North Devon Council is launching a new fundraising initiative which will support local good causes. 

The North Devon Community Lottery  is a chance for residents and visitors alike to support local charities and good causes, while also getting the chance to win cash prizes.

The council has appointed lottery management company Gatherwell to run the scheme, with the company having already launched similar lotteries for councils elsewhere, including in North Somerset and Teignbridge.

When the lottery launches in early 2024, people will be able to purchase tickets online, and support the good cause of their choice. Tickets will cost £1 a week. The draw will be weekly with a jackpot of £25,000, other prizes being £2,000, £250 and £25.

Good causes will soon be invited to register to raise funds with North Devon Community Lottery, with 50% from every ticket sold going directly to the local causes chosen by the lottery players. A further 10% from every ticket will go into a central fund that will be distributed to fund schemes in North Devon that directly benefit the public, with the remaining 40% being put towards the prizes, and operating costs.

Leader of North Devon Council, Councillor Ian Roome, says: "It is a pleasure to launch the new North Devon Community Lottery, which is a fantastic opportunity for residents to support local good causes. We hope it will open up a valuable funding stream for our amazing local voluntary and community organisations.

"Users can choose who they want to support, which means residents can be sure that their money is going directly to causes they care about. It's a fun and easy way to support our community, and you could be in with a chance of winning some amazing cash prizes at the same time."

Regular updates on the progress of the North Devon Community Lottery will be posted on the North Devon Council website and Facebook page.