MP congratulates local retailer for National Lottery Good Causes effort

Pudsey retailer Brooks News and its customers have been celebrated by local MP Stuart Andrew for raising over £1.9 million for Good Causes through selling National Lottery products. 

Mr Andrew, MP for Pudsey, recently visited Brooks News in Church Lane to award the shop with a plaque marking the store and its customers’ fantastic achievements. Store Assistant, Sandra Thompson, was presented with the plaque on behalf of the store owner, Emma Longfellow. They were also joined by John Welling, Trustee of National Lottery-funded Pudsey Wellbeing Charity, a local charity that aims to improve the lives of isolated people and those with specific needs in the local community through wellbeing activities run by local volunteers. .

“I was really pleased to have the opportunity to visit Brooks News to meet Sandra and mark the incredible amount raised for National Lottery Good Causes by the shop’s customers,” said Mr Andrew.

“I’ve seen first-hand the fantastic work that National Lottery funding does locally – at organisations like the Pudsey Wellbeing Charity – as well as right across the UK. It was also great to see John and get an update on his charity’s fantastic work and to hear how National Lottery funding is allowing them to continue supporting the local community.”

Emma said: “We are a shop in the heart of Pudsey that has always sold The National Lottery. It is fantastic to be recognised in this way and to see the difference that National Lottery funding makes in our community.”

According to John, National Lottery funding has been a lifeline for the Pudsey Wellbeing Charity. “Just a year ago, Pudsey Wellbeing Charity was forced to prepare a press release announcing its imminent demise due to lack of sufficient funding,” he said. 

“Fortunately, we were awarded sufficient funds by The National Lottery as well as by Leeds City Council, local supporters and the Pudsey lottery to keep our charity solvent until at least April 2026.

“As a result, we have been able to maintain and increase our range of weekly activities, as well as providing a five-days-a-week Warm Space, offering a warm welcome and free food and drink to the many local residents who need our support. Everything the charity provides is free of charge, simply relying on generous donations from those who can afford to pay and there are many kind souls in our community.”

Camelot Senior Retail Sales Manager, Laura Unwin, added: “Shops like Brooks News are the backbone of The National Lottery and are vital to its ongoing success. Around 43,000 retailers across the UK sell National Lottery games and help raise around £30 million a week for Good Causes. It is fantastic to be here to mark the massive £1.9 million that National Lottery players at Brooks News have helped raise over the years, and also to hear from the Pudsey Wellbeing Charity about how money raised for Good Causes is being used in the local community.”