New Forest District Council approves plan to introduce new community lottery

PLANS to introduce a new community lottery have been approved by New Forest District Council.

The scheme – set to launch in around six months at a cost of £5,000 – will cost £1 per ticket and raise money for local voluntary and community groups, in an attempt to boost the council’s annual community grant programme.

As reported in the A&T, community lottery operator Gatherwell, which operates in over 120 other local authorities, gave a presentation to the council to explain the allocation of the £1 ticket income. Of this, it distributes 60% to good causes, 18.2% to prizes, 18.2% for running costs and 3.6% VAT, which can be claimed back by the council.

Weekly prizes range from free tickets to cash of up to £25,000, and there is no risk the council will have to fund any of the prizes, no matter how many tickets are sold.

The idea was backed by members of the council’s cabinet at a meeting last Wednesday. Cabinet member for community, safety and wellbeing, Cllr Dan Poole, said: “A community lottery would be a fantastic way to support the many organisations that make a real difference to our residents and communities.

“By giving people the choice to support their preferred good cause while taking part in a fun and responsible lottery, we can help generate much needed funding for local groups.

“It is quite clear we’ve been seeing in recent months and years that funding streams are drying up, so anything we can do to help local charities would be to the benefit of all.”

Cllr Steve Clarke said he supported the idea, but questioned how much could be raised. He said: “It has got the potential to be an excellent scheme, raising money for local projects

“I do have some concerns, I wonder do we have too many lotteries these days and what would the take up be? It could be everyone is a bit lotteried out.”

Cllr Caroline Rackham also said she was concerned that it would be a lot of work to set up, only for it to be potentially lost when New Forest District Council is axed under devolution.

The full council will now agree the criteria for good causes to apply for a share of the proceeds, could be which up to £67,000 per year.