National Lottery operator, Allwyn, announces that Coldean Convenience in Brighton and Londis Solo Convenience Store in Glasgow have been crowned National Winners at its Local Retail Champions awards event. Both retailers have been awarded £5,000 cash and a Social Value store makeover worth up to £20,000.

In a special awards ceremony at the Hilton Wembley yesterday, the two National Winners and 16 Regional Winners* – who were each awarded £5,000 cash – picked up their Local Retail Champions awards which are made from recycled National Lottery Scratchcards. Additionally,102 runners-up will receive a £100 cash prize.

Launched in September, Allwyn’s very first Local Retail Champions campaign – funded by Allwyn’s Social Value Fund – asked the UK public to nominate National Lottery retailers who go above and beyond to support their local community. From almost 1,000 stores nominated, Allwyn selected two national and 16 regional winners, as well as 102 runners-up.

Coldean Convenience, run by Raj and Manish Suchak, was selected as a National Winner for a variety of community-focused work, including creating a safe space for those who need it, donating generously to local food banks, and providing all the food for a local school’s breakfast club and fundraising for the local cat shelter.

Manish Suchak said: “To know that our wonderful customers voted for us gives us tremendous pleasure. It’s a very supportive community in general, so anything we’re doing is just repaying that kindness. I’m now giving some thought to how we can spend the store makeover money, it’s such a lovely thing to be able to spend £20,000 to benefit my customers.”

Londis Solo Convenience Store, owned by Natalie and Martin Lightfoot, took home the other national prize for going that extra mile for their community, including organising charity fundraising events and local litter-picking activities, and providing a home delivery service for those who need it.

Natalie Lightfoot said: “I’m so proud of my shop, I joke that it’s my fourth child. It’s lovely when other people recognise something you’re so passionate about.”

Allwyn’s Director of Commercial Partnerships and Retail Sales, Alison Acquaye-Acford, said, “Congratulations to all of our Local Retail Champions winners. You’re all doing such incredible work in your local communities and, as National Lottery retailers, we’re delighted to be able to recognise and reward you for this.

“National Lottery retailers already do so much for communities around the UK simply by selling lottery tickets that help fund Good Causes to the tune of around £30 million each week. So our Local Retail Champions really are doubling up on efforts to help their communities with the work they’ve been nominated and awarded for through this initiative. Thank you for all your wonderful work.”

The Local Retail Champions initiative is being paid for with money from Allwyn’s dedicated Social Value Fund, which is an annual £1 million that the company has committed to using to support operating The National Lottery in an environmentally and socially responsible way. This year, Allwyn is using a portion of the fund to reward and recognise the important role its retail partners play in every community across the UK and Isle of Man.

The Social Value store makeover, which the Coldean Convenience and Londis Solo Convenience Store will receive, will help them do even more for their customers, community or environment. Both Manish and Natalie are now looking at social and environmental initiatives to improve their stores and how they support their local community, and some initial thoughts have included solar panels and a defibrillator and bleed control kit.

*Full list of 16 Regional Winners who have each won £5,000 cash:

– Cults Stores – Keystore, Aberdeen, Louise and Christopher Cobb
– Carl’s Convenience Store, Oldbury, Kuldeep Singh
– McKees Convenience Store, Belfast, Gerard McKee
– TJ’s Late Shop, Hemel Hempstead, George Phillips
– Angel Supermarket, Ilford, Thangarajah Kuganeswaran
– Stevenston Post Office, North Ayshire, Robin Bawa
– Llanfair Village Shop, Llanfairtalhaiarn, Deborah Gale
– OneStop – Carlton Convenience, Manchester, Priyesh Vekaria
– Westerhope Convenience Store, Newcastle, Sheraz Awan
– Tidings Newsagents, Norfolk, Gail Watling
– Tenby Stores, Tenby, Vince and Fiona Malone
– Halai General Store (Best One), London, Dhanji N Halai
– Londis Gerrards Cross, Harjit Singh
– Trinity Food and Wine, Basildon, Agnelo and Maria Desousa
– Woosnam & Davies News, Llanidloes, Trudy Davies
– Jules Convenience, Telford, Julie Kaur