The organisers of the Frome Community Lottery have announced a £6,000 boost for local good causes.
The funds have been raised by the local lottery over the last year and distributed between 11 grant applicants.
The grants have been given to Frome Millennium Green Trust, Frome Festival, Young People Frome, Home in Frome, Harry’s Hydro, Frome Community Education, Black Swan Arts, Frome Tennis Club, Frome Museum, Frome Memorial Theatre and 3rd Frome Guides.
This latest round of grants brings the amount of money distributed to local projects by the Frome Community Lottery, since its launch in 2000, to nearly £72,000. A total of 60 different groups and organisations have received funding.
Michael Rhodes, chair of the lottery trustees said, “This is a fantastic achievement by those who play the lottery. Their participation in this unique lottery has made a real difference by developing new and improving existing community facilities.”
The funding has gone to a wide range of good causes in Frome and the local villages. These have been in the areas of sport, arts, education, community venues, leisure, health, music, theatres, youth, social care and many others.
The Frome Community Lottery was launched in October 2000 to raise money to fund capital projects that involve improving existing or developing new community facilities in the Frome area. For just £1 the lottery offers four chances a week to win a prize of up to £10,000.
Since the launch there have been over 16,000 cash prize winners, with a total of over £67,000 having been paid out in prizes to lucky winners.
The Trust who run the Frome lottery has recently been boosted by the appointment of three new trustees. The group is now planning to look at ways of increasing the number of players so that the lottery can raise at least £10,000 a year in the future.
Michael Rhodes said, “We have received really good support from the people of the Frome area, many of whom have won prizes on many different occasions. However we believe there are many more who would like to do something positive for their community whilst being in with a chance of winning a big cash prize.”
Those wishing to play the Frome Community Lottery can pick up an entry form from the information centre at Frome Library or request one by phoning Paul Honey on 01373 467135 or Michael Rhodes on 01373 473761.
The entry is by standing order. Prizes are paid out automatically, sent by post to the winner’s address. Players can if they wish also check their numbers in the Frome Times where they are published in each issue.
Pictured: Local groups collect their Frome Community Lottery grants.