The International Slavery Museum (above) will compete in the final of the National Lottery's Best Heritage Project competition
The art deco Brockwell Lido in South London, the £4.5 million Stourport-on-Seven Canal Basins restoration project and Liverpool's International Slavery Museum will battle it out for a £2,000 National Lottery award after reaching the final of the public ballot.
The trio edged out seven other nationwide schemes to grab a place in the final of the Best Heritage Project category, and all three are appealing for support as voting opens today.
"We are absolutely thrilled to have reached the final of the awards and want to thank everyone who has supported us so far," said Chris Bailey, who has overseen the creation of new community areas and tourist attractions as part of the Stourport campaign.
"We hope that people will vote for us to win so that our staff and volunteers receive the recognition they deserve for helping with this project that has restored the basins back to their former glory."
Stourport-on-Severn has benefitted from a widespread canal restoration campaign
At the International Slavery Museum, Richard Benjamin urged visitors to endorse their cause. "Voting for the ISM is not just a vote for a museum which is visited by hundreds of thousands of visitors, has a successful community programme, incredibly dedicated volunteers or even one of the most extensive collections in the world of transatlantic slavery-related objects," he said.
"It is also about actively challenging racists and racial discrimination, people trafficking and various other human rights abuses which unfortunately live with us today."
Brockwell Park opened in 1937
Officials at Brockwell Park's Grade II-listed Lido aim to open the Olympic-size public swimming pool up to more schoolchildren if they win.
"We hope that people will vote for us to win, as we plan to use the prize money to help extend the schools programme, which has been really successful in giving local children from Lambeth the chance to spend a day at the Lido," Operations Manager Paul Maier told the Streatham Guardian.
Telephone and online voting ends next Friday, with the winner announced during a "star-studded" programme on BBC One on September 5.
Polls close August 14 2009 at 12pm.
Vote online at the competition website.
To vote for Brockwell Lido by telephone call 0844 686 2625
Support Restoration of Stourport on Severn Canal Basins by dialling 0844 686 3010
If you think The International Slavery Museum should win call 0844 686 6957
Calls will cost 5p from a BT land-line. Calls from other networks may vary, calls from mobiles could cost considerably more. Callers are advised to check with their telephone network provider to be certain of the cost.
