The Quilters' Guild is asking people to support them by voting for the project, enabling them to reach the finals, which will be shown on BBC 1 television. This would be tremendous publicity for quilting and for the Quilt Museum and Gallery and would recognise the hard work of the staff and volunteers in making the Quilt Museum and Gallery a great place to visit.

The Heritage Lottery grant supports the Guild's work with volunteers and in education and outreach. The grant has enabled The Quilters' Guild to open the Quilt Museum and Gallery, creating wider public access to their collection of over 800 historic and contemporary quilts.

Over 30,000 people have visited the Quilt Museum and Gallery since opening in 2008 and this would not have been possible without the support of volunteers stewarding the exhibitions, helping with education events and working behind the scenes. Volunteers have been able to learn about the Collection and learn new skills. Others have practiced their own sewing skills making items in support of exhibitions

St Wildfred's RC PrimaryThe Museum and Gallery's education programme has enabled over 6,250 adults and children to learn and develop practical sewing skills and to learn about the history, art and craft of patchwork and quilting. The Quilters' Guild has worked with a wide variety of people including school groups, children and young people, young mothers, people in hospital, elderly people in care homes and others from across the community. The Lottery-funded programme has enabled them to do this at little or no cost to participants.

The Guild would like to encourage everyone to vote for 'Unfolding the Quilts' via the Lottery Good Causes web site at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards or by phone on 0844 836 9716. Calls cost only 5p from a BT landline but may be more from mobile phones. Voting begins on Tuesday 31 May and ends at noon on 20 June.

“This is really exciting news for The Quilters' Guild.” said Marilyn Lovett, President of The Quilters' Guild. “Reaching the semi-finals of the National Lottery Awards recognises the excellent work of our staff and all the volunteers involved in running the Quilt Museum and Gallery and its education and outreach projects. We hope that everyone will support us by voting for the project and helping us to reach the finals.”