Does your local shop help your community?

Your local shop is there for all your everyday needs, from the ingredients for a quick supper and your favourite magazine, to a National Lottery ticket and a pint of milk.

Not only are the people who work in these convenience stores, newsagents, and petrol stations always there when we need them, but they often go above and beyond to support the wider community. Now, it's time to help them get the recognition they deserve.

National Lottery operator Allwyn is giving you the chance to do so - just share details of the good deeds done by those who work in your local shop, and they could win a prize worth up to £15,000.

Doing their bit for good causes

Every week, National Lottery players raise over £30million for good causes.

And by selling National Lottery tickets, many local retailers also do their bit for those good causes. This is the second year Allwyn has run the Local Retail Champions initiative.

Its operations director, Jenny Blogg, says: "With over 40,000 National Lottery retail partners across the UK, this is a way to celebrate and reward them for playing significant roles in their communities in other ways.

"The initiative has been made possible thanks to Allwyn's Social Value Fund, which is money we set aside to support operating The National Lottery in an environmentally and socially responsible way and that is separate to Good Causes funding."

Worthy prize winners

Last year's top prizes went to Natalie and Martin Lightfoot from Londis Solo Convenience Store in Glasgow, Manish and Raj Suchak, who run Coldean Convenience in Brighton.

Father-and-son team Manish and Raj were nominated by their customers last year for providing food for a local school's breakfast club, supporting a cat shelter, and sponsoring the Coldean Colts youth football team.

"You just think you're doing your job, then you find out so many people are saying all these nice things about you," says Raj. He keeps the 2024 prize money presentation cheque in his office. "It brings a smile to my face," he says.

Raj and Manish have already used some of their prize money to support their customers, including making the shop's toilet accessible for people with disabilities.

Vital network of support

Customers have praised staff at Natalie and Martin's store for forming a vital support network for the residents of a nearby sheltered housing block.

They've helped to spot early signs of dementia, as well as provided first aid and lifts home for residents.

The Lightfoots and their staff also fundraise for charities. They'd collected £3,600 by throwing a small festival just by the shop.

Thanks to the Allwyn prize money, the festival was even bigger.

"We were able to get a good, sturdy marquee, one that can withstand the Scottish weather!" says Natalie.

Since winning, Natalie has made many changes to her shop, including adding a small area for dogs with water bowls and treats.

But the biggest change is yet to come: she plans to add a defibrillator, along with a blood kit and an overdose kit, to a station on the outside wall of her shop.

"Local shops are part of people's daily routine," says Natalie. "A shopkeeper could be the one person someone speaks to that day. Without bricks-and-mortar shops, we'd just be rows of houses."

How does your local National Lottery retailer go above and beyond for the community?

Perhaps they offer a space where children can wait after school, help out with a local food bank, make deliveries to older customers, or provide craft supplies for a toddlers' group.

This year, 18 shops will be able to win a prize, with two national winners taking home £15,000 each and 16 regional winners receiving £5,000 each.

For anyone thinking of nominating, Raj says, "Go and do it. Retailers don't get to hear about the good things, but seeing so many people get together to support us and what we do has really changed my perspective on life.

How to nominate your local shop for The National Lottery's Local Retail Champions awards

Advertiser content from The National Lottery

Does your neighbourhood shop go above and beyond? Fill out the entry form to enterthem into the competition and to tell us why they deserve to win.

We'd love to know what your shopkeeper does for your community. To nominate your shop, you must be 18 or over.

Nominations close on October 19, 2025 - so don't delay and make yours now to give your local retailer a chance to win.

Ts&Cs

Anyone nominating their National Lottery retailer must be aged 18 years or older. To nominate your local UK or Isle of Man National Lottery retailer, you will need to submit up to 150 words to demonstrate how a retailer has gone "above and beyond" to support the local community.

Nominations close at 11.59pm on October 19, 2025. All entries submitted must be nominating a UK or Isle of Man National Lottery retailer. The nominator will be required to submit the full address of the retailer at the nomination phase.

From all valid entries, Reach and Allwyn shall assess the entries against the eligibility, competition and prize criteria to pick two national winners of the top prize and 16 regional winners (for a description of the prizes see the Competition Terms and Conditions at tnllocalretailchampions.co.uk).

Allwyn's selection of winners must be completed by November 7, 2025, following which the remaining prizes may be withdrawn. The winners acknowledge that they may take part in publicity, have photos taken of them and their shop and details used for follow-up publicity, but may opt out upon notification of winning.

See full terms online at tnllocalretailchampions.co.uk

Nominate your National Lottery retailer for the Local Retail Champions here.