National Lottery celebrates 30th birthday hitting huge £50 billion fundraising goal for good causes

As the celebrates its 30th birthday today, it has revealed it has raised over £50 billion in funds for good causes across the UK.

Since its inception on November 19, 1994 it has raised more than £30 million every week for good causes funding 700,000 of Community, Heritage, and Arts projects across the country thanks to Lottery players. To celebrate the impact the funding has had over the last three decades, 30 Game Changing Moments have been displayed in a photography exhibition at and online.

These moments include the opening of the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Eden Project, the release of This Is England, Beth Mead’s Women’s Euros victory at Wembley and most recently Keely Hodgkinson winning gold at the Paris . Created by renowned film influencer Tom Duke, known for his project @‌steppingthroughfilm, where iconic photographs are rephotographed within the context of their original location, the exhibition shines a spotlight on groundbreaking and transformative moments from the last 30 years that Lottery funding has made possible.

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British icons including actors and community champions Michael Sheen and Vicky McClure, Olympian Jess Ennis and Lioness Beth Mead, have Moments featured in the Game Changing Moments exhibition. They have used The National Lottery’s 30th birthday milestone as an opportunity to talk about the impact of the good causes funding on their careers and projects.

The first ever National Lottery draw was presented by Noel Edmonds. Since then, it has created more than 7,400 millionaires and paid out £53billion in prizes. The biggest ever win was scooped by a lucky Brit who - perhaps unsurprisingly - wished to remain anonymous. They scooped the record EuroMillions jackpot of £195 million in July 2022 – the biggest National Lottery win of all time and making them richer than , and .

The National Lottery has also funded the making of more than 600 films which have won an incredible 551 awards, including 16 Oscars, 128 BAFTAs and 34 Cannes awards. Popular attractions and notable landmarks across the UK such as the Eden Project, the Giant’s Causeway, the Kelpies, the Angel of the North and Wembley have all received support from The National Lottery.

Andria Vidler, CEO of Allwyn, operator of The National Lottery said: “Today marks a remarkable milestone as National Lottery players have now raised £50 billion for Good Causes across the UK. Over 30 years, this hasn’t just been about numbers – it's been about countless lives changed and communities transformed, while continuing to create millionaires nationwide. As we look forward, our plans to transform The National Lottery are underway and we're committed to raising even more for these vital Good Causes.”

While Baroness Twycross, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: "The National Lottery’s 30th birthday marks a remarkable legacy of building resilient, inclusive and healthier communities across the UK.

“Over the last three decades it has funded hundreds of thousands of grassroots projects, getting more people involved in sport and cultural opportunities, as well as supporting our class Team GB and Paralympics GB athletes. The National Lottery has raised a staggering £50 billion for good causes since it was established and has transformed numerous landmarks from the V&A Dundee and the Royal Albert Hall to the Angel of the North and the Eden Project. I am delighted to celebrate The National Lottery’s continued role in improving lives in every part of our country.”

Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England and chair of the UK National Lottery Forum said: “The Game Changing Moments featured in the 30th Birthday exhibition launched today are the culmination of years of funding, commitment, training, belief, volunteering, tenacity and much, much more. The National Lottery’s impact on arts, film, heritage, sports, and communities across the UK is unparalleled.

"For three decades, it has empowered individuals and communities, enabling thousands of transformative projects. As we celebrate this remarkable achievement, we look forward to building on this legacy, ensuring the arts and culture continue to flourish, and supporting even more Game Changing Moments for future generations.”

Elsewhere, Vicky McClure, actor and founder of Our Dementia Choir commented: “It was a privilege to join The National Lottery for the launch of the Game Changing Moments exhibition and have my This is England ‘Moment’ featured in it. Each of the moments featured has a backstory and has had ripple effects, and that’s certainly true of mine.

"My journey as an actor started at Television Workshop and has led me to starting Our Dementia Choir. Support for both from The National Lottery has a game changing impact and means they can help more people and change more lives.”

Find out more about Game Changing Moments .