Salford shopkeeper Amit Patel has celebrated more than £700,000 raised for National Lottery Good Causes through sales at his store, unveiling a new banner highlighting the local community projects supported by the funding.
Patel, an Allwyn Local Retail Champion, hosted a street party last week bringing together residents, community groups and local organisations to celebrate the contribution of National Lottery players in the area.
The event also marked the official reopening of Patel's shop as a One Stop convenience store following a recent refurbishment. Residents and attendees were treated to a bouncy castle, face painting, food and music from a DJ.
During the celebration, Patel unveiled a new banner on the side of the store recognising the contribution made by National Lottery players through purchases of National Lottery products there.
Patel used his £2,500 prize from the Allwyn Local Retail Champions Innovation Award to create the banner and help stage the community event. He won the award in November 2025.
The banner highlights four local good causes that have benefited from National Lottery funding: Talk About It Mate, which promotes mental wellbeing through peer support and community activities; Salford Loaves & Fishes, which supports people experiencing homelessness, isolation and vulnerability; The Inside Workout, which delivers fitness, wellbeing and employability initiatives; and Dig Media, whose ECHO Salford project explores the area's musical and cultural history through an interactive digital heritage trail.
Patel said he was “genuinely shocked” to learn that more than £700,000 had been raised for National Lottery Good Causes through sales at his store.
“It's not just about numbers on a ticket, and it's not just about scratching a piece of card. It's about where the money goes afterwards and the difference it makes in communities across the country,” he said.
Karl Southworth, head of field sales at Allwyn, said Patel demonstrated the role National Lottery retailers can play within their communities.
“Amit is a fantastic example of the important role National Lottery retailers play at the heart of their communities,” he said.
“Through his commitment and creativity, he has found a brilliant way to celebrate the incredible £700,000 raised for Good Causes through National Lottery sales at his shop. It's been so heartening to see so many people come together for this special occasion, and we're proud that the Local Retail Champions Innovation Award helped bring Amit's idea to life.”
Rebecca Long-Bailey, MP for Salford, who attended the celebration, also highlighted the contribution of community-focused independent businesses.
“We have shops like the one behind us, run by Amit and his family, that are dedicated to bringing the community together,” she said. “That's lovely to see because that's what we're about in Salford: community spirit.”
The Local Retail Champions programme is supported by Allwyn's annual Social Value Fund, which aims to support communities and high streets across the UK and Isle of Man.