News

April Spotlight On Local Good Causes

Showcasing local good causes across Britain and how funds raised by players are making a difference

Players of People's Postcode Lottery have raised more than £1 Billion for thousands of charities and local good causes. Each month we will focus on the great work local charities and good causes are achieving throughout our communities.

Doubling Of Hatchery's Lobster Output Is Claws For Celebration

Firth of Forth Lobster Hatchery is the brainchild of three local sealife enthusiasts working to enhance and protect Scotland's lobster population. This year, the charity has doubled production by releasing 15,000 hatched juvenile lobsters and 300 female lobsters into local waters.

Open to the public, the centre allows visitors to see the production stages first-hand, to gain an understanding of food sources and realise the importance of sustaining fish stocks amidst the climate crisis.

Jake Norton, director at the Firth of Forth Lobster Hatchery in North Berwick, said, "By increasing the survival of young European lobsters by hundreds of times and releasing them back to sea, we are protecting the species for future generations. This should allow fishers to continue catching the species while creating a healthier ecosystem."

Firth of Forth Lobster Hatchery (opens in new tab) received £16,700 raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery awarded by People's Postcode Trust (opens in new tab).

Swansea Recycling Team Goes Above And Beyond

Beyond Recycling Swansea is a project run by The Environment Centre charity to promote understanding of environmental conservation, protection and restoration.

The initiative helps people make sustainable choices through upcycling workshops, bike repairs and ground litter picks. A Saturday repair café has attracted more than 300 visitors providing a focal point to aid local understanding of environmental issues, climate change and waste reduction.

Chris Day, Project Manager at Beyond Recycling said, "The uptake of the project has been phenomenal. It has really changed the way local people view broken items or unwanted materials. As well as giving people a sense of purpose, we are also helping transform green spaces and giving wildlife a chance in Swansea."

Jamie Williams, a volunteer at the centre, said, "Working with groups and volunteers at Beyond Recycling is so rewarding. We're helping the people of Swansea and making a difference to the planet."

The Environment Centre received £17,000 raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery and awarded by Postcode Community Trust. It is helping the project to deliver more than 720 volunteer hours of litter picking, 100 free events with 4,000 attendees and it has prevented over 3,200 plastic bottles going to landfill.

The Environment Centre (opens in new tab) received £17,000 raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery awarded by Postcode Community Trust (opens in new tab).

Holme Is Where The Heart Is

Covering the river catchment area south of Huddersfield town centre in West Yorkshire, the charity River Holme Connections is passionate about making the area a better place for people and wildlife.

Dedicated volunteers give their time and expertise to work to improve biodiversity, tackle invasive non-native species, clean up green spaces, educate people about the importance of river ecosystems and improve recreational opportunities for the entire community.

Across 2022, the team clocked up 2,700 working hours, which included:

Collecting 570 bin bags worth of rubbish
Treating 19 kilometres of river for invasive Japanese knotweed
Cleaning up 9.9 kilometres of river
Planting 20,000 trees and 1,700 wildflower plug plants and
Delivering the River Explorer programme to 340 primary school pupils.

River Steward Simon Hirst said, "The expansion of our volunteer programme, with their dedication, enthusiasm and motivation to turn out in all weathers continues to amaze and inspire us.

"The River Holme Valley river is one of our greatest assets and it gives everyone involved a huge boost as we come together and see the positive impact all the hard work is having on our local environment."

River Holme Connections (opens in new tab) received £18,000 raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery awarded by Postcode Neighbourhood Trust (opens in new tab).

Volunteers Transform Lincolnshire Landscape

Boston Woods Trust, a Lincolnshire charity that develops and conserves the woodland around Boston, is putting £20,000 of funding raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery towards growing Dion's Wood, a 35-acre Nature Reserve.

Once established, the £250,000 reserve will include landscaping to provide a lake, three kilometres of all-weather paths, and planting of more than 17,000 trees, shrubs and hedges.

Serviced by loyal volunteers over two decades, the trust has expanded from managing a 23-acre wood to nearly 150 acres over three sites.

Trustee Frances Brooks said, "The woods bring long-term benefits on many levels. From improving the health and wellbeing of our residents and volunteers, through to community events for visitors to enjoy all the woods have to offer."

Volunteer Dave Stockings said, "After life-changing injuries following an accident, I volunteered with Boston Woods and it has changed my life. I feel like a useful person again, with purpose and enthusiasm, and it is rewarding to be making a difference to our community."

Boston Woods Trust (opens in new tab) received £20,000 raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery awarded by Postcode Places Trust (opens in new tab).