NATIONAL Lottery players have been thanked for their support as the organisation marked its 25th birthday.
A quarter of a century on from its first draw, the lottery has invested more than £3.1 billion into 64,000 local good causes in Scotland across the community, arts, sport and heritage sectors.
Across Scotland, lottery cash has gone to developing the talents of sports stars like Sir Chris Hoy, funding film productions such as T2 and Wild Rose, bringing iconic locations like the Falkirk Wheel and V&A Dundee to life, charities like Social Bite, and much more.
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The largest-ever National Lottery grant awarded in Scotland was given to the Glasgow Science Centre, which received £36 million before opening in 2001.
Marking the anniversary, Maureen McGinn, chair of The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland, was joined by recipients of good causes outside the science museum.
She said in 1994 “no-one could have anticipated the phenomenal impact it was set to have on good causes across Scotland and beyond”.
She went on: “Without the funding, many of our most loved and iconic landmarks wouldn’t exist and many charities wouldn’t be changing lives to the scale they are now.
“Our cultural landscape has transformed, supporting and inspiring new work by individual artists, award-winning venues and facilities and renowned festivals.
“We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has played The National Lottery over the last 25 years. You have truly made extraordinary things happen.”
Across the UK, the National Lottery has raised more than £40bn for good causes.
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