A new Lottery for Powys?

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter

Voluntary and community organisations in the Welshpool area could be set for a cash windfall soon.

Today (Tuesday, November 6) Powys County Council’s (PCC) cabinet will be discussing a move to set up a Local Authority Lottery in the county.

The lottery could replace community grants that are distributed each year by PCC to worthy causes throughout the county.

Council Leader, Cllr Rosemarie Harris, said in a report being put before council: “Through the establishment of a Local Authority Lottery, PCC has the potential to raise additional funds for the third sector.

“While the council can do some promotion, the success of the lottery will be down to the promotion of the lottery by the third sector to the community.

Should the scheme be successful it is anticipated that there will be a reduced need for community grants provided by the council.

“If we decide to launch a Local Authority Lottery we would be the first Welsh Local Authority to do so, demonstrating the commitment of the Cabinet and the wider council to develop innovative approaches to supporting communities within Powys.”

The report goes on to say that appointing an External Lottery Manager (ELM) would be the most cost effective option.

They propose inviting Gatherwell, which runs a lottery at Aylesbury Vale District Council in England, to run the lottery in Powys.

Tickets would be bought online and cost £1 with a maximum jackpot of £25,000 for matching all six numbers.

The report adds: “60 per-cent of all ticket sales would go to good causes, this compares to 28 per-cent in the National Lottery.

“Based on the performance of local authorities that have already launched a lottery, it is estimated that typically between £30,000 to £60,000 can be raised for good causes in Powys on an annual basis.”