Council launches borough lottery
LOCAL GOOD CAUSES WILL BENEFIT
‘IT could be you’ as council bosses become among the first in the country to launch their own lottery.
Almost a year after it was first announced, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council’s lottery will be officially launched in April. Innovatively, residents can play the lottery and be in with the chance to win money and help local good causes at the same time.
The lucky charities to benefit from the lottery have yet to be chosen and it is understand that there will be an information event early on in March.
“There are so many good causes out there needing support and this is a great way for residents to help those close to their heart and on their doorstep, with an opportunity to win a prize as well,” said councillor Dennis Harvey, leader of the Town Hall. This is about us as a council putting something in place which will give local projects the means to raise funds to support their future goals.”
It is a move that has been welcomed by Alison Thompson, locality manager of Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action (CAVA), who said: “In the borough we have over 400 community groups and voluntary organisations, they make a major contribution to the quality of life for local communities. With fewer grants available and greater competition for funds, successfully applying for funding is always an issue.
“We’re delighted that the borough council has launched a lottery that will provide local good causes with an alternative source of income going forward.”
Gatherwell Ltd will run the lottery and Ben Speare, its managing director, explained: “As an organisation we passionately believe that lotteries should be about making a positive difference to communities, passing as much money as possible on to good causes whilst allowing people to choose where their money goes.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with forward-thinking local authorities such as Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council; local lottery schemes like this one help local voluntary and charity sector organisations to address the funding pressures they face in the current climate.”
The idea to set up a lottery followed a competition held among council employees to come up with innovative ideas to save the council money or generate extra income.
Tickets for the lottery will be on sale from Wednesday, March 28.