Lottery grants in 2013 totalled £7.7million

Grateful groups across Windsor and Maidenhead received more than £7.7m of National Lottery funding in 2013.

The lottery raises in £33 million a week nationally, with the cash redistributed to charities, sports clubs, art projects and community groups

Of the 22 recipients in the Royal Borough, England Hockey, based in Bisham Abbey, was given the highest amount, with a grant of more than £6.2m.

Marlow Rowing Club received £1million to help rebuild its clubhouse in Marlow Bridge Lane after it was partly destroyed by fire in 2011.

Maidenhead's Norden Farm Centre for the Arts was awarded £96,900 for its project to engage young people with theatre.

Chief executive and artistic director of the arts centre in Altwood Road, Jane Corry, said the funding was essential so the venue can continue providing educational programmes.

One project the lottery money helps pay for is the youth curatorial team.

Teenage members of the team scout other theatres to see which plays Norden Farm should put on for young people. This, Jane says, is part of a commitment of letting young people have a say on what they want to see.

The money also helps subsidise half-term activities and goes towards to the Christmas youth production.

Jane said: "We do a lot of work for children and young people. That’s our area of focus at Norden Farm.

"It's been really difficult to carry on doing that work after we lost our funding, because its not an area of our business that brings money in."

All of the projects which won funding are eligible to be nominated for the National Lottery Awards.

The winners of awards each receive a £2,000 cash prize at a star-studded event broadcast on BBC One later this year.

Actor John Barrowman, who presents the awards show, said: "The awards are a great way of celebrating unsung heroes."

If you want to see a project from the Royal Borough celebrated in this year’s National Lottery Awards, visit here.

Lottery Grant recipients 2013.

• St Michael's Church, Sunninghill £81,000
• Norden Farm Centre Trust, £96,900
• ArtReach (Trust) Ltd £7,102
• Family Friends in Windsor and Maidenhead £9,800
• Action Media £9,700
• England Hockey £6,265,075
• Maidenhead Softball Club £4,250
• Marlow Rowing Club £1,000,000
• Alzheimers Dementia Support £10,000
• Maidenhead Citizens Advice Bureau £174,757
• The Landmark Trust £8,875
• Rosie's Rainbow Fund £10,000
• English Province of Our Lady Charity £10,000
• Churchmead School £10,00
• The Ascot Project £750
• Bray Pre-School £6,453
• Datchet Water Sailing Club £50,000
• Wonder (Arts company) £9,990
• Datchet Parish Council £10,000
• Longridge £50,000
• Emma Tompkins (Theatre designer) £7,949
• Berkshire County Sports Partnership £45,000