Conservation charity the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) was delighted to celebrate the announcement that £66.3 million was awarded to charities and good causes in 2016 by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. The announcement was made at this year’s People’s Postcode Lottery Annual Charity Gala on Tuesday 24 January, at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh. 

RZSS is one of 69 charities that benefitted from this incredible funding in 2016, with £250,000 received in 2016 alone and over £1 million in total. The Charity Gala celebrated the phenomenal achievements of charities working across Great Britain and internationally that are supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

The event was attended by HRH Prince Charles, Sir David Attenborough, broadcaster Dermot Murnaghan and TV presenter Fiona Philips. Entertainment on the night was provided by Mica Paris and Soul Nation.

One of RZSS Edinburgh Zoo’s three-banded armadillos, Inti, even got to meet Sir David Attenborough in person for a pre-gala photoshoot!

The funding received from players of People’s Postcode Lottery has helped support RZSS’s vital conservation and research projects both here in Scotland and in over 20 countries around the world, including the Giant Armadillo Conservation project in the Brazilian Pantanal and the Budongo Conservation Field Station in Uganda. The funding has also helped both RZSS Edinburgh Zoo and RZSS Highland Wildlife Park develop new enclosures and provide a unique and educational day out to hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Barbara Smith, CEO of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said: “Funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery could not be more vital to the conservation work we do and we were delighted that Inti, the three-banded armadillo, could play a part in celebrating the £66.3 million raised. The gala was a terrific and inspirational event and we are privileged to be amongst the many good causes that People’s Postcode Lottery supports.”

Clara Govier, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “Our Gala is such a special time in People’s Postcode Lottery’s calendar where we come together and celebrate the incredible amount of money raised by our players and the fantastic work carried out by the supported charities as a result of the support. We continue to be overwhelmed by the incredible support of our players and thank them for their funding.”

Images are available at the following link, including a photo of Sir David Attenborough and Inti, the three-banded armadillo: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7devdcdp9aoqz01/AAAOM3JjjR_bJbdHo4-lTRaDa?dl=0

These images are free to use, please credit People’s Postcode Lottery.