Just over a year since the Newark and Sherwood Community Lottery launched, 62 good causes have signed up with all receiving a share of more than £33,100 in funds in the first year.

The Newark and Sherwood Community Lottery launched in 2021 and since then has seen 1,062 tickets sold per week with a number of good causes generating over £100 each month.

Launched by Newark and Sherwood District Council, the weekly lottery raises precious funds for good causes in the district.

Each ticket is £1 and players have a 50-to-one chance of winning one of the prizes, which range from the jackpot to free tickets.

As well as 60p going to good causes, 20% goes to the prize fund, and the rest is for running costs and VAT.

In November 2021 members of the District Councils’ Homes and Communities Committee also approved a proposal to introduce a ‘lottery within a lottery’, whereby funds generated for the District Council were distributed to registered good causes through a half yearly raffle style draw. It was agreed that one-off awards of £500 would be gifted to successful groups, with the amount of awards available at each draw dependant on the total income generated into the central fund.

For the first lottery draw, which was presided over by the Leader of the Council, Councillor David Lloyd, and live streamed on 7 April 2022 saw a total of £3,000 shared with six good causes which each received £500. The first six winners were Balderton Cricket Club, Kickstart Youth Football League, Ollerton Jubilee Hall, Ollerton and Boughton Scouts and Guides, Newark Coproduction – Melody Café and Nottinghamshire Mind.

An update on the Community Lottery was brought to the District Council’s Policy and Performance Improvement Committee Meeting this week. Tim Wendels, Portfolio Holder for Homes and Health at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “It’s rewarding to hear that lots of good causes in the district are taking advantage of the community lottery and are seeing an influx of funds thanks to the scheme.

“We had a target of getting 50 good causes on board in the first year and we’ve more than achieved that with the target being reached in the first three months.

“I encourage any good cause not signed up to do so as soon as possible. Not only will you get a steady income each month but you’ll also be in with a chance of getting even more in our community raffle every six months!”

The lottery has been registered for a licence through the Gambling Commission and is also registered with the Lotteries Council, which will provide advocacy and guidance on operating the lottery.

To buy tickets or register as a good cause go to the Newark and Sherwood Community Lottery homepage here: https://www.newarkandsherwoodlottery.co.uk/