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UK Government urged to speed up charity lottery reforms
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EMBARGO 00.01 Sunday 25 March 2018
UK Govt urged to speed up charity lottery reforms.
Today, [Sunday], three years to the day since a Parliamentary report backed raising the fundraising limits imposed on charity lotteries, the UK Government is facing a call to speed up it’s process to reform the law in this area.
The Lotteries Council, The Institute of Fundraising and the Hospice Lotteries Association have now written a joint letter to the Government on the matter.
The three organisations, who all gave evidence to the original House of Commons, Culture, Media and Sport Committee inquiry, which reported on 25th March 2015, are concerned at the length of time it is taking the Government to raise the fundraising limits and provide a final response to the committee report.
They feel it is of particular concern because the fundraising limits are now impacting on an increasing number of charity lotteries - restricting their ability to raise funds for good causes.
Earlier this week, [Thursday] Sport and Civil Society Minister, Tracey Crouch MP, told the House of Commons that she would “be publishing a consultation paper shortly”.
Commenting Jo Bucci, the Chair of The Lotteries Council, said:
“Three years on from the Committee report we urge the Government to finally bring forward plans to raise these fundraising limits.
“Whilst we appreciate that the Government needs to give due consideration to any changes to the law it's progress on this issue has been slow. It is especially unfortunate given that every month that passes these fundraising restrictions are impacting on the money that goes to good causes.”
Peter Lewis, Chief Executive of the Institute of Fundraising, added:
“The changes on society lotteries that we proposed to Government and Parliament three years ago would have a direct impact on helping charities raise more money to deliver more for their beneficiaries and causes. The current limits are starting to bite and impact on the effectiveness and efficiency of society lotteries and we urge the Government to move forward with the consultation as soon as possible.”
David Griffiths, Vice Chairman of the Hospice Lotteries Association, said:
“Charity lotteries raise vital funds which make a huge difference to the lives of millions of people. However an increasing number of charities - including hospices - are affected by the continuing delay on resolving this problem. We hope Ministers take action as soon as possible.”
The three organisations are calling for the Government to:
ENDS.
CONTACT: Malcolm Fleming; 0777 500 6245, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
NOTES: 1. The Hansard extract of Tracey Crouch MP’s comments in the House of Commons this week can be seen here: https://goo.gl/rb3fDf
Society lotteries go from strength to strength
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Lotteries Council reports a record breaking year for membership
The Lotteries Council, which represents Britain’s diverse society lottery sector, has reported its best ever year on record for membership – seeing an increase of 12% throughout 2017.
Over the year 44 new charities and society lottery operators joined The Lotteries Council. The trade body, which champions the needs of society lotteries now represents over 400 operators or supporters of prize-led fundraising through lotteries or competitions, spanning a variety of sectors across Great Britain.
These latest membership figures come ahead of The Lotteries Council’s annual, two-day conference which will see member organisations gather in Warwick on 18 and 19 April.
New members included organisations supporting ageing and older people, sports, care and community initiatives, as well as a number of local authorities – with membership increasing in this area from five to 22.
This positive trend in growing membership follows recent figures published by the Gambling Commission, which revealed that over £255million was raised for good causes by Britain’s society lotteries; a rise of over £43million. The percentage of society lottery income going to charities and good causes also increased over this period from 43% to 43.6%.
Jo Bucci, chair of The Lotteries Council, said: “2017 proved to be a particularly strong year for our members and the wider society lottery sector. The Lotteries Council recorded our biggest ever increase in membership, which was up 12% year-on-year. At the same time published figures also showed that society lotteries raised an impressive £255million for good causes – up £43million on the previous year – a huge fundraising success story
“These latest figures demonstrate the real value of society lotteries and their valuable efforts to raise funds for good causes. It’s fantastic to see the growth in our membership and the sector more widely, with member organisations and their players contributing to creating lasting change at a local, regional and national level.
“Our upcoming annual conference will provide an opportunity to celebrate these achievements, share best practice and prepare our members for the challenges ahead as they seek to raise even more for charities and good causes. “
The Lotteries Council Annual Conference & Networking Event 2018 takes place in Warwick on 18 and 19 April. For more information, sponsorship opportunities and delegate bookings, please visit: www.lotteriescouncil.org.uk/events/annual-conference
For more information relating to this article please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 07775 006 245
If you require more information relating to conference please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Lotteries Council welcome National Audit Office report on National Lottery
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Report backs up view that Society Lotteries complement the National Lottery
The Lotteries Council has welcomed today’s report by the National Audit Office on funding for good causes – in particular its positive comments on the relationship between Society Lotteries and the National Lottery.
Today’s report states that “The Department is not aware of any evidence of significant substitution of sales between the Lottery and society lotteries to date.”
This statement backs up the findings of numerous other reports in recent years, including those by the Centre for Economic and Business Research, NERA Economic Consulting, nfp Synergy and the 2015 report into Society Lotteries by the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
It follows on from a Westminster Hall debate on Society Lotteries yesterday [Tuesday], which showed growing cross-party support for the Lotteries Council proposals to update the law on Society Lotteries and raise the current limits on fundraising.
Speaking from today’s Lotteries Council Board meeting in Birmingham, Lotteries Council Chair, Jo Bucci, said:
“Today’s National Audit Office report includes a welcome statement on Society Lotteries and adds to the growing body of evidence showing that charity fundraising by Society Lotteries complements the fundraising by the National Lottery.
“It also comes on the back of yesterday’s Parliamentary debate on Society Lotteries which showed growing cross-party support for the Lotteries Council’s proposals to update the law on Society Lotteries.
“The Lotteries Council has over 400 member organisations representing a healthy and vibrant sector which puts in a huge amount of work every year to raise funds for charities – raising a record £255 million in the last year. Simple changes to the law on Society Lotteries will help raise even more for good causes, and we look forward to Ministers bringing forward proposals in the New Year.”
If you have any questions regarding the above then please contact:
Malcolm Fleming, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , 07775 006 245
Future of society lotteries, the Health Lottery and limits on prize values
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House of Commons debate
In Westminster Hall on Tuesday 12th December, Sir Henry Bellingham, Conservative MP for North West Norfolk secured an hour and a half debate on: 'Future of society lotteries, the Health Lottery and limits on prize values'.
To watch the full debate, please follow this link; http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/a4dc044f-2da4-4e78-95bc-ece6b00f2121
Society Lotteries deliver a record £255 million to Good Causes
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SOCIETY LOTTERIES DELIVER A RECORD £255 MILLION TO GOOD CAUSES
PERCENTAGE TO GOOD CAUSES INCREASES TO 43.6%
Jo Bucci, Chair of The Lotteries Council, which represents Britain’s vibrant society lottery sector, has welcomed a record year of fundraising by society lotteries.
Britain’s 491 society lotteries have raised a record £255.56 million for good causes over the year, up from £212.12 million the previous year. The percentage of society lottery income going to good causes has also increased to 43.6%, up from last year’s 43%.
The new figures come from the latest Gambling Commission statistics and relate to the year to March 2017.
Welcoming the figures Jo Bucci said that simple changes to the law governing society lotteries would help Lotteries Council members raise even more for good causes over the years ahead.
Commenting Lotteries Council Chair, Jo Bucci, said:
“These new statistics highlight a fantastic year of fundraising by the country’s society lotteries. We are delighted that society lotteries are raising even more for charities large and small. A £43.4 million increase over the year reflects lots of hard work by our member organisations, but our main thanks goes to the players of society lotteries who are making an increasingly valuable contribution.
“We are also very pleased to see that society lotteries charitable contribution has increased as well, with an impressive 43.6% of income now going to good causes.
“Support from the players of society lotteries fund a wide range of causes including hospices, air ambulances, sports clubs, health charities, animal welfare and support for the elderly to name just a few.
“We hope to raise even more this year, however more and more of the lotteries we represent are seeing their fundraising capped by the sales limits in gambling law. These limits are increasingly out of date and The Lotteries Council urge the UK Government to bring forward plans to raise the limits and help us contribute even more to good causes.”
Ends.
Contact: Malcolm Fleming, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , 07775 006 245.
Notes:
1. The new Gambling Commission statistics can be found here: http://live-gamblecom.cloud.contensis.com/PDF/survey-data/Gambling-industry-statistics.pdf
2. The Lotteries Council proposes the following changes to gambling law to help society lotteries generate even more for good causes:
• An increase in the permissible amount of ticket sales in a single draw to increase from the current £4 million to £10 million.
• An increase in the annual income cap on a society lottery from the current £10 million to £100 million.
• An increase in prize values from £25,000 to £100,000.
• The aggregation of the present 20% statutory contribution to good causes over three years for new society lotteries.