THE Essex Lottery is an online lottery created by Essex County Council to support local causes across the county. More than 300 good causes are now receiving funding from the Essex Lottery and more are invited to join.

Since the Essex Lottery launched in 2017 over £321,888 has been donated to good causes in the county. This is thanks to the thousands of players who buy a weekly £1 ticket – with 60p of every ticket they purchase going to good causes.

Over the last eighteen months, many good causes and organisations have struggled to raise funds to keep them afloat as many of the traditional fundraising routes were unable to go-ahead.

Essex County Council wants to make organisations, charities and good causes aware of this opportunity and potential new income stream they may be able to benefit from.

Cllr Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader of Essex County Council and Cabinet Member for Community, Equality, Partnerships and Performance, said: “For many charities, the last 18 months have proved difficult when it comes to funding-raising.

“However, more residents than ever are making the choice to buy a weekly Essex Lottery ticket and support charities and good causes within Essex. By allowing them to tap into the tremendous goodwill of the people of Essex, such organisations can really benefit and boost their funds.

“As a good cause it’s easy to sign up with no fees or contracts involved, it really is a win-win situation for all involved.”

A common misconception is that you need to be a charity to benefit from the lottery.

If your organisation has a formal constitution and provides community activities or services within Essex, which are of benefit to local residents, then you can join.

Your group could be a charity or a not-for-profit organisation based around local arts, sports clubs, scouts and brownie groups, education and school PTA’s, animal welfare, children and elderly groups. All are welcome.

It’s free for all causes to join, it’s quick and easy to register and once the good cause is approved on the platform you get:

Your own webpage on the Essex Lottery website
Marketing materials and support to help you get started
A steady monthly income for your good cause paid into your bank account
If your supporters buy:

10 tickets a week you will raise £260 a year
25 tickets a week you will raise £650 a year
50 tickets a week you will raise £1,300 a year
Plus if you are registered and approved before the 30 October, you will gain access to the additional bonus offer to promote to potential new supporters – £1,000 in John Lewis vouchers!

Each ticket costs players £1 a week and you receive 50p from every ticket your supporters buy via your dedicated page on the Essex Lottery website and a further 10p from the ticket sale is donated to other good causes in Essex. The draw takes place every Saturday at 8 pm.

One of the organisations which has benefitted from the Essex Lottery is the East Anglian Railway Museum (EARM) based in Chappel and last week one of their supporters won £2,000 in the Essex Lottery 4th September draw.

A spokesperson for EARM said: “We were ‘stoked’ to have one of our supporters win £2K! The Essex Lottery is a constant and necessary part of our revenue stream now and remember we get 50p in every £1 ticket bought. It’s a ‘win-win’ situation on both sides.”

Prize draws take place every Saturday night when a 6-digit winning combination is picked. Prizes will be given to players with tickets that match the first or last 2-6 numbers from the winning combination. Match all 6 and you win the £25,000 JACKPOT.
Every week there are prizes to be won of free tickets and cash prizes of £25, £250, £2,000 and £25,000 – to players whose numbers match the winning number combination.

To play the Essex Lottery, or apply for Essex Lottery funding visit: essex.lottery.co.uk or call the Essex Lottery support team on 0300 302 32 32.