NEWS
3 February 2023
UK Government to discuss scrapping £50m charity lottery limit
By Matthew Nicholson

Currently, charities have a £50m ($60m) annual sales ceiling, which is the only type of charity fundraising to have such a limit in place.

The group of 100 charities sent a letter to Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan MP, asking her to get rid of the limit – stating that ‘the limits are depriving them of millions of pounds in desperately needed funding.’

Clara Govier, Managing Director of People’s Postcode Lottery said: “Our players make a huge difference to charities, large and small, right across Britain; however, we are forced to operate in an overly bureaucratic way because of the charity lottery sales limit. The limit has no benefit at all – and, in many cases, restricts the funding which can be given to charities.

“With over 100 national charities calling on the Government to remove the limit, it is time for Ministers to act and remove this excessive red tape immediately. It is harmful and affecting lives and communities. There is no reason to delay.”

Some of the charities involved are the British Red Cross, Barnardo’s, The Royal Voluntary Service, Maggie’s, Cat’s Protection, WWF, The Wildlife Trusts, Lord’s Taverners and Breast Cancer Now.

Meanwhile, Magic Breakfast CEO, Lindsey MacDonald, added: “At Magic Breakfast, we are responding to vastly increased need, yet because of the charity lottery sales limits our funding from charity lotteries cannot increase. The Government must take action to resolve this issue as soon as possible.”