THE new community lottery led by West Devon Borough Council and South Hams District Council, which could raise up to £100,000 per year for local good causes, has launched.

The SeaMoor Lotto, which is shared across the two council areas in order to reach the widest possible audience and participating good causes, launched on May 29 at the borough council offices in Tavistock with a second launch event in South Hams the following day.

Nearly 70 individuals from a variety of charities and good causes from across the area were present at the launch.

Also on hand to pledge their support were TV personality and scientist, Dr Adam Hart Davis, together with local author Clare Helen Welsh. Clare and also Michael Morpurgo both donated books for the good causes to auction off.

During the two days, 15 charities signed up, with many more taking the information back to their committees, boards and partners for approval.

The first charity to sign up was Dartmoor Zoo, swiftly followed by the New Tavistock Youth Café, Ash Rescue Centre and South Dartmoor Community Energy.

Cllr Philip Sanders, leader of West Devon Borough Council, said: ‘Our launch days have proved to be very successful and have shown us that there is public support for this important and exciting venture. I am looking forward to seeing this initiative support our communities and voluntary organisations over the coming years.’

Ben Speare, from Gatherwell, the organisation who will run the lottery on behalf of the councils said: ‘I believe we offer a fantastic platform, which gives the good causes and charities all of the material that they need to be able to sell tickets and raise money for themselves.

‘It was lovely to meet so many people from South Hams and West Devon and to see them sign-up, and start on a great journey. It costs the charities nothing to join — the only commitment we ask of them is that they agree to promote the website, where their supporters can buy tickets.’

Tickets will go on sale on June 27 and the first draw of the SeaMoor Lotto will be on August 4.  Supporters will be able to go online and buy tickets at a cost of £1 per week. Each ticket consists of six numbers and as with many other lotteries, the more numbers you match the bigger the prize.  You can buy tickets for multiple or single causes. 50% of your ticket price goes to the charity you are supporting, 10% goes to the council’s good cause fund, for them to distribute to local good causes not signed up to the lottery, and 20% goes to Gatherwell to cover running costs.

It is never too late to sign up, even after the first draw, but the sooner a charity signs up the sooner they can start raising money. To sign up charities, community groups and good causes can visit seamoorlotto.co.uk and click on ‘Are you a good cause’ for more information and to join.