Simon Cowell hosted The Health Lottery Tea Party at Claridge’s on Thursday 28 March to celebrate £32 million of new good causes funding raised by society lotteries through The Health Lottery.

Simon Cowell hosted The Health Lottery Tea Party at Claridge’s on Thursday 28 March to celebrate £32 million of new good causes funding raised by society lotteries through The Health Lottery.

The event was attended by celebrities and representatives from local charity projects from across Great Britain.

John Hume, Chief Executive of People’s Health Trust – the charity that distributes funds raised through The Health Lottery, says:

“The event was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the £32 million of new funding raised by society lotteries through The Health Lottery. So far, People’s Health Trust has already been able to support more than 500 projects and over 50,000 people across England, Scotland and Wales.

“Local communities are experiencing some of the hardest times at the moment. The poorer you are, the more you will be affected: poorer people live shortened lives and spend more years with extra disabilities. It is at times like these, with massive public sector cuts, that people turn to their local networks, groups and charities. And it is on these local groups that we have focused the good causes money.

“Without a doubt, the society lotteries and The Health Lottery are one of the highest profile, most rapid and successful new sources of funding that the charity sector has seen in years. It is innovative, fresh and it’s desperately needed right now..

“I want to thank the society lotteries and The Health Lottery – it is hard to believe just how much has been raised in 18 months. It’s even harder to imagine what so many local projects would have done without this good causes money. I fear that many would have gone to the wall or never got off the ground in the first place. This money is a lifeline for many.”

Richard Hawkes, Chief Executive of the disability charity Scope, said:

"It's fantastic that the society lotteries, raising money through The Health Lottery have made such a great contribution to so many good causes. In our case, funding from People's Health Trust is going towards our Face 2 Face befriending network for parents of disabled children. This funding will help the network in 12 areas make a real difference to the lives of parents and their disabled children."

Daniel Fluskey, Head of Policy and Research - Institute of Fundraising, commented:

"People’s Health Trust is helping to ensure that charities are able to continue providing essential support for vulnerable people through the significant amount of money raised by the Health Lottery and society lotteries."

Ends

Media contacts

For media enquiries, please contact Sarah Nuttall – Communications Manager, People’s Health Trust on 020 7697 4019 or email sarah.nuttall@peopleshealthtrust.org.uk.

Notes to Editors

People’s Health Trust is an independent charity addressing health inequalities across Great Britain. It works closely with each Community Interest Company, distributing grants. www.peopleshealthtrust.org.uk

The Health Lottery is operated for and on behalf of 51 Community Interest Companies across England, Scotland and Wales, all holding society lottery licenses granted by the Gambling Commission. www.healthlottery.co.uk