Some of the amazing things you’ve made happen during 25 years of The National Lottery
Since The National Lottery began 25 years ago, we’ve made some truly amazing things happen. Here’s just a few that couldn’t have happened without YOU.
First Lotto draw
On November 19th 1994, Noel Edmonds took his place next to the machine and addressed a TV audience of more than 20 million people. Across the UK more than 48 million tickets had been bought. Among those ticket holders was then Prime Minister John Major, who bought five lines for the first draw from a shop at Victoria Station. He wasn’t a winner but seven people did match all the numbers and shared in a £5.9Million jackpot.
565,000 grants given
One of the first projects ever to receive National Lottery funding was Morecambe Brass Band (for new trumpets). Since then, more than 565,000 grants have been given out worth £40 billion. These grants have done enormous good, including helping to safeguard UK species facing extinction and funding 12,000 schemes to help fight loneliness. In fact, every time you play you help raise around £30Million a week for good causes all over the UK.
Olympic glory
Since National Lottery funding for Olympic and Paralympic sport started in 1997, National Lottery funded athletes have won 864 medals. It’s incredible to think Team GB won just one gold medal at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics compared with 67 medals, including 27 golds, at the Rio 2016 Olympics. And that unforgettable ‘Super Saturday’ during London 2012 when Team GB grabbed 12 gold medals in one day. All our Olympic champions benefit from your support in the shape of National Lottery funding, which gives them access to training, coaching, medical assistance and facilities.
5,500 millionaires made
In 2004, Iris Jeffrey from Belfast won £20.1Million on Lotto, becoming the game’s biggest single publicity winner. Then in 2016 an anonymous ticket-holder became the biggest-ever Lotto winner, scooping £35.1Million. Not to be beat, Colin and Chris Weir from Largs, Scotland, became the UK’s biggest ever National Lottery millionaires in 2011 after hitting the record-breaking £161Million EuroMillions jackpot.
Changing the face of UK film
We always knew The King's Speech and Colin Firth were world-class, but it was still nice to have it recognised: The King's Speech won four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor, in February 2011. And yet, without £1Million of National Lottery funding, the film might never have happened. In fact, The National Lottery has invested over £933.6 million into film-related projects over the past 25 years, funding over 22,860 projects – from iconic films to community film clubs.
7th October 2019
The National Lottery has been changing the lives of winners and supporting good causes across the UK since 1994. In that time, there have been more than 7,400 new millionaires created and by playing The National Lottery you raise over £4 million for Good Causes every dayΔ.
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