GOOD causes in Glasgow received more than £19million of National Lottery funding in 2012, figures show.

More than 400 grants were awarded across the city, providing a vital cash boost to local arts, sport and heritage projects and community groups helping vulnerable people.

Grants included £9000 for Glasgow Wheelchair Rugby Club to buy new equipment, enabling members to fully take part in training sessions and matches.

A further £25,500 went to Hopscotch Theatre Company's touring production of Pink! The Musical for children aged four to seven.

The show used songs, humour and audience participation to celebrate diversity and challenge all types of discrimination.

Projects outside Glasgow also benefited, including Newmains Community Trust, Lanarkshire, which received £2.3m for a new building, marking one of the largest payouts made by the Big Lottery Fund in Scotland.

A £1.6m project in Renfrew is also going to see Renfrew-shire Council use a grant of just over £1m on the Knockhill Park Development project.

Overall, more than £100m of Lottery cash was awarded to almost 4000 grants across Scotland last year.

Now these projects, and any organisation that has received Lottery funding in the last 18 years, have a chance to gain national recognition for their work as the National Lottery Awards 2013 open for entries.

Glasgow-born actor John Barrowman, presenter of last year's National Lottery Awards show, said: "The National Lottery raises £30m a week for good causes.

"The awards are a great way of celebrating the life-changing difference these projects make to communities.

"The awards recognise the unsung heroes, dedicated workers and selfless volunteers making great use of Lottery funding."

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

The National Lottery Awards have seven categories each reflecting an area of its funding: sport; heritage; arts; environment; health; education; and voluntary/charity.

The winners of the awards will receive £2000 and national recognition at a star-studded event later this year. To nominate a project, see www.nationallotteryawards.org.uk or call 0207 2933599.

The awards are open for entries and any projects wishing to enter can do so by visiting the website.

Entries must be received by March 19.

ewan.fergus@eveningtimes.co.uk