A CHARITY has been given a £200 donation after being selected as beneficiaries of Andover Rugby Club’s new community lottery scheme.

Andover Young Carers were presented with the cheque at the club’s Academy Awards Ceremony earlier this month after being selected as the first recipients of the rugby club’s ‘In for a Pound’ community lottery charity pot.

The club set up the new council-licensed scheme in October last year as a way of raising money for the team and the community.

For every £1 ticket sold the club will donate 10p to a chosen charity, which they intend to change every six months.

The remaining 90 per cent of the money is split between a prize pot for lottery participants and a pot for the club to invest in providing sporting opportunities for the town.

Andover Rugby Club’s club captain, Marc Wilding, who masterminded the lottery scheme, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to help such a great local charity.

“When I had the idea for the lottery, I not only wanted to raise much needed funds for the rugby club but also for worthy causes throughout Andover.

“We pride ourselves with being at the heart of the community and this is further evidence of that.

“Hopefully, with word of mouth and more support, we’ll be able to raise more for our next beneficiaries, Andover Support and Crisis Centre.”

Since the club started the lottery they have had one winner of £1600 and their current pot sits at £740.

The draw takes place every Thursday at 8pm with results populated on the ARFC website www.andoverrfc.com.

Results are also published on the Community Lottery page on Facebook, www.facebook.com/andoverrfccommunitylottery.

For info visit: andoverrfc.com.