SAGE Gateshead is appealing for votes after reaching the finals of the 25th Birthday National Lottery Awards - the search for the UK’s favourite National Lottery-funded projects.

More than 565,000 National Lottery grants have been awarded since 1994, the equivalent of around 200 life-changing projects in every UK postcode district helping to strengthen communities, deliver sporting success, protect the environment, unleash local creative talent and look after the elderly and those at risk.

Sage Gateshead is competing in the Best Arts, Culture & Film category. They beat off stiff competition from more than 700 organisations to reach the public voting stage in this year’s National Lottery Awards, which celebrate the inspirational people and projects who do extraordinary things with the help of National Lottery funding.

The project with the most votes will be crowned the winner and receive a £10,000 cash prize, a National Lottery Awards trophy and attend a star-studded glittering awards ceremony to be broadcast on BBC One in November.

Sage Gateshead is a symbol of the transformation in fortunes of Gateshead over the last 15 years. It is a music centre which is deeply rooted in the region but with an international profile, bringing Gateshead to the world and the world to Gateshead.

Managing director Abigail Pogson said: "We programme concerts, gigs and festivals to give people great nights out and hear new and exciting music, nurture the next generation of musicians and run education projects and music classes for all ages. We’re also an employer and one of the reasons why tourism in the region continues to grow. We are delighted to be acknowledged by the National Lottery in this way.

“National Lottery funding has helped us to welcome almost half a million visitors each year, so it is great to be nominated for an award by the organisation which has helped us achieve so much. We hope that everyone across the region will want to get behind Sage Gateshead in this year’s National Lottery awards.”

Jonathan Tuchner, from the National Lottery, added: “It’s thanks to National Lottery players, who raise more than £30 million each week for good causes, that brilliant projects like those in the finals of the National Lottery Awards are possible.

“Sage Gateshead is doing an incredible job in its local community and the work they do is hugely impressive. They thoroughly deserve to be in the finals of the 25th Birthday National Lottery Awards and with your support they could be a winner.”

To vote go to lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards. Voting runs from 9am on 24 July until midnight on 21 August.