City lottery to be run by charity

THE Portsmouth Lottery will transfer from council ownership to a charity.

As of June 1, the lottery will be run by voluntary network the Hive, and become known as Portsmouth Community Lottery.

Father Bob White, Hive chairman, said: ‘We are very much looking forward to managing the Portsmouth Community Lottery and we want to reassure the supporters of the lottery and the good causes that benefit from it, that apart from a new look, nothing else will change. Everything will remain as it is, there is no need to do anything.

‘We’d like to encourage everyone to get behind the Portsmouth Community Lottery.

‘Whether you are a good cause that is looking for grant funding or a way to increase monthly income – or someone who wants to support your favourite good cause in the city by buying a lottery ticket; you can all help local groups and organisations thrive by taking part in the Portsmouth Community Lottery.’

In 2016, Portsmouth City Council launched the Portsmouth Lottery on the principle of raising money within the community for the community. At the time, it was the second lottery in the UK to be launched by a local authority.

The Hive is a partnership of voluntary and community groups, the council and health care services and Portsmouth NHS Clinical Commissioning Group.

Tickets for the lottery cost £1 per week and 60p from every ticket bought goes to causes in the city. Visit portsmouthlottery.co.uk.