THE countdown is underway to the launch of a new, weekly Teignbridge Lottery for Communities which will provide additional funding for charitable and not for profit community groups and benefit local good causes.

£1 tickets will go on sale at the beginning of November with the first draw taking place in December.

Only groups that deliver services in Teignbridge will be able to benefit from funds raised by the lottery.

As many charity and community groups supporting local people through the cost-of-living crisis are themselves struggling with rising costs, the lottery will provide another way for those who can afford to buy lottery tickets to help raise new funding for them.

Charity and community groups who would like to get involved are invited to a virtual launch of the new lottery on September 28 – visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/teignbridge-lottery-for-communities-the-launch-event-tickets-411135636757 – organised by Teignbridge District Council, Teignbridge CVS and lottery operating specialists Gatherwell to find out how they can receive a share of the funds raised.

Under the new Teignbridge Lottery for Communities, 50 per cent of the funds raised will be shared among good causes and community groups, 10 per cent will go into a small grants fund distributed by the council and 20 per cent on prizes. The remainder pays for the running costs and VAT.

Tickets for the new lottery will be sold online and players will be asked to nominate which good causes they want to support, guaranteeing that 50p from each ticket sold will go to that particular charity or community group, and a further 10p to the small grants fund which will be used to provide grants to specific bids for things like sports equipment, a new roof, or a project to support the local community or tackle food poverty.

A lottery website will list all the good causes taking part and include information on what they are raising funds for and how the money will be spent.

Executive Member for Communities, Cllr Martin Wrigley, said: ‘Teignbridge Lottery for Communities is an exciting new way to support good causes in the district and will ensure that money raised goes to local groups and charities.

‘This is the first Lottery to be run by Teignbridge which will enable residents to support local groups and have the chance to win some prizes.’

Sue Wroe, of Teignbridge CVS, urged charities and community groups to join the virtual launch on September 28: ‘We think this initiative by the council could make a real difference and with the commitment that 60 per cent of money raised will go to good causes in Teignbridge it is an opportunity for groups to get involved.’

Having launched similar lotteries in other parts of the country, leading lottery management company Gatherwell has been appointed to operate Teignbridge Lottery for Communities.

Gatherwell’s general manager, Nigel Atkinson, said: ‘We are delighted that Gatherwell has been awarded the opportunity to deliver the Teignbridge Lottery for Communities and we look forward to raising funds for the many amazing voluntary and community groups which deliver real benefits to people in Teignbridge.’

l To find out more about the launch visit visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/teignbridge-lottery-for-communities-the-launch-event-tickets-411135636757