Brooks News in Pudsey, West Yorkshire, has been awarded a plaque by local MP Stuart Andrew to celebrate the store raising over £1.9m for National Lottery Good Causes.
Store assistant Sandra Thompson accepted the award on behalf of store owner Emma Longfellow and was joined by John Welling, trustee of National Lottery-funded Pudsey Wellbeing Charity, which aims to improve the lives of isolated people and those with specific needs in the local community through wellbeing activities run by local volunteers.
Andrew said: “I was really pleased to have the opportunity to visit Brooks News to meet Sandra and mark the incredible amount raised for National Lottery Good Causes by the shop’s customers.
“I’ve seen first-hand the fantastic work that National Lottery funding does locally – at organisations like the Pudsey Wellbeing Charity – as well as right across the UK. It was also great to see John and get an update on his charity’s fantastic work and to hear how National Lottery funding is allowing them to continue supporting the local community.”
Emma said: “We are a shop in the heart of Pudsey that has always sold The National Lottery. It is fantastic to be recognised in this way and to see the difference that National Lottery funding makes in our community.”
According to John, National Lottery funding has been a lifeline for the Pudsey Wellbeing Charity. He said: “Just a year ago, Pudsey Wellbeing Charity was forced to prepare a press release announcing its imminent demise due to lack of sufficient funding.
“Fortunately, we were awarded sufficient funds by The National Lottery as well as by Leeds City Council, local supporters and the Pudsey lottery to keep our charity solvent until at least April 2026.
“As a result, we have been able to maintain and increase our range of weekly activities, as well as providing a five-days-a-week Warm Space, offering a warm welcome and free food and drink to the many local residents who need our support. Everything the charity provides is free of charge, simply relying on generous donations from those who can afford to pay and there are many kind souls in our community.
“So, thank you National Lottery for being our knight in shining armour!”
Camelot senior retail sales manager, Laura Unwin, added: “Shops like Brooks News are the backbone of The National Lottery and are vital to its ongoing success. Around 43,000 retailers across the UK sell National Lottery games and help raise around £30 million a week for Good Causes. It is fantastic to be here to mark the massive £1.9 million that National Lottery players at Brooks News have helped raise over the years, and also to hear from the Pudsey Wellbeing Charity about how money raised for Good Causes is being used in the local community.”
To date, The National Lottery has raised £48 billion and counting for over 685,000 projects across the UK.
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