New Welsh lottery to donate £5m to good causes over next five years
Melanie May | 7 April 2017 | News
Grassroots community groups are to benefit from Wales’s first weekly, televised lottery, which launches this month.
Loteri Cymru aims to distribute £5 million to good causes over the next five years, handed out by its newly established charitable arm, Hanfod Cymru. At least 20% of the proceeds from ticket sales for the new society lottery will be distributed. Tickets cost £1 and go on sale on Monday 10th April with the first draw taking place on Friday 28th April on S4C, the lottery’s exclusive broadcast partner. The weekly draw has a guaranteed jackpot of £25,000 – the maximum the lottery can offer under society lottery rules.
Loteri Cymru is a Community Interest Company (CIC) chaired by WRU Chairman and former Wales rugby international, Gareth Davies, while Hanfod Cymru is chaired by Deris Williams, former chief executive of Menter Cwm Gwendraeth, with interim CEO Marc Phillips, formerly head of policy at BBC Children in Need.
Hanfod Cymru is offering three funding programmes: one-off Small Grants of up to £10,000, Main Grants of £10,000 to £75,000, which may be phased over up to three years, and Strategic Grants of between £75,000 and £200,000 for ‘projects of particular significance and impact’.
Local charities all over Wales will be invited to apply for support for community projects with educational, social and cultural benefits. Hanfod Cymru is currently accepting applications for its small grants programme online, with its main grants programme set to open for applications later in the year, followed by strategic grants in 2018.
Phillips said:
“Hanfod Cymru is a new source of funding for local community initiatives whose needs are often unmet. This is an exciting opportunity to develop new ideas and essential services to combat disadvantage and encourage creativity.”
Davies said:
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“We are launching Loteri Cymru to create a win-win for the people and communities of Wales, where individuals can afford to try their luck at winning a life-enhancing jackpot and their local communities benefit too.”
“Our research has shown that people really like the idea of a dedicated Welsh lottery that benefits local causes. We want Loteri.Cymru to become a real part of life here, so that, as soon as possible, everyone in Wales will know someone who has won a prize or be aware of a good cause that has benefited.”
About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.