The UK National Lottery makes sure as much money as possible goes towards philanthropic causes. It is so important to them that with each and every ticket sold a large sum goes to a variety of special projects in various categories: Arts, Education, Environment, Health, Heritage, Sports, and Charity/Voluntary.
For your information less than 1% of the total revenue from the sale of lottery tickets is kept as profit after tax and 4% goes for operating costs. Believe it or not it has amounted to a grand amount of £35 billion spread over 450,000 projects. If you’re interested in making a contribution yourself, please feel free to play the world’s top lotteries online at theLotter.
Charity/Voluntary Programs
Charitable and voluntary projects are the lifeblood of local communities. Among other things they help homeless people find housing and work; provide therapy for disabled children; build confidence in young people; provide lifelines for victims of ill health or abuse; and work to stop our old people feeling lonely and ignored.
Beach Wheelchairs
Beach wheelchairs is a charity that loans specially designed wheelchairs to people with physical disabilities. These wheelchairs mean that people can get onto the sand at the beach and be included in activities with their family and friends. This is something that is nearly impossible in a standard wheelchair. The project is organized and run by a great, dedicated group of volunteers who, in a recent survey by the group, spoke of how much they enjoy being part of the project.
Education Programs
Whether young or old, we can all learn new skills. The National Lottery invests millions of pounds in interesting, innovative projects designed to help people do that. They want to inspire everyone with projects to get older people online; train people to help find them work; or provide fun and stimulation for disabled children.
Whizz-Kidz
The project aims to empower wheelchair users through activities and training. The services include youth groups, wheelchair skills training, work placements and residential breaks. Parent-free zones are also offered to wheelchair users to help them develop independence. Every young person who joins a club is called an ambassador. The National Lottery grant was used to fund venues and equipment to set up six new clubs offering arts and crafts, cooking, games, and karaoke, as well as outings to festivals and accessible sailing.
Takin’ Charge
This program helps young people with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) prepare for adulthood now that advances in treatment mean they have a longer life expectancy. Takin’ Charge helps people with DMD between the ages of 14 and 19 to become as aspirational and independent as possible and to overcome low expectations and poor planning due to existing perceptions of the condition. Takin’ Charge provides support to lead the best quality of adult life possible.
Sports
From building new sports venues, to inspiring future generations to participate in sports, lottery funding is helping to grow grassroots sport across the UK with new facilities and coaching that are helping communities to stay healthy, fit, and active.
The Wheelchair Football Association
The Wheelchair Football Association provides opportunities for people with a high level of physical impairment to participate in the sport of Powerchair Football. Powerchair Football creates a great social opportunity for the players and their families as they experience the highs and lows of participating in the nation’s favourite sport. It brings strangers together, many of whom have similar stories and life experiences, creating friendships and bonds which last a lifetime. Lottery funding provided the Wheelchair Football Association with funding to deliver a three year project to grow the grass roots structure of the sport across England.
The Deaf-Friendly Swimming Project
The Deaf-Friendly Swimming Project is a three year programme which aims to break down barriers preventing deaf young people from taking part in swimming. The National Deaf Children’s Society launched the programme in July, 2014 as part of its mission to create a world without barriers for the UK’s 45,000 deaf children and their families. Since the programme launched, over 1000 swimming teachers and coaches have undergone deaf-awareness training online and more than 300 swimming professionals have attended face-to-face training in deaf awareness.
Philanthropy at its Best
Did you know that the National Lottery players were one of the biggest funders of London 2012? You contributed to help build the Olympic Park, support British athletes, allow young people to be part of the national Cultural Olympiad and fund hundreds of community sports clubs across the UK. The money raised by players is also ensuring that the Olympic and Paralympic legacy continues to make a life changing difference.
