It’s a wrap for Penrith lottery’s 5th birthday

The Pride in Penrith Lottery team is celebrating this month after receiving a birthday present that doesn’t need unwrapping.

Ast Signs, one of the businesses that helped set up the community lottery in 2010, have done an eye-catching vehicle wrap on board member Maggie Cormode’s car, which will help promote the organisation and hopefully attract new members and grant applications. 

The car will take pride of place at the lottery’s stand at Penrith Show on 25 July, where some special birthday celebrations are planned.

“We’re hosting a Bubblekickz five-a-side football tournament, kindly part-sponsored by the Penrith Show, which will see some of our grant recipients and supporters battling it out for bubble supremacy!” said Rob Udale, who chairs the lottery board.

“Our next £500 special draw is also timed for the show, and will give one lucky member something to celebrate.”

Since Ast Signs and eight other business partners helped get the lottery started five years ago, it has given out more than £60,000 in grants to local sports clubs, hobby groups, village halls, projects and events – all funded by the generosity of its members, who pay £2 a week to take part in the weekly draws.

“Our jackpot goes up to £5,000 and handing over cheques to jackpot winners is always a highlight for me as chair, because it rewards members for making it possible for us to support the community in Penrith and the wider area,” Rob said.

“Five years on, we’re really grateful to businesses like Ast Signs that continue to support us. They’ve also recently produced stickers for the lottery’s business members to display in their windows, which again helps us keep our profile high.”

Mark Aston, managing director at Ast Signs, said the Penrith-based company has always had strong links with its local community, despite having a customer base that spans the UK.

“We serve some of the biggest companies in the country but we still feel strongly that we are a local company and we enjoy being part of community life in our area,” Mark said. “Sponsoring some of the Pride in Penrith Lottery’s work gives us a way to help all the community or charitable organisations that the lottery supports.”

Households across Penrith have received an invitation in the post to join the lottery, as part of a campaign to attract new members during its fifth anniversary year.

“We need new members just to maintain the level of grants we currently give out to local good causes, but with a lot more people taking part in our draws we could do so much more,” Rob said.

Anyone interested in joining the lottery or applying for a grant can find out more at www.prideinpenrith.co.uk or call 07518 011644.