[Gayle]

In the 10 years since the National Lottery was launched (10th anniversary on 4th Nov) millions upon millions of pounds have gone to good causes up and down the country.

Here is a list of how local boroughs have fared;

£25.87m – Blackburn
£7.35m – Hyndburn
£15.38m – Burnley
£12.51m – Pendle
£9.38m – Rossendale

Now before you get all irate about the lack of money coming to the borough don't start blaming the Lottery itself. If you want this money you have to apply for it, if you don't apply for it they don't just think 'oh, Hyndburn hasn't had much let's give them some more'.

I'm not getting at the Council either because Council's aren't allowed to apply for Lottery funding (although they could be a bit more proactive in their support for initiatives). It's down to community spirit, or lack of it perhaps! Local community groups can apply and in most cases receive money for all sorts of good causes (events, building repairs, new projects, etc).

So, I'm telling you - the money is out there - if you are part of any sort of community group you are entitled to apply for it. If you are daunted by the forms ask someone who knows what they're doing but don't complain because someone else is getting all the cash!