public votes.
The 2005 People’s Millions contest was watched by 24 million viewers across the UK giving 53 projects a share of over £2.6 million to make a difference in their communities.
80% of the finalists were voluntary or community groups, 55% of applicants had never previously applied for Lottery funding, and 30 of the winning groups had never received Lottery funding before.
The Big Lottery Fund has also announced an even bigger and better competition for next year’s People’s Millions.
Maximum awards of up to £100,000 will be on offer for projects and the scope of the competition will include bids from projects that help communities to enjoy as well as transform the environment.
Community projects are urged to register their interest in the contest by calling the People's Millions information hotline on 08450 10 11 12.
Sir Clive Booth, Chair of the Big Lottery Fund said:
“It was an exciting week, with community projects battling it out for awards and just under 350,000 people voting across the UK for their favourite groups.
We’ve seen grants awarded to a diverse range of projects, showing the massive range of benefits People’s Millions brings to communities.
With voting now over, I’d like to thank everyone who took the opportunity to pick up the phone to support their local projects.
Preparations are now well under way for People’s Millions to return in 2007, with the promise of even more Lottery cash put in the hands of the voting public.”
This is the second year the Big Lottery Fund and ITV have teamed up to bring UK viewers the People’s Millions, giving the public a real say on where Lottery funding will go to benefit their community.
Up to £15 million in grants will be given out by the Big Lottery Fund under the three year public involvement initiative.
The Media Trust delivers media training to shortlisted People's Millions applicants and their Community Channel will be broadcasting a People’s Millions compilation programme now the winners have been announced.
The Media Trust works in partnership with the media industry to build effective communications for the charity and voluntary sector.
Further Information
List of the winning projects
People’s Millions
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