In this issue

• New Role at Sterling
• Random Number Generator
• Third Sector Magazine
• Zöe's Place Baby Hospice

New Role at Sterling

We are pleased to welcome Shirley Grosvenor to our team at Sterling. Shirley has taken up the new role as Lottery Administration Manager which has recently been created to work alongside Pam Gaydon our Office Manager. She will be looking after the organisation and administration of Sterling's data processing, and administration services. Shirley will also be overseeing the supervision of our team of data processing and administration staff as well as looking after several lotteries on a day to day basis. This will enable extra time for Pam to develop our software and systems therefore giving the best service possible to our new and existing clients.  

Random Number Generator

As a number of you will already know we have recently had our Random Number Generator (RNG) tested in accordance with the Gambling Commissions Remote Technical Standards. We are pleased to announce that we have now been certified by CAST (The Centre for Advanced Software Testing), one of the Gambling Commissions approved test houses following a variety of industry standard statistical tests. These were designed to show that the RNG was fair and compliant.

We can make the test report available to anyone when you are subjected to a visit by a Gambling Commission Compliance Manager.

Although we are not compelled to have our systems checked by one of the officially approved test houses we felt we should go that one step further to give our clients the full assurance that we have complete confidence in our software.  

Third Sector Magazine

I recently read an article in the Third Sector Magazine and I thought it made interesting reading. Please see below:

Recession means lotteries and prize draws 'offer strong appeal' 10th February 2009

Response rates to direct mail campaigns offering cash prize draws have increased by 50 per cent in the past 12 months, according to figures from fundraising firm CSDM.

It said the proportion of exisitng supporters that responded to monthly raffle or lottery mailings increased from 10 per cent in January 2008 to 15 per cent January 2009. Chris Stoddard, Chief Executive of CSDM, said cash prizes had a strong appeal at the moment. "The credit crunch means people are attracted by cash prizes," he said "That incentive is having quite an impact."      

Let Sterling take the headache out of your Superdraw. We can arrange the full inbound/outbound service of your Annual draw while you watch the pounds roll in towards your Charity's Annual targets. We have been involved in many Superdraws over the past couple of years and we have noticed that the uptake of monies raised is on the increase. Contact sfinan@sterlinglotteries.co.uk for further information. 

Zöe's Place Baby Hospice

We would like to welcome Zöe's Place Baby Hospice who had their first Lottery Draw on 9th January 2009. 

We wish them all the best for the future and every success in raising funds for the Hospice.