GOOD causes in Stourbridge received more than £250,000 from the National Lottery last year.

Vital cash boosts were given to 11 organisations that support vulnerable people in the area.

Lye based Apni Zaroorat Community Network received £10,000 to run a leadership training and mentoring programme for young Asian people and women.

An award of £1,200 was given to the Norton Green Tenants and Residents Association to cover venue hire and refreshments for a youth club, to provide positive activities for young people and Wollaston Farm Tenants and Residents Association was awarded £5,150 to fund and organise a community clean up event.

Other grants included £4,490 to The Seniors Luncheon Club to deliver social and intergenerational activities for older people to reduce isolation and £9,800 to Leaps & Bounds for a project to help at-risk young people develop careers skills through documenting the history of the local area.

The organisations have now been invited to enter the National Lottery Awards 2014 for a chance to gain national recognition for their work.

John Barrowman, presenter of last year’s National Lottery Awards show, said: “National Lottery players raise £33 million every week for a wide range of projects which make a life changing difference to local communities.

"The awards are a great way of celebrating their work and the unsung heroes helping people with National Lottery funding.

“Everyone in Stourbridge who plays the National Lottery should be proud of the difference their money is making in the local community.

"If you know of a Lottery-funded organisation that deserves to be nominated, we want to hear from you.”

The awards have seven categories - sport, heritage, arts, environment, health, education and voluntary.

The winners of will receive a £2,000 cash prize and national recognition at a star-studded event broadcast on television later this year.

For more information, visit www.nationallotteryawards.org.uk or call 0207 293 3599.