CHARITIES in Basildon that receive funding from a community lottery say the decision to scrap it over concerns around the effects of gambling could impact their services.

Team Avery Essex and Basildon Pride have said some of the services they provide are directly funded by the lottery and they will now have to look for other sources of income.

Basildon Borough Council denied the decision to scrap the Basildon Borough Community Lottery would affect the charities, and said they would receive funding from community grants.

It also said it will work with Gatherwell Ltd, which runs the lottery, to ensure any outstanding funds raised are distributed to the registered good causes.

More than £14,000 has been raised for 31 local good causes, but the council voted to terminate its agreement with Gatherwell Ltd last week, closing the lottery, citing the risk of financial hardship and addiction caused by gambling.

Campaigner and founder of Team Avery Essex Aston Avery said lottery funding supported some of his charity's activities, such as providing autism awareness training.

It also helps fund the Pamper Project, which offers the choice of a luxury spa day in Rayleigh or a hamper of treats to those who have worked hard for the community.

He told the LDRS: "It's sad really that they're scrapping it because it brings us additional funding for the community things that we do, like for the pamper hamper side of it, and also the autism training that we could be doing down the line as well.

"We'll have to find additional funding through other means and methods, it'll probably be that way."

David Burton-Sampson, chair of Basildon Pride and former Mayor of Basildon, told the LDRS other organisations were willing to take over the lottery, but the council decided to shut it down anyway.

He said: "For local grassroots charities and organisations the lottery has become a vital income stream and this callous move to close it down now leaves a gap in funding that will need to be filled.

"The scheme was costing very little for the council to run but had the potential with more focus to be a significant income provider for groups.

"Existing organisations now need to find a different source of income or will have to make decisions as to what element of their offering they need to cut back on."

Leader of the council Andrew Baggott (Con, Burstead) said in a statement: "The decision to discontinue the lottery will not affect the good causes benefiting from it, we will continue to support these in addition to the causes already being supported by the council.

"We want to protect our residents and those most vulnerable in our community from gambling and mitigate the risk of addiction and financial hardship.

"While this decision may be disappointing to those who gamble responsibly, it is important we take the necessary steps to ensure that our communities and local good causes are properly supported with consistent and appropriate levels of funding."

In addition to the 31 registered good causes, the lottery also contributes to the Mayor's Charity Appeal Trust.

Basildon Pride has signed up for the Rainbow Lottery and is encouraging supporters to change over to this or similar schemes like the Essex Lottery.

According to the council statement, the lottery will be shut down gradually over a period of three months, in agreement with Gatherwell Ltd.