Public vote puts Razed Roof in line for £2k Lottery award

THE director of a Harlow-based performing arts charity said she was "overwhelmed" by the public response to its appeal for votes to reach the final of the 2011 National Lottery Awards.

Razed Roof, an inclusive drama group for people with specific learning disabilities and youngsters from mainstream education, urged residents to show their support by voting for its Inclusion Through Practice project.

Razed Roof members in rehearsals

The appeal paid off and by the time the deadline closed on June 20 Razed Roof had received enough votes to secure a place in the final later this year and the chance to win £2,000.

The Inclusion Through Practice project used a £10,000 Lottery grant to run workshops for people with severe learning disabilities and put together a specially adapted production of Billy Elliot.

Razed Roof will now go up against three other finalists – MAC Birmingham (Midlands Arts Centre), Northern Ballet and Phoenix Dance Theatre in Leeds and London music project The Smiling Sessions – for the title of the UK’s Best Arts Project.

The group’s artistic director, Annette Lidster, said she was astounded to have reached the final.

"I really didn’t think we’d get through so it is quite incredible," she said. "It was lovely even just being in the semi finals, so to see our members being properly recognised for their hard work and acknowledged for their competence is absolutely fantastic."

She added: "It is also overwhelming just how much the community have rallied for us. It is ultimately all about Harlow.

"We are a community group and Harlow has really supported us which we are extremely grateful for."

The overall winners in each category will be decided by a final round of voting in the autumn.

Harlow MP Rob Halfon said: "It is a tribute to Razed Roof and also to everyone in Harlow who kept the phone lines hot.

"We must all rally together and show our support again by voting for Razed Roof when the lines reopen in September."