The National Lottery has been running for 25 years and has supported countless Home-Starts across the UK, providing them with the funding to support thousands of families who need it.

Over the years, the Home-Start network has received millions of pounds from the National Lottery fund to secure funding for their local areas. The money granted as allowed local communities across the UK to provide vital support for families who need it the most. With over 13,500 volunteers supporting over 27,000 families, the work and support that is given can be life-changing. We are very excited that the work of Home-Start has been featured in a special piece artwork created to mark the 25th anniversary The National Lottery. 

Artist David Mach has unveiled his creation which shows a selection of stories that have made a big impact in their local community. One of those featured is Edna Smith, a volunteer with Home-Start Horizons (originally from Home-Start Blaby, Oadby and Wigston), who takes centre stage in the artwork.

Edna, aged 84 and a grandmother to 10 and great-grandmother to two, has been volunteering for Home-Start for almost 20 years. Over her time as a volunteer, she has been a surrogate mother to dozens of children – visiting their homes to lend a hand and being a friend to them and their parents - as well as helping out at two local Home-Start groups.

In the artwork, Edna is in the amazing company of the Morecambe Brass Band, one of the first projects to ever receive National Lottery funding, as well as icons such as Idris Elba, Tracey Emin, Rio Ferdinand and Betty Webb, a World War Two codebreaker from Bletchley Park and more.

An interactive version of the artwork can be found, here

The impressive line-up also features against a backdrop of National Lottery funded venues, including The Kelpies, Jodrell Bank, The Principality Stadium and Giant’s Causeway, composed in David Mach’s signature style. All 25 of these carefully selected people and places have one thing in common - they have all been positively impacted by the National Lottery over the past 25 years and in turn, give back to their local community. 

In 2015, The National Lottery organised a ‘Special Achievement’ honour for Edna’s work over the years, changing the lives of hundreds of families in her community. 

 

To find out how you too could volunteer like Edna, click here.