NEARLY £63 million of National Lottery funding has been invested in Pembrokeshire since the National Lottery began almost 25 years ago.

More than 2,400 National Lottery grants have been awarded since 1994.

Headline grants in Pembrokeshire include: modernising and redeveloping the Torch Theatre in Milford Haven - a vibrant centre for the arts (£4.8 million); revitalising, renovating and conserving historic properties in Haverfordwest town’s conservation area so they can become more attractive and commercially viable (£2 million); and renovation and conservation work on Skomer Island, including refurbishing the 150-year-old farmhouse and outbuildings, providing better accommodation for staff, volunteers, and visitors and more and improved information and interpretation (£1.6 million).

Most National Lottery grants, however, are for £10,000 or less, with examples including: £5,000 for Clynfyw Community Interest Company in Pembrokeshire to raise awareness of the mental health challenges faced by members of the farming community; £4,885 for the Fishguard Unit 142 of the Sea Cadet Corps to create an IT suite which will benefit the cadets and the wider community; and £1,500 for Fishguard and Goodwick Jemima Rowing Club to purchase new equipment and coaching training.

Wales’ Double Olympic Taekwondo Champion, Jade Jones, is one of over 1,000 National Lottery-funded elite athletes in the UK. The funding allows her to compete and train full time to the highest international standards.

Jade said: “Since 1994, the National Lottery has also invested nearly £40 billion pounds in over half a million good causes which has positively transformed the lives of people in communities the length and breadth of the UK.”

Any organisation that has received National Lottery funding now has the chance to gain nationwide acclaim, and a possible £10,000 cash prize, by entering the 25th Birthday National Lottery Awards.

To enter your favourite project in this year’s National Lottery Awards, tweet

@LottoGoodCauses

with your suggestions or complete an entry form

lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards

Entries must be received by midnight on April 30.