Worcester Lottery backed by city council

Work will continue to develop the scheme after it was enthusiastically backed by councillors charged with generating money in the city.

The Worcester Lottery would be designed to be played by local people for the benefit of local charities.

Those taking part sign up for the lottery and then pick the charity they would like benefit from their money.

Councillor Pat Agar, who chairs the city council’s income generation subcommittee, said: “Broadly, I feel most supportive of this.

“There is a potential to help our local charities who have suffered quite badly in recent years with austerity and things like that.”

A local lottery would cost the city council around £3,000 to set up and then around another £3,000 a year to run.

Shane Flynn, corporate director for finance and resources at the city council, explained the scheme to the committee.

He said: “What is important is this lottery would not be like the National Lottery when you go into a shop and buy a ticket.

“There will be a series of charities and local schemes and whatever you pay goes to those charities' activities.

Vice chairman Cllr Roger Knight said he “fully supported the idea” and reiterated the scheme would benefit local charities rather than being a traditional lottery.

Cllr Knight said: “It is not a means of gambling but a means of donating to charity.

A criteria to determine what charities and organisations could take part would still need to be set out.

Cllr Jo Hodges thought the lottery was a “very good idea” but was concerned that schools could deflect responsibility for running the school by using lottery money in their budgets.

“It’s worth noting that we’re not generating income for the city council but providing a means for other organisations to raise money,” she said.

“I know schools are in dire straits at the moment but is this money that is going to be used for the general running of the school?

“There will be quite a lot of work in defining what causes money can be used for.”