A NEW lottery is launching to help good causes and job creation in the SO post code area.

The SOlotto will give players the chance to win cash prizes of up to £50,000 and will also be putting money back into the local community.

The lottery will be played through scratch cards and the SOlotto online will be run on a weekly basis, after 5,000 people have entered.

Once enough people have signed up online the lottery will cost residents who sign up £2 per week.

A board of trustees will then decide which good causes to give the money raised to, especially those creating more jobs.

Trevor Thorne, who is launching the lottery as part of the company Fab For Marketing, said: “The reason for starting it up was really to allow Southampton to help itself, the city has been hit pretty hard in the public spending cuts in recent times and this enables people to do something about their position.

“It empowers people to take charge of their life. We want to see plaques going up around the city saying ‘Supported by SOlotto’ so people can see the benefits it brings to the Southampton.

“The vision for SOlotto is for it to empower people. We are sure the lottery will be great for the city.”

According to the lottery organisers, 70 per cent from every scratch card and 60 per cent from every SOlotto online entry will go to the winners, sellers and to good causes in the SO postcode area.

The lottery is based on the Isle of Wight Lottery, which was the first lottery in England developed specifically to create job opportunities.

Both the lotteries are being promoted by the non-profit Hampshire and Isle of Wight Opportunity Society.

One of their main objectives is also to put money into projects that will create more jobs in Southampton.

As well as creating more job opportunities and putting money towards good causes, the SOlotto will also support projects which get people active through sport.

  • For more information on the lottery go to solotto.uk.

They are also aiming to fund schemes the improve culture and diversity in the community.

Good causes who want to receive some of the funding from the lottery can sign up to the SOlotto to be considered by the board of trustees.

Sellers of SOlotto scratch cards will also earn 20 per cent of the proceeds from every card they sell.

The new SOlotto will officially launch on April 11.