Millionaire Street Support For Good Causes: January 2024

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.

Sutton Coldfield Millionaire Street

In January's Postcode Lottery draws, our first Millionaire Street prize landed in Sutton Coldfield.

All the neighbours signed up for People's Postcode Lottery because they wanted to help local, national and international charities.

And, right on their doorstep, The Streetly Sports and Community Association has been awarded £80,000 by Postcode Community Trust.

Mark Welch, Centre Manager at The Streetly Association, said, "Thanks to today's funding, we can upgrade the community hall facilities, and add dressing rooms and additional seating into the theatre hall.

"While we have lots of fitness activities going on at the sports centre, this will enable us to bring the community together in a different way, using performance arts and even hosting tribute nights.

"We've also been working on fixing the many potholes in our car park and adding more spaces, which are needed for our older visitors. The project was put on hold last year as there wasn't enough funding - but we can definitely finish it now."

The Sutton Coldfield-based charity, which has been running for more than 50 years, is dedicated to bringing the local community together, welcoming up to 4,000 people through the doors every week.

They host over 60 different activities to tackle social isolation and loneliness in the area. All of this is supported by monthly trips and seasonal events, such as the annual Summer Festival and classic car show.

Mark added, "I haven't stopped smiling since receiving the call from the Postcode Community Trust. To receive such an immense amount of funding is just incredible, and we will certainly put it to good use."

Other charities in the Sutton Coldfield area receiving funding thanks to Saturday's Millionaire Street prize win include:

• Home-Start Birmingham North West - £40,000 All Home-Starts offer locally trained volunteers to provide emotional and practical support to families in their own homes.

• The James Brindley Foundation - £20,000 The James Brindley Foundation exists to bring an end to youth violence through education, legislation and media.

• Citizens Advice Sandwell & Walsall Ltd - £20,000 Citizens Advice Sandwell & Walsall provides free, confidential and impartial advice for people in Sandwell and Walsall no matter what problems they may have.

• The Thomas Project - £20,000 The Thomas Project aims to bring the community together to tackle loneliness and isolation and to help those experiencing hardship, need and distress.

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

Whitley Bay Millionaire Street

Our second Millionaire Street prize landed in Whitley Bay.

The winners all told how they originally signed up for People's Postcode Lottery because they wanted to support a range of charities.

And because their postcode won, a vital organisation in their area has been awarded £50,000 by Postcode Community Trust.

North Tyneside Disability Forum (NTDF) works with people who are disadvantaged by some aspect of disability, ill health or vulnerability - and is a vital support for the area with more than 52,000 people using the service every year.

Dr Bob Dennis, NTDF chairperson, said, "We're highly valued in the community and have so many people who rely on us for support throughout the year. The funding has arrived at such a critical time and will allow us to launch a recruitment drive for a new administrator."

NTDF, established in 1987, run a busy seven-days-a-week programme for most of the year which includes sports, arts, music and dance sessions, as well as heritage and culture celebrating events. Volunteers also provide workshops focusing on boosting employability skills, as well as giving advice on health and social care.

They also run a salon, as well as a Community Café and a Friends Share Social Supermarket offering good quality foods at subsided costs. On top of this, the charity has garden spaces to help boost wellbeing.

Dr Dennis added, "A number of our service-users stay with us for life, but this gives us a responsibility to be consistent with the level of support we give to our community.

"We've reached a point where we desperately need to lift the weight off the shoulders of our volunteers and a new administrator role will be key to this. Thank you to the players of People's Postcode Lottery."

Some other charities in the Whitley Bay area receiving funding as a result of Saturday's Millionaire Street prize win include:

• North Tyneside Art Studio - £25,000 The charity offers a safe, non-judgmental environment where people can explore their creativity at their own pace, to help improve and sustain good mental health as part of a friendly and welcoming community.

• The Bay Foodbank - £25,000 The food bank was founded in 2012 with the intention of filling a short-term need to help a small number of individuals in North Tyneside.

• NACCOM - £25,000 The No Accommodation Network - later to become known as NACCOM - is a national network of over 130 frontline organisations and charities across the UK, working together to end destitution amongst people seeking asylum, refugees and other migrants who aren't able to access public funds because of their immigration status.

• Acorns (North Tyneside) - £50,000 Acorns offer a range of services to support families affected by domestic abuse in North Tyneside and Northumberland.

• Independent Advocacy North East - £25,000 Independent Advocacy North East enable the voices of vulnerable people to be heard through the provision of a range of independent advocacy services, tailored to the needs of individuals.

• Whitley Bay Big Local - £50,000 Whitley Bag Big Local is a community organisation providing social and leisure activities for local residents.

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

Staplehurst Millionaire Street

Our third Millionaire Street prize landed in Staplehurst.

The winners all told how they originally signed up for People's Postcode Lottery because they wanted to support a range of charities.

And because their postcode has won, a vital organisation in their area has benefited from funding raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery.

The Paddock Wood Community Advice Centre near Tunbridge Wells was awarded £15,000 by Postcode Community Trust.

The charity was set up by previous Citizens Advice volunteers, including Fiona Pengelley in 2012, shortly after the local Citizens Advice office closed down.

The funding will be used on operating costs and to purchase new equipment, enabling the recruitment of more advisors into its team of volunteers.

"The community would have been left with absolutely no support when the Citizens Advice closed, and I simply could not stand and watch it happen," said Fiona.

"Something had to be done - so I used my skills from working at Citizens Advice, to set up a charity which could offer the local community a helping hand at their hardest times. Many of our most vulnerable clients are overwhelmed with their problems."

The Paddock Wood Community Advice Centre offers help with welfare benefits, employment, housing and homelessness and mental health support.

The Community Advice Centre, which has a total of 17 volunteer advisors, saw over 500 new clients last year - and helped more than 920 people in just 12 months.

"Everyone is welcome here - we pride ourselves in being able to offer face-to-face support to everyone who comes knocking on our door, and some of this money will help us continue to do this."

Fiona added, "We couldn't be more grateful as today's funding will really go a long way here."

Other charities in the Staplehurst area receiving funding thanks to Saturday's Millionaire Street prize win include:

• Kent Kindness - £5,000 Kent Kindness offers support and hope to young asylum seekers and refugees who are living in Kent.

• RSPCA Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone Branch - £40,000 RSPCA Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone is a branch of the RSPCA raising money locally to support their animal welfare work.

• Staplehurst Scout Group - £5,000 Scouts is where young people make new friends, have amazing adventures, and learn new skills.

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

Saltcoats Millionaire Street

Our fourth Millionaire Street prize landed in Saltcoats.

Following the neighbours' win, nearby charities will also benefit.

The Ayrshire Community Trust (TACT) has been awarded £50,000 by Postcode Community Trust.

Based in the seaside town of Saltcoats in North Ayrshire, the charity promotes community action by delivering programmes and projects that make a difference to people's lives.

TACT's ongoing work includes their Positive Steps employability project which aims to upskill and mentor job seekers within the ever-changing job market. The charity also has a range of other offers of support through projects including TACT Digital, Saltcoats Link Up and Eglinton Community Garden.

Agnes Smith, Board Member and Director, said, "The funding we've been awarded from the Postcode Community Trust is a dream come true for us - we now have an opportunity to rapidly expand new and existing initiatives such as our latest exciting project - the Kindness Krew!"

Born out of the needs of our communities during the pandemic, the charity launched its brand-new Kindness Krew project, aimed at promoting acts of kindness, reinvigorating community spirit within North Ayrshire and helping isolated people form new friendship circles.

"Volunteering is the 'golden thread' that runs through the heart of everything we do as an organisation."

Agnes added, "The funding we've received today will help us to continue to deliver successful projects and directly benefit the people who need support in North Ayrshire with on-the-ground community action."

Other charities in the Saltcoats area receiving funding thanks to today's Millionaire Street prize win include:

• Input SCIO - £40,000 Input SCIO is a work-preparation charity for people with additional educational needs. Donated computers are recycled by their trainees, and they also offer advice and repairs to the local community.

• The Breastfeeding Network - £25,000 The mission of The Breastfeeding Network is to offer independent advice and information to mums, parents, and families to help build awareness of breastfeeding. They provide peer support sessions throughout Ayrshire with trained volunteers.

• Church of the Nazarene (Trussel Trust Foodbank) - £50,000 Trussel Trust Foodbank is a project of the Ardrossan Church of the Nazarene and part of The Trussell Trust's network of foodbanks. They provide emergency food and support whilst working to end the need for foodbanks in the UK.

• Ayrshire Children's Services CIC - £25,000 Ayrshire Children's Services CIC provide support services for children and young people with additional learning needs, as well as respite for their families. This includes the Ko-Nekt community centres delivering activities and peer experiences.

• North Ayrshire Forum on Disability - £20,000 North Ayrshire Forum on Disability support people with disabilities and their carers. They provide services including mental health support and disability health checks.

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

Shoreham-by-Sea Millionaire Street

Our fifth Millionaire Street prize landed in Shoreham-by-Sea.

Thanks to players of People's Postcode Lottery, Soundcastle, a community music charity, has been awarded funding to the tune of £50,000 by Postcode Community Trust.

The South East-based charity uses music as a tool to protect and support community mental health with a focus on enhancing the confidence of its community members, reducing social isolation and enhancing wellbeing.

Rachael Perrin, Co-Director of Soundcastle, said, "A main aim of Soundcastle is to run targeted programmes which support people on their recovery journey to good mental health. The funding will be transformational for our community by enabling us to keep on doing what we do best."

From new parents and their young babies to older people, Soundcastle gives the community from across the South East the extra boost they need through a variety of innovative music-making programmes.

Rachael said, "Our community members see Soundcastle as a safe space and a reason to get out of bed every day."

Rachael added, "Thanks to the players of People's Postcode Lottery we can continue to use music as a tool for change in the mental health sector and provide a supportive environment for those who need it."

Other charities in the Shoreham-by-Sea area receiving funding thanks to Saturday's Millionaire Street prize win include:

• Sussex MS Centre - £50,000 A user-led charity set up to support those affected by multiple sclerosis. They work to improve mental and physical health to help people live their lives to the fullest.

• As You Are Centre - £30,000 A charity providing counselling and psychological support to people hoping to improve their mental health across Sussex. They are committed to providing affordable counselling.

• ESTEEM - £50,000 A youth charity offering activities in person and online for young adults aged 14-26. They provide free mentoring, social, well-being and work experience opportunities to help young people thrive.

• Adur Special Needs Project - £15,000 Adur Special Needs Project run play schemes for children aged 5-15 years who present with special/additional needs and disabilities.

• Shoreham and Adur Community Foodbank - £15,000 Shoreham and Adur Community Foodbank work to provide relief from food deprivation and poverty in Shoreham and Adur.

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