The People’s Postcode Lottery has announced it will increase the amount of money awarded to charity to 27.5 per cent of the price of each lottery ticket.

The figure marks a 2.5 per cent increase - from 50p to 55p of each £2 ticket.

Some £72.2m has been given to more than 1,500 charities and grass root organisations in the UK and abroad since the start of the People’s Post Code Lottery (PPL) in 2008.

Last year it raised over £21.8m for good causes.

A spokeswoman for PPL told Civil Society News it hoped to increase that figure to £38m in 2015.

Clara Govier, head of charities for PPL said: “Our players have already raised a fantastic amount for charities and good causes and should be delighted that they will now be able to raise even more.

“New communities will be able to benefit from funds on a local, national and international level. Whether it’s £600 for a new community park, or £3.6m for Maggie’s, the impact of our players support is incredible and in many cases, life-changing.”

Recipients of PPL funding in 2015 include St John’s Ambulance, Bath Rugby Foundation, the Wales Air Ambulance, Glasgow East Women’s Aid and Portsmouth Sail Training Trust.