A raffle to win a £2.5 million Lake District house has given a £25,000 boost to a Cumbrian charity.
Omaze raffled the house and it was won by a man from Glasgow, who also won £100,000 in cash.
Now the firm has donated £25,000 to The Well Communities charity, which provides crucial support for individuals and families across Cumbria facing severe and complex problems surrounding addiction.
Founded in 2012 by ex-offender David Higham, The Well is a not-for-profit community interest company with hubs in Barrow, Carlisle, Kendal, Morecambe and Lancaster and helps people recover from drug and alcohol addiction.
Since it was set up, it has engaged with over 4,000 people and supported 900 in sustaining their abstinence.
The money donated will help to fund frontline staff and buy a new van.
Ged Pickersgill, business development manager, said: “This donation will make a big difference for us – it can help to fund the staff who play a vital role in the recovery process.
“The client, to volunteering, to staff member programme we operate helps to inspire the belief that recovery from many varied social difficulties is possible. Our network of local volunteer recovery companions and staff members convey the possibility that things can be different and offer living proof of that difference in their own lives.
“The viability and visibility of these individuals positively affects the people who are initiating their recovery. We’ve seen first-hand that recovery from most difficulties can become socially contagious in the life of a community.
“Community responses to community issues is what The Well Communities is all about, we are asset-based community developers in the truest sense of the word.”
“Omaze’s innovative fundraising model is a brilliant way to raise money and awareness for charities – it’s fantastic that they have also contributed towards helping local communities where they have had a presence with house draws.
Simon Fell, MP for Barrow and Furness, said: “I’m delighted that Omaze has agreed to make a donation towards The Well following my recommendation. The Well Communities are a fantastic organisation that shows the very best of our community, helping people recovering from addiction to get back on their feet, and towards stable lives where they can rejoin their families and contribute to society again.
“What Ged, Dave, and the team there do is remarkable and I’m sure that Omaze’s donation will help them continue to support those who need it in Barrow and beyond. Many, many thanks to Omaze for their generosity.”
James Oakes, of Omaze, said: “The work that Ged and everyone at The Well Community is doing is truly inspirational, I had the honour of visiting their Kendal residence and seeing firsthand the impact the programme has on the people it helps. It’s lifesaving work that benefits those suffering with addiction, their families as well as the wider community.
“We’re delighted to have made a contribution to such an important charity, we will continue to help more local causes in the areas where we host our house draws, wherever possible.”
