Most lotteries in the UK help raise money for good charitable causes.

In particular, the National Lottery, which runs the UK Lotto, Lotto Hotpicks, UK Thunderball and many scratchcard and instant win games, raises millions every year for good causes in the UK.

Overall, since its launch in 1994, more than £34 billion has been raised by the National Lottery, and that has brought funds to more than 450,000 projects across the country.

A fabulous range of causes have been chosen to benefit from the weekly games, with projects in everything from arts and sports to health, education and the environment, benefiting.

One particular success story was the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games, which received up to £2.2 billion from the National Lottery.

Here’s a selection of other current beneficiaries:

Ministry of Stories – an arts project in East London that inspires young people to write.

Glasgow 2014 Cultural Program – celebrating Glasgow’s hosting of the Commonwealth Games with theatre, music, poetry and film.

The 360 Observatory – an environmental project in a remote Welsh valley, giving visitors access to sit and observe a rich mix of wildlife in the surrounding area.

Back Up Mentoring – a health project that helps people paralysed as a result of spinal chord injury.

SparkhillFoodbank – a voluntary project that provides food, drink and support to those suffering difficult circumstances including poverty and homelessness in the West Midlands.

For full details of all the good causes supported by the National Lottery in the UK, visit their website here.