A BISHOPTON charity is appealing for votes after reaching the finals of the National Lottery Awards.

Bravehound is competing against six others in the Best Voluntary/Charity Project category.

It beat off stiff competition from more than 1,300 organisations to reach the public voting stage in this year’s National Lottery Awards – the annual search for the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects.

The project with the most votes will be crowned the winner and receive a £5,000 cash prize.

Bravehound was launched last year to match dogs with veterans, helping them return to civilian life.

Most veterans leave the Armed Forces and adapt well to civilian life but some face real difficulties, in particular those with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Bravehound founder Fiona MacDonald said: “We believe dogs can help to heal the invisible wounds that those who have seen combat carry with them.

“National Lottery funding has been crucial to us setting up Bravehound and it’s enabled us to make a life-changing difference to so many veterans.”

To vote for Bravehound, visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/project/bravehound or call 0844 836 9712.

Voting runs until midnight on Thursday, July 27.