The London Taxi Benevolent Association for War Disabled Charity, aka the Taxi Charity, will celebrate their recognition as the nation’s Best Voluntary project by picking up a coveted National Lottery Award on TV in front of a star-studded audience. Staff and volunteers from the initiative were joined on the red carpet by celebrities such as John Barrowman, Rav Wilding, Ralf Little, Kimberly Wyatt, Katie Derham and many of Team GB’s National Lottery funded Olympic heroes as they accepted their honour. Millions of TV viewers will see the project recognised for their inspirational work helping veterans and the war disabled, in their homes and hospitals, throughout London and the home-counties, by providing entertainment, outings and much needed specialised equipment. A short film featuring a visit from Katie Derham, who presented them with their award, will also be shown on the programme, The National Lottery Stars 2016, which will be shown Monday 12 September at 10:45pm on BBC One. Dick Goodwin, Event Organiser from the Taxi Charity, said: “This National Lottery Award is for all of the veterans who support us in our work and for the magnificent London taxi drivers who willingly and endlessly volunteer for our charity and without who we would cease to operate or exist. We are extremely grateful to those who supported us in our campaign and we would like to thank them and, of course, everyone who plays the National Lottery.” John Barrowman, who will be presenting the show for the seventh year running, added: “The National Lottery Awards celebrate the UK’s favorite Lottery-funded projects as voted for by the public. They recognise the legends behind these amazing organisations – ordinary people who do extraordinary things with National Lottery funding. “We have had a golden summer in 2016 with the success of Team GB. It is fitting that we carry on the celebrations by honoring other people and projects who are making a life-changing impact with National Lottery funding throughout the UK. “This year’s winners have raised the bar, yet again, and National Lottery players can be very proud to have contributed towards their fine work.” There are seven categories in the National Lottery Awards, reflecting the main areas of Lottery funding: arts, education, environment, health, heritage, sport and voluntary/charity. The London Taxi Benevolent Association for War Disabled beat six other challengers in a public vote to win the Best Voluntary Project. It will receive a £3,000 cash prize to spend on forthcoming projects, as well as a coveted National Lottery Awards trophy. National Lottery players have been changing lives for 21 years - they currently raise over £36m every week for projects across the UK. The National Lottery Awards recognise and celebrate the difference that Lottery-funded organisations, both large and small, make to local communities the length and breadth of the UK.
