Millionaire Street Support For Good Causes: December 2023

It's not just our Millionaire Street winners who have something to celebrate. Every month, local charities in each of the Millionaire Street winning areas share a combined total of £1 Million too.

Let's take a look at some of the great things players of People's Postcode Lottery are making possible across Britain.

Overton Millionaire Street

In December's Postcode Lottery draws, our first Millionaire Street prize landed in Overton.

Right on their doorstep the National Coal Mining Museum for England was awarded £75,000.

CEO Lynn Dunning said, "We are thrilled to have received this funding thanks to players of People's Postcode Lottery."

The museum, which has 88 staff and more than 60 volunteers, keeps the story of coal mining alive by collecting and preserving the industry's rich heritage. The team also want to create enjoyable and inspiring ways to learn for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Now the award will help buy a horse box for the museum's beloved ponies Eric and Ernie to travel to community events and schools.

The museum will also work with local communities to expand its outreach activities and deliver programmes on site to tackle social isolation and support people with dementia.

Lynn added, "Funding such as this is vital in our mission as a charity to share and preserve England's coal mining heritage."

Other local charities receiving funding thanks to Saturday's Millionaire Street prize win include:

• New Hall Kidz - £30,000 New Hall Kidz provides an open access play facility for children and young adults visiting a loved one in HMP & YOI New Hall.

• Open Country (Wakefield and Barnsley Hub) - £75,000 Open Country empowers individuals with disabilities to access and enjoy the Yorkshire countryside.

• Samantha Sykes Foundation - £20,000 Samantha Sykes Foundation supports victims and those at high risk of child sexual exploitation, up to and including the age of 25. They also help people in the Care System gain access to Higher Education.

• Wakefield District Scout Council - £25,000 Wakefield District Scout Council believes in preparing young people with skills for life by encouraging them to do more, learn more and be more.

All funding was awarded by Postcode Neighbourhood Trust (opens in a new tab).

Harlow Millionaire Street

Our second Millionaire Street prize landed in Harlow.

The Harlow-based Michael Roberts Charitable Trust (MRCT) was awarded £50,000.

Founded in 1997, the charity aims to help vulnerable people develop their potential and self-confidence and supports those struggling financially to break the cycle of poverty.

The charity also operates the Harlow Foodbank as well as the Bounty Club, which puts fresh food on the table at a reduced cost for those in financial hardship. Both services help over 6,000 families every year and save 300 tonnes of food from going into landfill.

Andy Thornton, Chief Executive Officer at Michael Roberts Charitable Trust, said, "We are overjoyed by the funding awarded to us by the Postcode Places Trust.

"This support will enable us to start a new outreach service - allowing us to visit those who are most isolated and may not be able to come into town to get help or food.

"It means a lot to be able to expand on what we do and make those struggling feel supported."

He added, "The Michael Roberts Charitable Trust is named after Michael, who was born with Down's syndrome and a heart of gold. He was an inspiration to the community, barely being able to speak but so kind and loving to everyone."

Other local charities to receive funding because of Saturday's Millionaire Street prize include:

• Mind in West Essex - £75,000 Mind in West Essex supports people affected by mental ill health, predominantly across West Essex, to make positive changes in their lives.

• Safer Places - £75,000 Safer Places is there 24 hours, 7 days a week to support thousands of people a year being abused by a partner or ex-partner or family member.

• Ideas Plus (Employ-ability) - £50,000 Ideas Plus supports people with mental ill health to secure and retain paid employment including work with employers to ensure successful job matching.

• Petals - £35,000 Petals provides a free specialist counselling service for parents who experience the loss of a pregnancy or the death of a baby.

• Rainbow Services (Harlow) - £40,000 Rainbow Services has been working for over 25 years to alleviate the effects of poverty and deprivation.

All funding was awarded by Postcode Places Trust (opens in a new tab).

Whitchurch Millionaire Street

Our third Millionaire Street prize landed in Whitchurch.

Whitchurch Silk Mill was awarded £50,000.

The industrial heritage museum is the oldest working silk mill in the country and makes English silk fabrics using historic Victorian machinery.

Mill director Sue Tapliss said, "We urgently need help to preserve living weaving heritage. There are only four artisan silk ribbon weavers in the UK, one of whom works here.

"It's a profession that cannot be taught at college or university and craftspeople cannot afford to step away from production to train their successors.

"Funding raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery allows us to conserve this endangered craft and educate a future generation inspiring them to preserve living weaving heritage at the Mill."

Other charities in the Whitchurch area receiving funding as a result of today's Millionaire Street prize win include:

• Whitchurch Association - £40,000 Whitchurch Association runs projects to promote the town and contribute to the wellbeing of its inhabitants. This includes managing the community centre and providing a range of activities.

• Whitchurch Community Swimming Pool - £20,000 Whitchurch Community Swimming Pool is a team of volunteers committed to bringing back the community swimming pool to operational status. The pool has been closed since 2019.

• Cats Protection (Andover and District Branch) - £50,000 This branch is run by a small group of volunteers who work to rescue and rehome stray and unwanted cats and kittens in the area.

• 1st Whitchurch Scouts - £20,000 The members of Whitchurch Scouts take part in active programmes exploring the world and community around them whilst teaching them skills for life.

All funding was awarded by Postcode Society Trust (opens in a new tab).

Wokingham Millionaire Street

Our fourth Millionaire Street prize landed in Wokingham.

Thanks to the Millionaire Street win, Link Visiting Scheme in Wokingham also received good Christmas tidings after being awarded £35,000.

The charity provides vital social connections to isolated older people and offers life-enhancing services and activities for its service users.

Marjie Walker, CEO at Link Visiting Scheme said, "Our service users need additional and immediate on-the-ground support to help reduce their social isolation and feelings of loneliness. Of the 552 service users we look after right now 30 desperately require connection with volunteers - this is our most stretched point of the year."

From one-to-one befriending sessions and group events to wellness-driven initiatives, such as wheelchair yoga and outdoor activities that reconnect the elderly with nature, the charity has supported over 700 people in 2023.

"Thanks to funding raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery we now have a game-changing financial boost to our recruitment drive," added Marjie. "It will help us rapidly build our network of essential volunteer staff and improve the lives of isolated older people with friendship, fun and laughter."

Link Visiting Scheme's dedicated team of volunteers received The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2021. Equivalent to an MBE, it's the highest recognition of voluntary service in the UK.

Other charities in the Wokingham area receiving funding as a result of today's Millionaire Street prize win include:

• Involve Community Services - £75,000 Involve Community Services is a local support organisation for voluntary and community organisations in Bracknell Forest and Wokingham. They operate a cancer support service, social prescribing and friendship alliance.

• Citizens Advice Wokingham - £40,000 Citizens Advice Wokingham offers free, impartial and confidential advice to people living locally in times of difficulty.

• First Days Children's Charity - £40,000 First Days Children's Charity supports families experiencing financial hardship emotionally and practically. They also distribute essential items and help families access the support they need.

• ARC project - £30,000 ARC provides a free and confidential youth counselling and low-cost adult counselling service.

• Younger People With Dementia (Berkshire) CIO - £50,000 Younger People With Dementia supports people living with young-onset dementia (YOD) through activity workshops, education, training, social events and support groups.

All funding was awarded by Postcode Society Trust (opens in a new tab).