South Oxfordshire District Council’s community lottery has raised more than £38,000 to support local good causes in its first 18 months.
Residents have supported the council’s SO Charitable Lottery by buying nearly 65,000 tickets, these in turn raise money for community groups working in the district.
The lottery started on 27 March last year and since then, £26,572 has been paid out from proceeds to the 70 local charities and voluntary groups which have registered as beneficiaries. A further £12,363 has been raised for SO Charitable Community Fund, supporting the district’s voluntary sector.
Draws take place weekly with a possible £25,000 jackpot. So far 1304 ticket holders have won a range of prizes including three extra tickets to £2,000 cash. The total given away as prize money is £8,450.
For every £1 lottery ticket sold, 60p goes to good causes and the local community. Players can decide which good cause they want to support when they buy their tickets or can choose for their money to go into the general Community Fund.
The remaining 40p from ticket sales goes to the prize fund and running costs.
Cllr Maggie Filipova-Rivers, South Oxfordshire District Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “The SO Charitable lottery is an easy way for local organisations to raise regular contributions which could help with day-to-day running costs or go towards a bigger project.
“For every £1 lottery ticket bought, 60p goes towards supporting good causes. This dependable regular income helps these local community groups plan and progress, in turn benefitting the wider community.”
Iain Atkin, manager of Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary in Stadhampton, said: “We've been lucky enough to have raised more than £500 this year just by being part of the lottery. It’s also great to support other local charities as well as our own. Thanks to all our players for supporting us.”
Tickets and further information about the lottery, including applications from organisations wishing to become beneficiaries of the lottery are available on the SO Charitable Lottery website .
From every £1 ticket sold:
• 50p goes to registered good causes and 10p into the general SO Charitable Community Fund, which will be used to support the voluntary sector in South Oxfordshire
• 20p to the prize fund
• 17p to the external lottery management operator Gatherwell Ltd
• 3p to VAT
