source: pexels.com Bingo has been at the heart of UK communities for well over half a century. That sense of community has seen charity play a big part of the UK bingo scene. Whether it's impromptu games of street bingo, turning club kitchens into soup kitchens or celebrities calling the numbers over Zoom, bingo has raised untold millions for charities over the years.
Recently, a number of charity initiatives from the bingo world hit the bingo news desk, raising tens of thousands of pounds for charities.
The Sun Bingo and Fabulous Bingo Donate £20k to Missing People Charity
Two of the UK's biggest and best bingo sites, Sun Bingo and Fabulous Bingo donated £20,000 to Missing People as part of the National Bingo Day celebrations.
The Missing People charity was founded in 1993 and provides specialist support to people who are at risk of going missing, and the families and friends left behind.
Bingo Clubs Raise £15k for Childrens Charity
A Variety Sunshine Coach was presented on behalf of The Bingo Association to pupils and staff of Rowan Tree Primary school in Atherton. What is the 34th Sunshine coach donated by the Bingo Association, Variety’s Sunshine Coaches have helped improve the lives of thousands of disabled or disadvantaged children across the UK. The bus was presented by Alan Clinton, Assistant Manager from BJ’s Bingo in Leigh on behalf of The Bingo Association.
Miles Baron, Chief Executive of The Bingo Association said, “I would like to thank BJ’s Bingo who are representing the bingo industry today, for the incredible support and generosity of their customers and staff. Customers from bingo clubs across Great Britain have made this very worthy donation of a Sunshine Coach possible.
“We have now raised £1.6 million for Variety in the past five years – a truly incredible amount – and it is brilliant to see that this has such a fantastic, direct impact on improving the lives of thousands of sick and disadvantaged children around the UK.”
Andrew Tattershall – General Manager of BJ’s in Leigh said: “BJ’s Bingo were delighted to nominate a local school Rowan Tree Primary school in Atherton to receive a Variety Sunshine coach, we were pleased that the bus was handed over late last year and are now delighted that we can make the formal presentation in person, it is the 34thVariety coach that has been donated as a result of fundraising by The Bingo Association and its members. Thank you to all of our staff and customers, for their support over the years in helping raise much needed funds for such a worthy charity”.
Dave Mardem, assistant manager at Opera Bingo Barrow, commented on the donation: “It’s great, we raised a bit and across the UK there are 300 clubs that have contributed.”
“Despite the challenging time the bingo industry has faced over the past 12 months due to lockdowns and restrictions, it is fantastic that all the clubs in the industry have pulled together to raise a fantastic £15,000 for Variety, the Children’s Charity.
“Clubs are nothing without its customers so we thank each and everyone of you for helping us play our part.”
Merkur Launches UK Charity Initiative
Merkur, the company that owns the slot arcades and the former Beacon Bingo venues, aims to recognize smaller community-based charities and good causes that frequently get overlooked.
The UK charity initiative is to be trialed in 10 venues ahead of a national launch. Merkur UK’s Customer Experience Manager Lola Wood said:
“Most people will immediately associate Bingo Clubs with the term ‘Community’ but the same also applies to our 180 high street entertainment venues located in towns and cities throughout Great Britain. These are the places where friends meet and socialise in safe and familiar surroundings and where the staff will greet them by their first name. MERKUR Initiative builds on the profound connections that exist between venue and community by identifying those local ‘not for profit' groups that quite frequently go unnoticed but quietly get on doing outstanding work in the community.”
“MERKUR Initiative will draw on the insight and local knowledge of staff who are being asked to nominate the good causes they want to support. Money raised through the venues will then be pooled nationally with head office contributing to the final donation. The awards that we will be making through MERKUR Initiative will help those that go the extra mile to continue to do the fantastic work that keeps communities together. I’m looking forward to meeting those local heroes and recognizing them for what they do in the MERKUR UK communities that we are so proud to be a part of,”
Ben has been an massive bingo enthusiast and fan since playing at the seaside as a kid. Dedicated to bringing you the latest and best bingo news from the UK
