Camelot Group, operator of the UK’s National Lottery, is launching a ‘£600m impact fund’ to help charities during the COVID-19 crisis.
According to Camelot, the National Lottery will be directing the funds, through its existing stakeholder network, to charities that have been impacted most by the COVID-19 crisis.
Charities working across several sectors, including community support, disabilities, education, heritage, environment and sports stand to benefit from the new funding.
Discussing the new initiative Chair of the National Lottery Forum, Dawn Austwick, said:
“The National Lottery has always supported projects that help people and communities across the UK thrive. And now, the funds available are switching focus to support communities, arts, heritage, sport, education and the environment to mitigate the unprecedented pressure they are coming under as the country rallies to overcome Covid-19.”
In addition to providing extra funding for the National Lottery’s Community Fund, additional money will also be made available to UK Heritage, the Arts Council, Sport England, Sport Wales, Creative Scotland, and Arts Northern Ireland during the crisis.
Commenting on the news, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden, said:
“Since the National Lottery began in 1994, its dedicated players have raised more than £40 billion for good causes across the UK, making an enormous difference to people’s lives and the issues they care about.
“In these uncertain times, lottery funding takes on an even greater significance, as we come together to deliver a national effort. So I am delighted that the National Lottery is channelling its support to help those most in need across these sectors.”
AYO.NEWS says:
It might seem like a lot of money, but considering the UK government is predicting the COVID-19 lockdowns will cause the worst economic disaster for 300 years, we’re sure plenty more will be needed to enable charities and organisations to continue operating.
The gambling industry, particularly in the UK, has made some very significant contributions good causes during the ongoing crisis. Earlier this month we reported that Bet365 CEO and owner Denise Coates had awarded a £10m grant to a National Health Service (NHS) hospital trust, while UK Betting and Gaming Council (UKBGC) members raised £2.6m for the NHS from the Virtual Grand National.
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