Local Welsh charities have been called on to bid for a share of £5m worth of funding which will be distributed in grants by the charitable arm of a new, televised lottery due to start later in April.
Hanford Cymru, the charitable arm of new televised lottery Loteri Cymru, was launched at an event in Cardiff today, where the organisation’s chair outlined the grant-making body’s plans to distribute £5m over the next five years to Welsh community groups and grassroots charities.
According to a statement from the lottery, Loteri Cymru will offer a weekly jackpot of £25,000, in line with rules surrounding society lottery rules and tickets will cost £1. The tickets will go on sale on 10 April and the first draw will be televised on 28 April.
Initial Small Grants programme ‘worth up to £10,000’
Hanford Cymru said that initially it would be offering grants of “up to £10,000” as part of its “Small Grants programme” but that larger grants of up to £75,000 and beyond for certain project would be made available “later in the year”.
Marc Phillips, who is Hanford Cymru’s interm chief executive, said that a minimum of 20 per cent worth of Loteri Cymru ticket sale proceeds “will be channelled to good causes in Wales” through the grantmaking body.
He said the body would look to give away around £1m a year, over the next five years and would support Welsh charities which are “traditionally under-supported” by many UK-wide trusts and foundations.
“Hanfod Cymru will be dedicated to supporting initiatives that make a tangible difference in local communities the length and breadth of Wales, many of which can struggle to find funding to support their activities,” said Phillips.
Phillips said that grants would focus on charities and community groups in Wales which have an interest in “educational, social and cultural benefits”.
‘People really like the idea of a dedicated Welsh lottery’
The chair of Loteri Cymru said that people in Wales “really like the idea of a dedicated Welsh lottery that benefits local causes” and said he wanted to lottery to become an “embedded part of Welsh life”.
Gareth Davis, chair of Loteri Cymru, said: “The whole basis of Loteri Cymru is to create a win-win for the people and places 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 an embedded part of Welsh life, where, as soon as possible, everyone in Wales knows someone who has won a prize or a good cause that has benefited.”
The Lotteries Council welcomed the launch of Loteri Cymru, and said it had called on government to “update the regulations governing society lotteries to further reduce regulatory costs”.
In Fundraising Magazine
Jo Bucci, chair of The Lotteries Council, said: “Lotteries are an excellent way of raising funds for charities in a fun way and last year was the most successful year ever for funds to good causes from lotteries, so it’s clear that there is growing public support for this type of fundraising. They also help charities engage with players which can often lead to a deeper relationship.
“The Lotteries Council represents hundreds of society lotteries across the country and brings them together to share best practice and learn from each other. We are also calling on the UK government to update the regulations governing society lotteries to further reduce regulatory costs and thus contribute even more to good causes.”
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