The North Somerset Community Lottery recently celebrated a £250 winner when Bernie, Volunteer Manager at VANS, met with winner Vicki Black to present her with her prize. Vicki supports the Clevedon Pier and Heritage Trust.
Bernie also met with Karen Brixey, Marketing, Events and Fundraising Manager for the pier, who explained just how important the lottery is in helping to keep this much-loved local landmark running.
The costs of operating the pier are significant, with around £160,000 needed each year before the lights are even switched on. More than 100 volunteers help keep the pier operational, and Vicki is now one of them.
As one of the lottery’s Good Causes, Clevedon Pier receives around £3,000 each year. This valuable funding contributes towards the day-to-day running costs of the pier.
Karen said: “The volunteers are as much a part of the pier as the waves and the tide.”
The North Somerset Community Lottery is just one of the many ways the pier raises the funds it needs to continue operating. Clevedon Pier is an iconic local landmark where generations of memories have been made. People visit for all sorts of reasons – from marriage proposals and remembering loved ones, to enjoying a special day out with children.
Vicki’s volunteering journey
Vicki’s story is a wonderful example of how getting involved in your local community can lead to unexpected rewards.
After responding to a recent volunteering campaign, Vicki signed up and began volunteering at the pier. She describes it as a “magical place” and says she is thoroughly enjoying her experience.
When asked why she wanted to volunteer, Vicki said she wanted to do more for her community and have a role where she could meet and talk to people. She particularly enjoys volunteering at the Toll House.
Once she became a volunteer, Vicki decided to support the pier even further by purchasing a North Somerset Community Lottery ticket.
Her luck was soon in.
In the first draw after purchasing her ticket, Vicki won three free tickets. The following week, one of those free tickets turned out to be a £250 winner!
Vicki knows that continuous fundraising is essential to the future of the pier, and by purchasing a lottery ticket she is helping to support a cause that means so much to her.
Making memories
So, how will Vicki spend her £250 prize?
She says she would like to use it for an experience that will give her and her husband memories to look back on. This could possibly include a hotel stay and dinner – a lovely way to turn her unexpected win into a special memory.
Vicki’s story shows that supporting a local good cause can make a real difference – and so If you’d like to support a local good cause like Vicki, while also having the chance to win a great prize, visit www.vansweb.org.uk for more information, it can bring a little extra luck your way too!
