19 Jul Local councillors to vote on proposed Basildon lottery
A Basildon lottery that could land a lucky winner £25,000 and will raise funds for local good causes could soon be launched if Basildon councillors agree proposals next week.
A report on a Basildon borough lottery scheme is going to the council’s Policy and Resources committee on Thursday 25 July. The report recommends that councillors approve the appointment of an external lottery manager – an independent body registered with the Gambling Commission – to support the set-up, management and operation of a Basildon borough lottery.
Under the proposed scheme, 60p of each £1 ticket would go to good causes in the borough with 20p going to the prize fund and 20p covering the costs of running the scheme. On purchasing their tickets online, players would be able to choose from a list of charities registered with the scheme, who would then get 45p from every ticket, with 15p going to the Mayor’s Charity Appeal Trust. Alternatively players could give all 60p in each £1 to the Mayor’s Charity Appeal Trust, which each year raises funds for a charity or charities nominated by the Mayor of Basildon.
“Community groups and charities caring for some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable residents in our communities have felt the full brunt of 10 years of severe cuts to local councils’ funding,” said Council Leader Cllr Gavin Callaghan. “I won’t stand by while they, and the people they support, suffer. We have to come up with new ways to help them.
“A local lottery has proved to be a really effective way to raise money in support good causes in many other parts of the country, and I think it deserves our support.”
The Basildon lottery is the idea of Mayor of Basildon, Cllr David Burton-Simpson: “A lot of people already work very hard to raise money for the Mayor’s Charity Appeal by organising and supporting a range of events,” the Mayor said. “This is an extra way we can give a real boost to these efforts and establish a regular income stream for groups who do really great work for our communities, but survive on a shoestring.”
