22/06/2009

Issued By: National Lottery on behalf of DIG.

DIG - an Archaeological Adventure in York is launching its campaign for your vote this week as it goes head to head with other Lottery-funded projects from across the UK in the semi-finals of The National Lottery Awards 2009.

DIG is one of only 10 projects to make it through to the semi-finals in the Best Education Project category of The National Lottery Awards, which are an annual search to find the UK's favourite Lottery-funded projects. The winning project in each category will receive national recognition on a special BBC 1 TV show later this year, and a £2,000 cash prize[1] to spend on their project.

DIG is a hands-on archaeological adventure for the whole family based around four of the most historic sites in York.  A sister attraction to the world-famous JORVIK Viking Centre, it provides a fascinating exploration of York's past for school groups and the general public alike. Lottery funding enabled DIG to recreate four sites based on excavations undertaken by York Archaeological Trust: a Roman fortress at Blake Street, a Viking settlement at Coppergate, a Medieval Priory at Fishergate and Victorian slum dwellings at Hungate.

Ben Young from DIG says: "Lottery funding was vital to the creation of DIG, and means that thousands of people every year now have access to archaeology in an interactive way - we hope that people get behind us and vote as it'd be great to win a National Lottery Award."

This year's National Lottery Awards are supported by television and radio presenter, Jackie Brambles. She says: "Lottery players raise £25 million every week for Good Causes and this year marks 15 years since the Lottery began. The National Lottery Awards recognise the amazing talent and hard work of the people involved in running Lottery-funded projects. Please get behind your local projects and vote so that they get the credit and thanks they deserve."

About The National Lottery Awards

Now in their sixth successful year, The National Lottery Awards recognise the difference that Lottery-funded projects - both big and small - make to local communities, and celebrate the achievements of the people behind them.

Voting for the semi-finals starts at 9am on Monday 22 June and ends at midday on Friday 10 July. To register your vote for DIG - an Archaeological Adventure call 0844 686 8427 or log on to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards

The three projects in each category with the most number of votes will go through to the finals of the Awards and another round of public voting later in August.

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[1] NB: This is not a Lottery grant.