“IT’S more about helping causes close to your heart than it is about winning – the chance of a prize is just a bonus.”
That’s the message from Council Leader Matt Dormer in a new bid to raise the profile of the Redditch Community Lottery.
The lottery, launched more than 18 months ago, has struggled to gain traction with residents as early hopes of achieving a first year target of 682 players struggled to hit the 200 mark.
Tickets are £1 each and for every one sold, each month 50 per cent (50p in the £1) goes to the good cause chosen by the player.
A further 10 per cent goes to the central fund, which is used to further support local good causes in the borough. 20 per cent goes into the prize pot and 20 per cent goes to cover the running costs of the lottery.
The lottery features a jackpot prize of £25,000, which no one was won yet, plus a host of other prizes.
Karen Butler of Inspire CIC said her organisation had benefited: “As an extremely small, voluntary sector organisation, the lottery fund has really helped us.
“There have been times, especially over Covid that we have struggled to pay a bill and then I’ve checked our bank, expecting the worst, only to find that a payment has come in from the lottery and covered it!”
The lottery is currently helping 33 local causes and once approved they receive their own webpage on the lottery site, support to help their fundraising, plus a steady monthly income from their supporters playing the lottery – all without risk to the good cause.
Councillor Dormer said: “It’s free to sign up, you get lots of additional help with marketing and it could lead to a steady income each month to support your organisation.
“I’ve heard from some of the players, and most agree, that it is more about helping causes close to your heart than it is about winning – the chance of a prize is just a bonus.”
Good Causes can register at www.redditchcommunitylottery.co.uk/good-causes.
