Epping Forest Community Lottery- a successful growth story

Epping Forest Community Lottery was launched in June 2024 and to date has raised over

£20,000! They have more than doubled their tickets during a time when

what we know to be difficult for people’s ability to afford luxuries and discretionary

spending. Epping Forest have worked to increase their tickets by over 111% from June 2024

to January 2026.

Launched June 2024 

Tickets 381- 805 111% increase 

Causes 68

Players 308

How was this success achieved?

• Engaged project lead - Vanessa
• Engaged non project lead - Natasha
• Engaged comms - Steve
• Regular monthly meetings with Cheryl
• Face to face coaching sessions with causes
• Spotlights of causes both on social media and newsletters
• RAF campaign
• 6 monthly “whats on” magazine
• Local radio station
• Bin tags
• Merchandise- pens/hoodies/ t- shirts/tote bags
• Conversations with other engaged lotteries 
• Attended coffee with sessions
• CVS adding lottery to their newsletter
• Active Essex
• Leisure centre banners
• Update of how the lottery is doing comms to players and cause admins
• Football pitch banners
• 6 monthly prize- local restaurant who had leaflets out also
• Roundabout banners
• Good relationship with portfolio holder- helps with CF allocation/grants
• Regular allocation of grants/CF
• Press releases
• Celebration of winners
• Regular comms about the SD

1st birthday in- person event

• New and existing causes invited

• 3x causes spoke at the event 

• Council leaders attended

• 7 grants of £200 allocated out to causes selling 20 tickets consistently

• Announced further grant scheme of £300 for groups to apply for at the event

• Raffle prize “white water rafting experience”

• Did a “bingo ball” style game for attendees to win free tickets

• Soup Kitchen good cause attended the event in September 2025, signed up to the lottery and are now at 130 tickets. A member also won the white water rafting plus has seen 3x £25 winners donate their winnings to them

What has worked well?

• An engaged lead and comms who are really on board

• Strong relationships across the “lottery” team 

• Strong relationship with GW

• Open to ideas and trying different things 

• No real push backs or barriers from the council or leaders

• Regular meetings with Cheryl to check in on progress/share best practice

• Social media and newsletters

• 1st birthday in- person event

• Speaking to other successful/engaged lotteries

• Celebration of wins- including their jackpot

• Coaching of causes

• Extra prize for both 6 months and 1st birthday

• Promoting the lottery everywhere they can!

What's next?

To hit 1000 tickets by their 2nd birthday (planning another in- person event)

Starting with an in- person visit with the soup kitchen and white water rafting prize PR