More than 5,000 people have taken part in a National Lottery Community Fund social media campaign ahead of the lottery’s 25th birthday celebrations next month.
The campaign, launched on Tuesday, uses the hashtag #NationalLottery25 and encourages charities to share pictures of people crossing their fingers in the same manner as the National Lottery’s logo.
The "crossed fingers selfies" celebrate the £10.3bn the lottery has raised for the UK charity sector over the past 25 years, with the lottery’s official anniversary falling on 19 November.
The lottery has also helped to fund more than 110,120 charitable projects over the past 25 years.
We're crossing our fingers to say thank you to all the people who’ve supported communities by playing the National Lottery over the last 25 years!
— Dawn Austwick (@DawnJAustwick) October 29, 2019
So join us today, post your own selfie to celebrate #NationalLottery25 & tag @TNLComFund!https://t.co/cgRJFyzB4d pic.twitter.com/L0M9NYTFkH
The Minister for Civil Society, Baroness Barran, was among those who got involved with her own crossed fingers selfie.
Happy birthday #NationalLottery25 @TNLComFund @DawnJAustwick and I hope the next 25 years are equally wonderful https://t.co/s80qxUk3jE pic.twitter.com/whlj1F5UNg
— Diana Barran (@dianabarran) October 29, 2019
A number of charities have also got involved in the campaign.
A huge thank you to all the National Lottery players across the country for helping support young people with cancer via our Find Your Sense of Tumour event this weekend! Find out more: https://t.co/68V6CJYALb #NationalLottery25 pic.twitter.com/oORZf94wiK
— Teenage Cancer Trust (@TeenageCancer) October 30, 2019
Everyone at Norfolk Avenue also wanted to say thank you to players of The National Lottery. #NationalLottery25 pic.twitter.com/n6xGPaLzgX
— Leonard Cheshire (@LeonardCheshire) October 30, 2019
Some lovely photos sent to us from Burtonwood Sewing Group. Thanks to National Lottery players, we awarded them with £7,800 to enable their group to provide free of charge sewing sessions for local children. #NationalLottery25
— The National Lottery Community Fund (@TNLComFund) October 30, 2019
Read more: https://t.co/K6CbiFOFyW pic.twitter.com/AmmupUKmcw
The Piece Hall reopened 2 years ago thanks to funding from @Calderdale and the National Lottery. Since then, we’ve welcomed over 5 million visitors - a remarkable milestone! Thank you @TNLUK & Happy Birthday! #NationalLottery25 pic.twitter.com/2ctPOxHTan
— The Piece Hall (@ThePieceHall) October 28, 2019
????Bubbenhall Wood and Meadow in the heart of the Dunsmore Living Landscape is a mix of ancient woodland and new meadow with pools.
— WarwickshireWildlife (@WKWT) October 29, 2019
Thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund who provided funding towards the reserve’s purchase #nationallottery25 ????https://t.co/ikmnEjW2is pic.twitter.com/QdtzCkAFpG
A special birthday shoutout to @TNLComFund ?? Thank you for your contributions that have helped us to run projects, and reach more young people ??#NationalLottery25 pic.twitter.com/1il8pWBv4h
— Reaching Higher (@ReachHigherUK) October 29, 2019
Celebrations for the National Lottery’s 25th anniversary are taking place until the beginning of December.
