Calls for New Gambling Minister to Scrap Lottery Fundraising Limits

Peterborough, England (March 8, 2023) — Charity leaders and People’s Postcode Lottery are calling for Stuart Andrew MP, Minister with responsibility for lotteries policy at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), to take action to tackle the negative impact of the fundraising limits imposed on charity lotteries.

Mr Andrew takes on the new policy area in addition to his existing role as Minister for Civil Society.

Charity Lotteries currently have a £50 million per year limit on their fundraising, which caps their fundraising efforts, reduces the funds available to charities, and results in additional bureaucracy and red tape. The limits mean many charities, such as the Royal Voluntary Service, Magic Breakfast, and Girlguiding, have their funding from charity lotteries capped.

Earlier this year over 100 charities wrote to DCMS calling on Ministers to scrap the fundraising limits.

Commenting Clara Govier, Managing Director of People’s Postcode Lottery said:

“We welcome Mr Andrew to his new role and also the fact that policy for charities and charity lotteries now both sit with the same Minister.

“The charity lottery sales limits are causing increasing difficulties for charity lottery fundraising at a time when charities need these vital funds to respond to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, and it is time for the Government to take action, and ideally scrap these outdated limits on our fundraising.”

Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service, said:

“At Royal Voluntary Service we certainly cannot afford for the current situation to continue. In this increasingly challenging economic climate, we face a tough fundraising environment at the same time as unprecedented demand for our services. It makes no sense that this very valuable source of funding is being limited in this way. I once again urge the Government to take action to resolve this unnecessary constraint as the evidence base to support the removal of these limits is compelling.

“The former Minister promised to take action on this issue, so I hope his successor picks this up as a priority.”

Lindsey MacDonald, Chief Executive of Magic Breakfast said:

“At Magic Breakfast we are responding to vastly increased need, yet because of the charity lottery fundraising limits our funding from charity lotteries cannot increase to help meet it. The Government must take action to resolve this issue as soon as possible.”

Angela Salt, Chief Executive of Girlguiding, added:

“I was encouraged by the engagement of the previous minister and hope that the new minister engages with charities and charity lottery operators as soon as possible. Girlguiding is one of the charities affected so are acutely aware of the impact of these limits on charity lottery fundraising.”

SOURCE: Charity Today.