NATIONAL LOTTERY

GOOD CAUSES

The National Lottery raises over £30 million weekly for good causes, supporting more than 700,000 community, arts, heritage and sports projects since 1994.  While major beneficiaries often dominate headlines, Camelot wanted to celebrate the everyday people whose work strengthens communities across the UK.

To recognise these unsung heroes, we launched The People’s Portrait campaign.  An initiative that transformed some of the nation’s most iconic cultural spaces, usually reserved for celebrities, politicians and national heroes, into celebrations of the unsung heroes.

Over three years, the campaign delivered powerful national moments:

Stonehenge became a canvas for eight community heroes projected onto its ancient stones. 

Six major sporting venues including Twickenham Stadium and The Oval were renamed overnight in honour of grassroots sporting champions. 

Eight leading art institutions, including the National Portrait Gallery, National Museum of Wales, The MAC Belfast, the BFI and London’s Southbank, united to showcase a photography series celebrating those who bring the arts to everyone. 

British heritage sites received bespoke benches designed by Jay Blades from The Repair Shop, recognising individuals who made these spaces accessible for blind and visually impaired visitors. 

Wembley Stadium’s Spanish Steps, Liverpool’s Albert Dock and The Eden Project were each transformed into galleries celebrating community heroes, unveiled by supporters including Leah Williamson, Chris Tarrant and Chris Packham.