New figures show that more than £628,000 of National Lottery funding was awarded across the Abergavenny area in the last year alone.

A total of 49 National Lottery grants were given out in Monmouthshire during 2016. These provide a vital boost to arts, sports and heritage projects, alongside community groups helping those most in need.

A wide variety of local projects received National Lottery grants last year, including:

· £1,450 to Abergavenny Town Girls and Ladies Football Club to establish An Under 13 Girls Football Team.

· £5,000 to Crickhowell High School to provide improved facilities for their students, community groups, and adults improving their digital skills, funding 16 computers.

· £4,500 to Caldicot Town Council to site five defibrillators in the town to provide lifesaving facilities for the local community.

· £5,000 to Caerwent Community Centre Committee to part-fund rewiring and lighting for the sports hall, improving facilities for the many community groups that use the space.

· £4,950 to N H Sound Radio in Abergavenny to upgrade their equipment with a new transmitter, new mixing desks, and a new antenna, enabling them to transmit on FM Radio.

· £5,000 to Monmouth Music Festival in Monmouth to expand their community event and increase community participation, with more volunteers, performers and workshops.

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From today, these examples, or any organisation that has ever received National Lottery funding, have the possibility of gaining nationwide acclaim by entering The National Lottery Awards 2017 – the annual search for the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects.

National Lottery Awards winners will receive a £3,000 cash prize and national recognition at a glittering ceremony broadcast on BBC One later in the year.

John Barrowman MBE, presenter of the National Lottery Awards show, said: “The National Lottery Awards are a fabulous celebration of the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects as voted for by the public. The Awards rightly put the focus on ordinary people doing extraordinary things with National Lottery funding, whose efforts go such a long way and are indeed changing lives. National Lottery players can be very proud to have contributed towards their fine work.”

National Lottery Awards cover seven categories; Sport, Heritage, Arts, Environment, Health, Education and Voluntary/Charity, to reflect the range of funding that the Lottery gives out. There is also a Special Achievement Award to recognise the outstanding contribution made by an individual to improving the lives of others.

If you wish to nominate your favourite project in this year’s National Lottery Awards, tweet @LottoGoodCauses with your suggestions or call 0207 293 3329 to find out more and to enter. Entries must be received by midnight on 7 April 2017.