New Portsmouth Lottery looks to support local causes
Good causes in Portsmouth are being encouraged to sign up to the benefits of the city’s new community lottery.
60p from every £1.00 ticket purchased by the public will go to the registered charities, voluntary organisations, and other good causes that work within the city.
Players of the new Portsmouth Lottery could win a £25,000 jackpot, plus one of a number of smaller prizes on offer.
The lottery was officially launched today at the Land Rover BAR HQ in Old Portsmouth. Good causes who want to benefit can register now at www.portsmouthlottery.co.uk. The website is also where Portsmouth residents can buy tickets — with tickets available from the 19th September.
More than a dozen good causes have already signed up. The first was sailing charity the 1851 Trust, official charity of Land Rover BAR. The trust’s projects and events manager, Kate Mardel-Ferreira, said: “We were keen to support the lottery not only for the benefits it can bring to us as a charity and our work but also for the benefit it will bring to the city of Portsmouth.”
Gina Perryman, of Portsmouth Deaf Centre, said: “For small charities, getting this money is going to make a lot of difference and will go a long way. We’d encourage other local good causes to sign up.”
Cllr Donna Jones, Leader of the Portsmouth City Council, said: “This is a really, really exciting day because it’s all about charities, the voluntary sector, not-for-profit organisations, and supporting the Portsmouth community.”
Cllr Luke Stubbs, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, encouraged leaders of good causes to sign up and benefit from the lottery, and stressed voluntary groups would lead on any decisions to share out money. He said “It’s going to be your lottery, not the council’s.
“It’s not somehow a back door way of bailing out the council; it’s a way of helping the local community.”
The Portsmouth Lottery’s first draw will take place on 5th November. From each £1 ticket, 60p goes to local good causes. Another 20% goes to the prize fund, and the remainder is used for running costs and VAT.
Players have a 50 to one chance of winning one of the prizes, which will range from the £25,000 jackpot to three extra tickets.
A lottery management company Gatherwell has been appointed to run the scheme — having already launched a similar lottery with Aylesbury Vale District Council.
Ben Spear, Gatherwell’s managing director, said: “We are delighted that Gatherwell has been awarded the opportunity to run the new Portsmouth Lottery. We’re looking forward to helping support Portsmouth’s local causes in partnership with Portsmouth City Council.”
The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Cllr Councillor David Fuller, officially opened the event with Cllr Jones by cutting a lottery ball-shaped cake.