OKEHAMPTON and District Scouts will be the first organisation to benefit from the EX20 Lottery, it has been confirmed this week.
A special draw takes place today (Thursday) at Okehampton Show although the first official weekly draw will begin on September 5.
Okehampton mayor Christine Marsh, who has spearheaded the project, is thrilled with the response so far and people's enthusiasm for a town lottery which will raise money for community schemes.
A total of 35 per cent will go into prize money, 42 and a half per cent into the community fund and 10 per cent to the Devon Air Ambulance.
The lottery, tickets for which cost £1, is being administered by the Broadclyst Fundraising Society in Exeter who run the Devon Air Ambulance Lottery.
Money raised from the weekly draw will go into the bank to earn interest and the main focus for the fund will be equipment for the new Okehampton hospital and better sporting and leisure facilities in the town.
Individual charities will benefit from the eight bonus draws per year and the decision on what worthy causes should get the money will lie with the six members of the lottery committee.
People from Okehampton and the surrounding villages have the option of subscribing to the lottery on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis or purchase tickets from an agent on a week-to-week basis — Sanders the newsagents, the White Hart Hotel and Heather's Florist in Okehampton have all agreed to sell tickets as well as Bridestowe Post Office.
Mrs Marsh is hoping more post offices and shops will act as agents as the lottery takes off.
She said the scouting organisation had been considered a very worthy recipient of the money because it worked hard to raised funds and had suffered two failed lottery bids.
'The committee felt these were dedicated people who are working hard to get a new scout hut and they should be supported,' she said.
'This is just one of the community groups we can help with the EX20 lottery.'
The draw at the show will be made at 5pm.