National Lottery Award Winners

The project which helps those with macular disease, won the prestigious title of Best Health Project and a £2,000* cash prize at this year's star-studded National Lottery Awards, broadcast live on BBC 1 on Saturday 30 August.

Staff and volunteers from the Macular Disease Society's Train the Trainer project mingled with celebrity guests, including boxing star Ricky 'The Hitman' Hatton, TV presenters Anne Robinson and Gethin Jones, Emma Barton (Honey Mitchell in EastEnders) and pop rock band McFly at the awards ceremony.

A record number of public votes were cast in this year's annual National Lottery Awards and the Macular Disease Society's Train the Trainer project received an incredible show of public support throughout all stages of the competition.

Accepting the award from Amanda Mealing - Connie in Holby City pictured - with Amanda Reeves, Project Manager from the Train the Trainer project, says: 'It is an absolute honour to have won this Award. Our Lottery funding has allowed us to make a real difference in our community and beyond. Being part of this year's Awards has enabled this project to be recognised on a national platform.'

She continues: 'We have received tremendous support throughout all stages of the competition and on behalf of the Macular Disease Society, I would like to thank everyone who voted for us.'

Celebrity Lottery Health ambassador, Amanda Mealing, said: 'The project received an overwhelming response from the public who really got behind them. It's a wonderful example of how Lottery funding has really made a difference to the local community and beyond. I am delighted to have presented them with the Best Health Project award.'

*Please note the #£,000 cash prize is not a Lottery grant. Grants are allocated at the discretion of the individual distributors once a project has applied for funding. A project cannot enter The National Lottery Awards, unless it has already received Lottery funding.