Salford charity stars in new prime time National Lottery TV ad thanking players for their support during COVID-19 crisis

The Brain and Spinal Injury Centre (BASIC), based in Eccles, Salford, stars in a new national TV ad for The National Lottery, thanking players for their continued support during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

The group which works with local people recovering from brain and spinal injuries, as well as long term neurological conditions, will star alongside other charities and community groups across the UK in The National Lottery’s latest campaign. The group recently received more than £112,000 of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to build an onsite café which has become a hub for older people in the community.

Since the start of the lockdown the charity has been forced to shut its doors to the public, however the dedicated staff at the Centre have adapted well to the ‘new’ normal.

The Café Manager, John Preston, who features in the advert, has joined the drive to keep people healthy and connected during the lockdown by producing daily online healthy recipes as well as baking pies and delivering them to NHS staff at Salford Royal Hospital. Since the start of lockdown, John has personally delivered pies to frontline workers at the NHS as a way of thanking them for their hard work and dedication.

Essential physiotherapy classes have continued, with the charity switching to teaching useful chair-based exercises through video calling apps. The charity also run psychotherapy sessions which now take place over the phone and online, ensuring that people using its services not only get the physical support they need but also the emotional support during this challenging time.

The TV ad is part of a marketing campaign running across TV, radio, social and digital, which will first air this week. To make sure players know the impact they are having, the ad will appear during high-profile TV shows including Good Morning Britain, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and First Dates. In all more than 20 National Lottery funded causes from across the UK will appear in the marketing campaign - demonstrating the wide range of projects in every corner of the country making a difference.

Wendy Edge, CEO, at BASIC, said: “Without support from players we wouldn't be able to make the difference we are in our community. For more than 20 years we have been supported by The National Lottery and we’re eternally grateful. Remember every time you play the Lottery you are helping thousands of good causes like mine across the country to support people in need at this difficult time.”

Keith Moor, Chief Marketing Officer at Camelot, said: “National Lottery players have made all of these projects possible, and what better way to thank them than from the actual projects and organisations themselves. They’re all doing fantastic work, and we’re incredibly grateful that they’ve taken the time out to help us say thanks for the support of National Lottery players. With the TV ad – and the campaign as a whole – players can see the good that they’re doing by buying a National Lottery ticket, and in that way they can feel proud and connected to the efforts underway across the country.”

Duncan Nicholson, Head of Funding for the North West at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “It’s truly inspiring to see the amazing work BASIC has been doing and it is a fitting testament to its dedicated staff and volunteers that it is being spotlighted in this way. It is one of thousands of projects in the North West that are working tirelessly to support their community through these extremely difficult times.”

Thanks to National Lottery players, up to £600 million will be used to support charities and organisations affected by the unprecedented impact of the coronavirus outbreak in the UK. By playing The National Lottery, £30 million is raised every week, on average, by players for projects big and small across the country. Hundreds of millions of pounds will be distributed to charities and local voluntary organisations over the next few months to help support people through the COVID-19 crisis - from supporting food banks, to causes that combat loneliness and isolation, support for the elderly and projects that support mental and physical health in the community.

The National Lottery Community Fund distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes. Last year it awarded £1.4 million a day on average to projects that help people and communities thrive.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk