Council lottery idea to fund good causes

Charities and voluntary groups in Wyre Forest could soon be benefiting from a local lottery.

Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet will be discussing the possibility of setting up a local draw at its meeting on Wednesday 18 September.

Councillors are considering introducing an online lottery in which tickets cost £1 with 60 per cent going to good causes and the rest towards prizes and administering the scheme. There would be a maximum jackpot of £25,000 for matching all six numbers.

Councillor Helen Dyke, Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Community Protection said:

“We are looking to introduce a local lottery to provide grants and cash funding to local good causes, charities and voluntary organisations. We really want to help these groups, and this would be a great way to continue supporting them, even though the council is facing funding restrictions. The council would not receive any money from the scheme.

The idea is that eligible community groups and charities in the district will be able to apply to become beneficiaries. In the scheme we are considering players will be able to choose which cause they support, or opt to pay into a general fund which will be allocated to local good causes.”

Around 80 local authorities already run their own lotteries, raising thousands of pounds for charity. It is proposed that Gatherwell Ltd operate the Wyre Forest lottery. The company runs successful draws for Aylesbury Vale, Portsmouth, Melton, Gloucester and many other councils across the UK.

If cabinet members approve the proposal to set up a lottery it will need to be licensed by the Gambling Commission. The first draw could take place early next Spring.