The Birmingham Chamber of Commerce is leading the way by adopting TLC Lottery’s Play as you Earn scheme; showing other businesses in the area how to boost their CSR credentials and support the local community in one go.

Play as You Earn allows Chamber employees to play the charity lottery through their salaries and provide an important income stream to local good causes:  Acorns Children’s Hospice, Birmingham St. Mary’s Hospice and Focus Birmingham;  whilst having the chance to win the £1,000 jackpot - drawn each Friday - as well as 163 other cash prizes.

Gemma Fiddler, Personnel Manager at Birmingham Chamber:  “We are attracted to the scheme because everyone likes to do their bit and £1 a week, even in these challenging times, won’t drastically affect your standard of living. Plus we are all going to be very excited at work when we have our first winner.”

 As part of a major local community initiative, the Birmingham Mail Charity Trust has linked with TLC Lottery to raise funds for its own causes as well as TLC beneficiaries.

TLC has had a long association with the Birmingham Mail having published the winning numbers every week since the charity lottery was set up in 1997.

Colin Barrett, Lottery Manager said: “It is wonderful to be associated with such a high profile charitable trust as together we will be a stronger force for generating extra income for good causes throughout Birmingham.

Anyone who would like to play the lottery on behalf of the Birmingham Mail Charity Trust, should contact Gordon Creese on 0121 234 5639 or email:gordon.creese@birminghammail.net

Throughout the year we like to get out and about around the Midlands to spread the word about TLC Lottery and how it supports good causes like Acorns Children’s Hospice.  At the invitation of some generous hosts, TLC will be popping up at retail, leisure and charitable venues throughout 2009.

Take a look at our schedule below and come along and say hello.

15 & 16 August - Wyevale Garden Centre - Shenstone

29 & 30 August - Kings Heath Garden Show

21 - 25 September - Marks & Spencer - Merry Hill

25 & 26 September - Sainsburys - Castle Vale

1 & 2 October - ASDA - Tipton

3 & 4 October - Sainsburys - Kidderminster

6 - 10 October - Ankerside Shopping Cente - Tamworth

10 & 11 October - Wheat & Sons Garden Centre - Little Aston

15 October - Sainsburys - Kings Heath

23 & 24 October - Wyevale Garden Centre - Stratford Upon Avon

12 & 13 November - Dobbies Garden World

12 November - Sainsburys - Kings Heath

19 & 20 November - Notcutts Garden Centre - Shirley

30 November - The Mall - Sutton Coldfield

There was a little confusion at charity lottery TLC last week over the winner of the £1,000 weekly jackpot when Lottery Manager Colin Barrett found himself congratulating one of his most dedicated volunteers, Margaret Massey.

Margaret who has collected lottery entries door-to-door since 1997 quickly recovered from the good news to explain that it was her daughter Angie Simmons who was the actual winner having inherited the lucky number from her father after he passed away. Margaret explained: “I could tell that Colin was a bit puzzled to hear my voice but what had happened was we had assigned the number to Angie’s name but kept my husband’s contact details. Still, it was wonderful to be able to tell my daughter she had won when she came round to visit and she is planning to take her family on a well-earned holiday.”

Colin Barrett
TLC Lottery Manager