BH Coastal Lottery awarded emergency funds to local good causes who were in need during Covid-19, having raised funds to support organisations in their local response to the pandemic.
BH Coastal Lottery was created in 2019 by Bournemouth Council and is now operated by BCP Council to support local community projects. The lottery operates on the principle of raising money within the community for the community, empowering local good causes to raise money in a fun and effective way. In a time of shrinking budgets and increased community need, BH Coastal Lottery enables people to support the causes they care most about, helping good causes to connect with their supporters.
Supporters can purchase tickets online from the BH Coastal Lottery website. The lottery Jackpot is £25,000 and other prizes range from £25.00 – £2,000 and 3 free tickets for the next draw. There are also regular ‘bolt on’ prizes to be won, which have included short breaks in the luxury beach lodges. To date no one has won the jackpot but some 4,000 supporters have won other prizes, including several £2,000 prizes.
The success of BH Coastal Lottery has resulted in over £38,000 being raised and made available for small local good causes across Bournemouth to support in the local response efforts. The Lottery Small Grant Scheme was launched to support the small, volunteer led groups making a huge difference locally. This was swiftly followed by the Emergency Small Grants Scheme to support voluntary organisations responding to the needs of vulnerable people during the Covid-19 pandemic. These good causes who have worked specifically on projects to provide direct help to the local community during the coronavirus crisis were urged to apply for a small grant of up to £2,500 each.
Fifteen emergency grants were made available to assist groups to help local residents, particularly those who are vulnerable, by providing:
- additional lockdown garden maintenance for veterans who are rehabilitating into society
- contribution towards home learning programme to vulnerable / not in school young people.
- free alternative childcare spaces to 22 children from most vulnerable / high risk families
- essential supplies to vulnerable women in Bournemouth and Boscombe
- support for Townsend residents who are older, vulnerable or self-isolating who have reached a financial / food crisis.
- providing food boxes for families to cook a healthy meal whilst ‘locked down’.
Councillor Vikki Slade, Leader of BCP Council said:
“The Covid-19 crisis has affected greatly affected our community, particularly the vulnerable. I am very proud of the efforts of our local community groups, and hope that the grants they have been awarded have helped in their continued efforts to help to improve the welfare of our local residents who are in need.”
Anneliese Fay, Charity Manager, West Howe Community Enterprises said:
‘West Howe Community Enterprises would like to thank the BH Coastal Lottery Grant for supporting our charity. We can continue to support some of our most vulnerable and socially isolated residents during the Covid 19 pandemic. The funding is making a significant difference to those with mental health conditions, those who are suffering from loneliness and helping people feel connected to the West Howe community.”
Ramesh Lal, Chair, Music Lovers Bollywood said:
“The BH Coastal Grant has made an historical difference to the Asian Community in Bournemouth by having the first ever Asian radio show by connecting them to music, Covid-19 updates, help and support help”
BH Coastal Lottery tickets can be purchased by visiting the website https://www.bhcoastallottery.co.uk/ and the draw takes place every Saturday. Since April 2020, each ticket sale will now benefit local charities and good causes across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Further calls to help good causes will be made once the fund is large enough again.
