New figures reveal that nearly £63 million of National Lottery funding has been invested in Pembrokeshire since the National Lottery began almost 25 years ago.

Thanks to National Lottery players, lives of ordinary people have been transformed in the Pembrokeshire area over the past quarter of a century.

Over 2,400 National Lottery grants have been awarded since 1994, helping to strengthen our communities, power our sports teams, protect the environment, unleash local creative talent and look after the elderly and those at risk.

A wide variety of local projects have received National Lottery funding over the last 25 years. Large grants have gone to:

• Modernising and redeveloping the Torch Theatre in Milford Haven - a vibrant centre for the arts (£4.8 million)

• Revitalising, renovating and conserving historic properties in Haverfordwest town’s conservation area so they can become more attractive and commercially viable (£2 million)

• Renovation and conservation work on Skomer Island, including refurbishing the 150-year-old farmhouse and outbuildings, providing better accommodation for staff, volunteers, and visitors and more and improved information and interpretation (£1.6 million).

Most National Lottery grants, however, are for £10,000 or less:

• £5,000 for Clynfyw Community Interest Company in Pembrokeshire to raise awareness of the mental health challenges faced by members of the farming community

• £4,885 for the Fishguard Unit 142 of the Sea Cadet Corps to create an IT suite which will benefit the cadets and the wider community

• £1,500 for Fishguard and Goodwick Jemima Rowing Club to purchase new equipment and coaching training.

Wales’ Double Olympic Taekwondo Champion, Jade Jones, is one of over 1,000 National Lottery funded elite athletes in the UK. The funding allows her to compete and train full time to the highest international standards.

Highlighting the important role that National Lottery funding has played in her success and the impact it has had on communities throughout Pembrokeshire, Jade Jones, said: “Over the last 25 years, the National Lottery has supported the development of thousands of athletes like myself which has helped us to secure podium places at the highest level.”

“Since 1994, the National Lottery has also invested nearly £40 billion pounds in over half a million good causes which has positively transformed the lives of people in communities the length and breadth of the UK.

“Whether it’s for grassroots sport, projects that strengthen our communities, support creativity or help the most vulnerable - National Lottery players should feel extremely proud that they are positively changing the lives of so many people throughout the UK. I would like to wish the National Lottery a very Happy 25th Birthday.”

From today, any organisation that has received National Lottery funding, has the chance to gain nationwide acclaim by entering the 25th Birthday National Lottery Awards – our search for the UK’s favourite ever National Lottery-funded projects.

National Lottery Awards winners will receive a £10,000 cash prize and national recognition at a glittering ceremony broadcast on BBC One later in the year.

To enter your favourite project in this year’s National Lottery Awards, tweet @LottoGoodCauses with your suggestions or complete an entry form through our website www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards

Entries must be received by midnight on April 30.

To thank National Lottery players for making these achievements possible and to celebrate the massive difference The National Lottery has made – and continues to make – to lives of people across the UK, the National Lottery is working on a range of plans in the run-up to the 25th Birthday in November.