Since its launch, the Redditch Community Lottery (RCL) has raised over £20,000 for the local community and has had more than 760 winning tickets.

RCL will be celebrating its two-year anniversary on Tuesday 18th January and since it was set up it has supported 34 good causes, with local groups signing up as part of a fun and effective way to raise funds for their valued services in the community.

It’s a win-win situation, with RCL players having received a multitude of prizes, including free tickets, £25 cash, £250 cash, monthly fruit and veg home deliveries for a year, Fitbit and Google Nest mini bundles, £100 worth of B&Q vouchers, Etsy gift vouchers/£100 to their good cause, as well as £1,000 vouchers for Curry’s PC World and for John Lewis. One lucky player even bagged a family Forest Staycation!

Players can win weekly cash prizes up to the £25,000 jackpot for just £1 per ticket. 50% of each £1 ticket bought goes directly to the cause of your choice with a further 10% going to the community fund, which is used to support other local good causes.

Local VCS groups who have joined up to the lottery have also appreciated the extra support it’s given them during the uncertainty of the pandemic.

Karen Martin, from Inspire Community Training, said: “As an extremely small, voluntary sector organisation, the lottery fund has really helped us. There have been times, especially over COVID that we have struggled to pay a bill and then I’ve checked our bank, expecting the worst, only to find that a payment has come in from the lottery and covered it!”

Council Leader, Cllr Matt Dormer, said: “I am proud that the Redditch Community Lottery has been able to help so many Good Causes this year, and with no real end in sight for the pandemic, it’s good to know that this extra support has been invaluable to those who have signed up.

“Lotteries like ours run up and down the country and make tens of thousands of pounds for the VCS sector. Over the next year I would love to see more groups signing up to be a part of our lottery which is completely free and easy to join and offers additional support with marketing.

“We could all do with some good news right now, so why not buy a ticket, support your local Good Cause and be in with a chance of winning £25k?”

Judith Willis, Head of Community and Housing Services said: “If you’re a good cause considering joining but feel a bit unsure, then don’t worry. The Lottery is completely free to join and is the perfect way for groups to top up funds in a safe and virtual way.

“As a Good Cause, not only do you benefit from receiving 50% of the profits from ticket sales from your page, but you also receive a host of marketing materials and support as well as your own lottery web page. And for players, there’s no physical tickets so you can support a local Good Cause and be in with a chance of winning a prize from the comfort and safety of your own home.”

If you’re interested in being a part of the Lottery Community, you can sign up as a good cause or purchase tickets as a player here