Voluntary and community groups in Mendip are set to benefit from a new lottery which has been established by Mendip District Council and which was officially launched yesterday (Monday 20 February) by leading local businessman, Roger Saul.
The Shape Mendip Lottery gives players the chance to scoop a £25,000 jackpot prize while also helping community organisations to raise funds themselves.
Roger Saul, the founder of the world-famous Mulberry fashion brand and Kilver Court designer outlet shopping village, launched the lottery on Monday at an event at Kilver Court, attended by many of the community groups who have already joined the lottery as a good cause.
Mendip is one of the first local authorities in the country to run a lottery and the first in the South West.
The Shape Mendip Lottery is now live. It is an online lottery and draws will take place every Saturday. For each £1 ticket bought, 60% of the ticket price goes to support community groups throughout the district, though there will also be an option for players to support a specific organisation, and 20% goes to prizes. No money will go to the council.
Players of the Shape Mendip Lottery choose six numbers. To win the jackpot, the ticket must match both the numbers and the sequence they are drawn in. Players can win smaller prizes if their ticket matches the sequence of the first or last two, three, four or five numbers drawn.
The first draw will take place at 8pm on Saturday 25 March. Players can buy tickets online by visiting the Shape Mendip lottery website – www.shapemendiplottery.co.uk
Any local community groups and organisations who would like to have the chance to raise funds through the lottery can join by visiting www.shapemendiplottery.co.uk
Cllr Philip Ham, Portfolio Holder for Transformation, said: “The Shape Mendip Lottery is a new and exciting way for people to help raise funds for local community and voluntary groups and the vital work they do within Mendip.
“I hope that people across Mendip and beyond will buy tickets and support the valuable work of community and voluntary groups in the district, while also being in with a chance of scooping the massive £25,000 jackpot prize.
“I would like to thank Roger Saul for his support and for helping to launch this exciting new initiative.”
Roger Saul said: ““It was a pleasure to be asked to support Mendip District Council with the launch of the Shape Mendip Lottery. By establishing this lottery, the council has taken a very innovative and entrepreneurial approach to helping local community and voluntary groups generate much needed funding.
“Local voluntary groups in Mendip are responsible for carrying out vital work across the district and I hope these groups seize the fundraising opportunities the new lottery presents.”
Mendip has had its licence for the lottery approved by the Gambling Commission and has appointed Gatherwell, an External Lottery Manager, to run the lottery.
To find out more about how the Shape Mendip Lottery works go to www.shapemendiplottery.co.uk