Lawyers and court staff pay £5 a month to join fundraising draw

Money raised from the monthly lottery will go towards paying the wages of staff who help to provide vital counselling services to witnesses, families, and defendants at Bradford’s crown and magistrates’ courts.

The lottery has been organised by the charity’s finance officer, Eileen Weaver, and volunteers Alison Hudson and Heather Mallinson.

Numbers are chosen by participants which will be drawn, FA Cup-style, from a bag every month. There will be cash prizes for the top three numbers drawn out, plus a bigger annual prize.

Barristers, solicitors and court staff are among those being asked to pledge £5 a month for the lottery, which will be used to offset the service’s £60,000 annual running costs.

Mary Carroll, of the Court Chaplaincy Service, said: “We are aiming to raise enough to pay for a chaplain’s salary for the year.

“Ten per cent of the takings from the lottery will go towards prizes. We are hoping to get 100 lottery members at £5 a month.

“The draw will be done in public, on a lunchtime at the Council for Voluntary Services.

“It would cost £60 a year to enter. I know times are hard, but it isn’t megabucks.

“Lots of people like a little flutter, even though they know their chances of winning are minuscule. With our lottery, your chances of winning are significantly higher, though the prizes do not run into millions!”

There are three chaplains, doing ten sessions a week between them, supported by 40 volunteers.

But it is increasingly difficult to source funding for the service.

Mrs Carroll said: “It is crucial that we do this. We need to be able to demonstrate we are raising money locally.

“Our three paid chaplains act as role models, working directly with needy individuals, assisting volunteers with some of the more difficult cases, and providing daily support.”

Anyone who wishes to join the lottery can contact the Chaplaincy Service on (01274) 722422.

e-mail: steve.wright@telegraphandargus.co.uk