Community lottery may close as ticket sales fall

A report from East Staffordshire Borough Council says ticket sales for the community lottery were falling

A community lottery scheme which has raised thousands for charity could be closed down after its third year due to declining ticket sales.

East Staffordshire Borough Council launched the initiative in July 2023 as a way of raising money for organisations in the area.

People who enter have a chance to win prizes or the weekly jackpot of £25,000, with 60% of the money raised through ticket sales going to support buyers' chosen causes.

But a report to the authority's cabinet has proposed to end the scheme in July following a sharp fall in revenue.

In its first year, 23,478 tickets were sold, generating £14,154 for local groups, but sales dropped to 19,058 in the second year, raising £11,156.

Sixty causes are registered with the lottery, from which people can choose one to support when they buy a ticket, but 29 have not raised any funds.

'Problematic'

Groups that have benefited from the scheme include The Mellow Dramatics and Burton Musical Theatre Company, both of which raised more than £1,000 in the lottery's second year.

The report, set to go before the council's cabinet at a meeting on Monday, said the lottery would not be able to sustain itself and would become a cost to the authority if the decline in sales continues.

"It is clear that whilst good causes wish to find alternative fundraising mechanisms, engaging with their supporters to encourage the purchase of tickets which generates their lottery revenue has been problematic," it said.

"Given the current trajectory indicates continued decreases in revenue from the lottery in future years, it is recommended that the lottery closes at the end of its third year."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.