Why a Local Lottery?
Horsforth is a community that looks after its own. In the spring of 2023, a group of local residents, shopkeepers, and volunteers came together with a simple proposition: rather than watching prize money flow out of the area through a national draw, why not keep it circulating among the businesses and people who make this corner of north Leeds what it is? The Horsforth Local Lottery was founded on that idea, and it has grown steadily ever since.
Every ticket sold, every prize claimed, and every pound raised for local causes stays in Horsforth. There are no distant corporate beneficiaries, no national overhead, and no profits extracted from the community. The lottery is run by volunteers, administered transparently, and governed by a dedicated subcommittee of Horsforth Town Team C.I.C., a community interest company with no commercial profit motive, registered in England and Wales.
How It Works
Tickets cost one pound each and are available from participating retailers across Horsforth. Draws are held monthly, and winners are announced on this website. There is no need to watch a broadcast or scratch a card. The results appear online, and winners receive their prizes in Horsforth Pounds, the local currency at the heart of the scheme, shortly after each draw.
Five prizes are awarded each month. The value of each prize reflects the total number of tickets sold in that draw. As the lottery grows, the prizes grow with it. The more people take part, the more their neighbours stand to win, and the more money returns to the businesses and causes that serve the community every day.
The Horsforth Pound (H£)
The Horsforth Pound is not simply a prize. It is a statement of intent. All winnings are paid exclusively in H£ notes, a local currency accepted at every participating business in Horsforth. There is no cash alternative, and that is deliberate. Every pound won stays in the local economy rather than leaving the area to be spent elsewhere.
H£ notes work like spending vouchers. Winners can use them across as many different businesses as they choose, spending as many or as few notes as they like in each visit. The one condition is that no change in sterling may be given, so each note must be spent in full in a single transaction. Winnings must be used within three months of the draw date, though extensions can be requested in writing. When a participating business accumulates H£ notes, they contact the lottery team to arrange collection, and the equivalent value in sterling is transferred directly to the business bank account.
20% to Local Causes
The Horsforth Local Lottery commits one fifth of every draw to local charities, community groups, and good causes based in or serving Horsforth. This allocation is fixed in the lottery rules and is not subject to commercial pressures or discretion. Whether a draw is large or small, local causes always receive their share.
Recipients have included community sports clubs, youth organisations, neighbourhood improvement groups, and social welfare charities. Decisions about distribution are made by the Horsforth Town Team subcommittee, with transparency and accountability at every stage. A full record of distributions is maintained and is available to any member of the public who wishes to review it.
About Horsforth Town Team
The lottery is promoted and managed by Horsforth Town Team C.I.C. (Company No. 14868791, registered in England and Wales), a community interest company formed by local residents and business owners who work to improve the area for everyone who lives, works, and shops here. The Town Team organises events, advocates for local improvements, and supports initiatives that strengthen the identity and vitality of Horsforth throughout the year.
The Horsforth Local Lottery is fully licensed by Leeds City Council under the Gambling Act 2005. All operations, prize distributions, and financial records are managed by a dedicated subcommittee and are subject to regular review. The lottery operates with a single purpose: to keep money in Horsforth and return it to the people and places that make this community what it is.
Get Involved
There are several ways to support the lottery and the community it serves. Buying a ticket is the simplest. Tickets are available at participating retailers across Horsforth, and the locations of all current outlets are listed on the Retailers page of this website. Every ticket bought puts money back into the local prize fund and the causes the lottery supports.
Business owners who would like to sell tickets, accept Horsforth Pounds, or both are warmly invited to apply. Becoming a participating retailer puts your business on the lottery map, brings in customers who are actively spending locally, and connects you to a growing network of Horsforth traders. Residents who want to volunteer with the Town Team are equally welcome. For all enquiries, including retailer applications and volunteering, contact the team at hello@horsforthlocallottery.co.uk.
