A Watford Community Lottery has been officially launched giving players the chance to win up to £25,000.
Local charities gathered at West Herts College yesterday (Tuesday, May 16) to celebrate the launch, with mayor Peter Taylor hailing it "an excellent way for the community to come together and support local charities".
He also described the lottery as a "win-win situation", with players being given the chance to win cash prizes whilst supporting local causes.
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The draw will take place every Saturday, having been organised by lottery provider Gatherwell on behalf of Watford Borough Council.
Tickets will cost £1 each, with players given a one-in-50 chance of winning a prize.
Each ticket features six numbers between one and nine. If more than two numbers are matched, then a prize will be won.
Tickets go on sale on Tuesday, June 6, with an initial draw on Wednesday, June 24.
Cash prizes of £25, £250 and £1,000 cash can be won, along with three extra lottery tickets. A £25,000 jackpot will be won if players match all six numbers in the draw.
Players have a one-in-1,000,000 chance of winning the jackpot.
Meanwhile, players have a one-in-56 chance of winning the three extra lottery tickets prize.
Those who take part in the initiative's first draw will also be given the chance to win a £250 Watford gift voucher.
Over 20 charities and causes signed up to benefit from the lottery at Tuesday's event.
Sixty per cent of its ticket sales will be provided to the causes, with players able to choose which charities to support with their ticket.
Players can also choose to support the Watford Community Fund, which will distribute funds to local charities.
One of the charities to sign up was Cathartic CIC, a creative arts organisation offering programmes to support health and wellbeing.
Its founders and directors, Maria Todesco and Nicky Day, said: "We are delighted to be a part of the Watford Community Lottery, and grateful for the opportunity to benefit from this fantastic initiative.
"The funds raised through the lottery will help us to continue our important work in the town and make a real difference to the lives of those we support."
Home-Start Watford, an organisation that supports parents and families in need, are also among those to have joined the scheme.
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Charities who wish to sign up to benefit from the lottery, can do so by visiting the initiative's website: www.watfordcommunitylottery.co.uk, where more information can also be found.
There is no limit to the number of charities and causes that can join and no deadline.
Each charity will be given its own page on the Watford Community Lottery website, which they can direct their supporters to.
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