Good causes in the Vale benefit from White Horse Community Lottery
Since its first draw in September the White Horse Community Lottery has already started to raise money for good causes across the Vale, enabling them to continue and expand their work with vulnerable residents and communities in the district.
The Vale of White Horse District Council’s free community lottery launched in June and so far, 50 good causes have registered to be a part of it. The council set up the lottery as a fun and creative way for voluntary and community groups to raise much needed funding.
It is projected that the lottery will be raising just over £30,000 in the next 12 months for the organisations that have registered to be a part of the lottery and future organisations that wish to get involved.
One organisation that has joined the lottery is the Abingdon branch of Riding for the Disabled. Through its expertise with horses the charity provides therapy, fitness and development opportunities for adults and children with disabilities, whose ages range from 2 to 70.
Ann Barlow Chair of Riding for the Disabled Group, Abingdon said: “We’re delighted to be part of the White Horse Community Lottery. The numbers of people we are helping are growing steadily and because anyone can join the lottery, it’s great publicity for us. This in turn means that those that have not heard of us before may decide to support us in other ways.
“The lottery also gives us a steady income for which we are very grateful. Riding is the most amazing form of physiotherapy and helps concentration, balance, confidence, and core strength enormously. We support 90 disabled riders every week at our centre just outside Southmoor.”
Cllr Emily Smith, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council went to meet the volunteers and some of the riders recently to find out more about how they will be able to use the funding they raise from the lottery scheme.
Cllr Emily Smith said: “I loved my visit to Riding for the Disabled. Ann and her team of volunteers are so dedicated to providing opportunities for children and adults to develop skills and confidence, and everyone was having a really fun time. It is wonderful to be able to support good causes like this across the district through the White Horse Community Lottery.
“Many charitable organisations haven’t been able to fundraise in the way they would have before the pandemic, so to know that they can now get regular financial support through the lottery is great. I’d encourage other good causes in the district to sign up too, it’s so easy and free to do.”
Tickets cost just £1 and players can choose which local good cause(s) they want to support when they purchase tickets. Prizes range from free prize draw entries to a £25,000 jackpot. The draw takes place every Saturday.
There are more details about the lottery and how organisations can register at whitehorselottery.co.uk
