POSTCODE THE LOTTERY
THE REGIONS THAT GET THE MOST - AND LEAST - GOOD CAUSES CASH FROM THE NATIONAL LOTTERY
LONDON received nearly a fifth of all National Lottery “good causes” cash last year, new figures have revealed.
Analysis of nearly 7,400 grants, worth a total £277.9 million in 2018, shows that £56.5 million went to the capital. It means London got 20 per cent of the money despite 13 per cent of the population living there.
Other regions found themselves receiving far less - with the East of England getting just £13.3 million, the East Midlands £13.7 million and the South West £14.0 million.
Wales, meanwhile, received £32.8 million.
Lambeth, a borough in London, received more than any other area in the UK.
In all, it received “good causes” cash worth £10.6 million during 2018.
Glasgow was second with £7.9 million, with another London borough-Islington - third at £6.8 million.
Cardiff was fourth with £6.6 million, and a third London borough - Lewisham - fifth with £6.4 million.
At the other end of the scale, Crawley in West Sussex received just £4,160, and Hart in Hampshire got £6,256.
The National Lottery, launched in 1994, raises money for good causes across the UK, including the arts, sports, education and the environment.
It is run by Camelot UK and overseen by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Money raised for the Lottery is distributed by 12 bodies including the Arts Councils of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Creative Scotland, Heritage Lottery, and sports bodies like Sport England, Sport Wales, and Sportscotland.
The Gambling Commission regulates the Lottery and enforces the terms of Camelot’s operating licence.
Since the Lottery began it has raised more than £37 billion for good causes, according to a report published last April by the House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts.
Income for good causes fell by 15 per cent in 2016-17 as Lottery ticket sales fell by nine per cent.
The report found that increases in Camelot’s profits had been “proportionately greater than increases in both Lottery sales and returns for good causes”.
The committee made a series of recommendations, including that the Gambling Commission ensure “a fair return” for good causes.
A National Lottery Community Fund spokesperson said: “The National Lottery distributors work hard to ensure funding is distributed equitably and that it reaches the communities most in need. “How funding is awarded geographically is complex and the amount varies by area of funding and by distributor.
“While a large of number of National Lottery grants may be registered in London, many of these are to the main administrative centres of organisations and charities which deliver exceptional work throughout the UK.
“Londonisalsohometoworldfamous institutions and attractions, funded by the National Lottery, which draw visitors from all around the UK and internationally.
“The National Lottery distributors are committed to ensuring that all parts of the UK have access to their funding. “They proactively encourage charities and groups who have ideas for projects that will benefit communities, the arts, heritage, sport, and, above all, people, to get in touch.”