The team behind the Lion Salt Works in Northwich will celebrate its recognition as the nation’s Best Heritage project by picking up a coveted National Lottery Award on TV in front of a star-studded audience this evening (Monday, September 12).
Staff and volunteers from the attraction, which was voted for by the public, will be joined on the red carpet by celebrities including Pussycat Dolls’ Kimberly Wyatt, newsreader Katie Derham and many of Team GB’s Lottery-funded Olympic heroes.
Millions of TV viewers will see the Northwich museum, not just the UK’s last open-pan salt making site but one of the last in the world, recognised for its inspirational work following a four-year restoration project and a 30-year campaign to save the works.
A short film featuring a visit from TV chef Ainsley Harriott, who went along to the Lion Salt Works to hand over the award in person, will also be shown on the programme, The National Lottery Stars 2016, which is on BBC One at 10.45pm.
Cllr Louise Gittins , from Cheshire West and Chester Council , who accepted the award on behalf of the council-run museum when Ainsley called in, said: “It is a wonderful achievement to receive a National Lottery Award on behalf of The Lion Salt Works and be recognised by the public in this way.
“The National Lottery Awards are a tremendous opportunity to raise awareness of the good work that we do and the positive impact National Lottery funding has on our community.
“We are extremely grateful to those who supported us in campaign but also to everyone who, through the years worked so tirelessly to bring this site back to life – trustees, volunteers, staff and supporters. We would like to thank them and, of course, everyone who plays the National Lottery.”
John Barrowman, who will be presenting the show for the seventh year, added: “The National Lottery Awards celebrate the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects as voted for by the public. They recognise the legends behind these amazing organisations – ordinary people who do extraordinary things with National Lottery funding.
“We have had a golden summer in 2016 with the success of Team GB. It is fitting that we carry on the celebrations by honouring other people and projects who are making a life-changing impact with National Lottery funding throughout the UK.
“This year’s winners have raised the bar, yet again, and National Lottery players can be very proud to have contributed towards their fine work.”
There are seven categories in the National Lottery Awards, reflecting the main areas of Lottery funding: arts, education, environment, health, heritage, sport, and voluntary/charity.
Lion Salt Works beat off six other challengers in a public vote to win the Best Heritage Project. It receives a £3,000 cash prize to spend on the project as well as a coveted National Lottery Awards trophy.
National Lottery players have been changing lives for 21 years. They currently raise over £36 million every week for projects across the UK. The National Lottery Awards recognise and celebrate the difference that Lottery-funded organisations, both large and small, make to local communities the length and breadth of the UK.
