Numbers Up for Penrith Lottery as Closure Announced

After 16 years raising funds for local organisations and good causes the Penrith Lottery committee have this week notified regular players via an email that the committee has "made the difficult decision to close."

The volunteer-led lottery noticed players the Penrith lottery will close at the end of May with their final draw taking place on Saturday 30th May.

The Penrith Lottery said: "Since launching in 2010, this volunteer-led initiative has raised nearly £200,000 for local good causes, supporting a wide range of charities and community groups.

"In recent years, participation has gradually declined as fundraising has evolved, and the Lottery committee has made the difficult decision to close, recognising it has reached the practical limits of what can be sustained”.

"This decision has been made with real pride in everything the lottery - and its supporters - has achieved."

In the email to regular players the Penrith Lottery concluded the announcement thanking regular players saying “After more than a decade of fundraising success, we want to say a sincere thank you for everything you've achieved through the lottery”.

In 2023 Penrith Town council attempted to take over the lottery but scrapped its takeover move after the Penrith Lottery committee wrote to the town council stating that they would not proceed with the option for the Penrith Lottery to come under the governance of the Town Council.

The end of Penrith Lottery will mean that local 'not for profit' Eden FM Radio Ltd' run by volunteers, now rebranded as Cumbrian Local Radio, are the only local monthly licensed lottery draw that could potentially fill this gap for those still wanting to help local charities, societies, clubs, not for profit organisations and Eden based businesses.

The community radio station who have held a small lottery licence since 2012 have told Penrith.Town news they will be making an announcement about their lottery later this month.

The final draw of Penrith Lottery will take place on Saturday 30th May.

For more information on how to take part in the final draw, visit the Penrith Lottery website at https://www.penrithlottery.com/.