Mental health charity benefitting from community lottery
Published: 1 March 2024
An organisation that helps to improve men’s mental health is using money raised from a community lottery scheme to help raise awareness of what they do.
Alright Mate? CIC is an award-winning arts organisation who organise creative and social events in and around Exeter to help normalise conversations about male mental health and reduce the risk of suicide.
The organisation signed up to Exeter Community Lottery last October. It is now one of around 100 good causes in the city that are now receiving much needed funds from ticket sales.
When people play the weekly Lottery they have a chance to choose which good cause to support. Fifty pence in every pound then goes to that cause, with 10p going towards the Exeter Central Fund. The rest of the money pays for prizes and the administration of the lottery. At the moment good causes are set to benefit from around £48,000 in total over the first 12 months.
Players of the lottery can also choose to nominate the money to a central fund which then gets distributed among good causes that are signed up.
Cally Hayes, Director of Alright Mate?, said: “As a young organisation, we have been working towards becoming more sustainable and exploring all funding streams so that we are less reliant on grant funding.
“We have seen from our fundraising events that they provide an introduction for people to find out about Alright Mate? and get involved.”
Alright Mate? put on social events and quiz nights in pubs and other venues where men can talk, share stories, challenges and forge new connections.
Cally added: “The Community Lottery provides additional funds so that we can continue to run more events in Exeter. We are really appreciative of everyone who supports Alright Mate? by buying a lottery ticket.
“The money will enable us to run more events in local pubs using wet plate photography and cyanotype printing to offer a space where men can talk, share stories, challenges and forge new connections.”
Cllr Martin Pearce, Lead Councillor with responsibility for Communities, said: “Alright Mate? are doing a great job for men’s mental health in Exeter.
“They are yet another example of a community group that is making a difference to people’s lives in the city.
“Playing the Exeter Community Lottery, means people are choosing to actively support charities and community groups like Alright Mate? so that they can continue to thrive and offer vital services for the people of the city.”
It’s not too late for other community groups and good causes to sign up for Exeter Community Lottery and start benefitting from ticket sales.
Players have a one in 50 chance of winning a prize. Draws take place every Saturday with ticket holders in with a chance of scooping the top prize of £25,000.
Tickets cost just £1 (via direct debit or debit card) with the following prizes up for grabs:
- Match six balls and win £25,000
- Match five balls and win £2,000
- Match four balls and win £250
- Match three balls and win £25
- Match two balls and win three tickets
- Draws take place every Saturday at 8pm with winners notified by email. Players can choose which cause to support when playing the Exeter Community Lottery.
To buy tickets for the Exeter Community Lottery or to register a good cause, visit exetercommunitylottery.co.uk