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Statement on Fundraising Approach and Responsible Activities

Quetzal adopts a community-focused and ethical approach to fundraising, ensuring that all activities directly support its core mission of providing free counselling and emotional support to women who have experienced childhood sexual abuse. Funds raised are essential to sustaining these services and are used to deliver trauma-informed support in a safe and compassionate environment.

The organisation encourages a wide range of fundraising initiatives, including organised events, community-led activities, corporate partnerships, and individual challenges. Supporters are empowered to design fundraising activities that align with their skills and interests while receiving some guidance and support from the charity.

Quetzal promotes:

  • Transparency and purpose: clearly communicating that funds raised contribute directly to vital survivor support services.
  • Support and guidance for fundraisers: providing fundraising guides and ongoing assistance to ensure activities are appropriate, safe, and aligned with the charity’s values.
  • Ethical partnerships and compliance: working with platforms and partners (e.g. corporate giving initiatives) that ensure fundraising is conducted within regulatory frameworks.
  • Inclusivity and accessibility: encouraging participation at all levels, recognising that contributions “big or small” make a meaningful difference.

You can find out more about fundraising for Quetzal here

 

Our approach to lotteries

 

As a charity, we rely on a range of funding sources to continue delivering our services. This includes grant funding from the National Lottery and income raised through a weekly lottery run in partnership with One Lottery.
We understand that some of you may have personal, cultural or religious beliefs that mean you do not wish to engage with gambling. We fully respect these perspectives and want to make sure we stay true to our values of inclusivity. So, we will make a commitment that income generated through lotteries will not be used to directly fund your ongoing counselling sessions.
However, we want to be transparent and let you know that National Lottery funding does contribute to the wider running costs of the organisation, such as staffing, rent and admin, which are necessary for us to operate and continue offering our services. The funds generated through One Lottery may support complimentary services such as Single Session Therapy, emotional support calls and group sessions.
We hope this provides a balance between keeping our core services accessible to everyone and protecting the sustainability of the charity in difficult times.
Our lottery is delivered through One Lottery, a platform operated by a Gambling Commission licensed provider. This means there are safeguards in place, including age restrictions (18+), regulated draw processes, and responsible play guidance. A proportion of every ticket sold directly supports our work, helping us sustain our organisation at a time of increasing demand and funding pressure.
Taking part in our lottery is entirely optional. We will never place pressure on anyone to participate, and we are committed to ensuring that our fundraising is carried out in an ethical and inclusive way.
If you have any questions or concerns about our fundraising, we welcome open and honest conversations.

Responsible Gambling Guide

Playing our lottery is a fun and effective way to support good causes. However, as with all forms of gambling, it’s important to play responsibly and stay in control.

What is responsible gambling?

Responsible gambling means:

  • Gambling for enjoyment, not as a way for you to make money
  • Staying within your financial limits
  • Knowing when to stop
  • Being aware of the risks

All UK gambling, including charity lotteries, is regulated by the Gambling Commission to help ensure it is conducted fairly and safely. (Gambling Commission)

Key principles for playing responsibly

When taking part in a lottery such as One Lottery:

  • Set a budget – Only spend what you can afford to lose
  • Keep it fun – Treat lottery play as entertainment, not income
  • Don’t chase losses – Losing is part of games of chance
  • Take breaks – Avoid regular or impulsive play
  • Stay informed – Understand how the lottery works and your chances

Remember: lotteries are a form of gambling and should always be approached with care. (Gambling Commission)

Protecting young and vulnerable people

  • You must be 18 or over to participate
  • Systems are in place to prevent underage play
  • Extra care should be taken if you or someone you know may be vulnerable

One Lottery specifically prohibits under-18s from playing and applies controls to reduce this risk. (One Lottery)

Recognising signs of a problem

Gambling may be becoming an issue if you:

  • Spend more than you can afford
  • Feel anxious or stressed about gambling
  • Try to win back losses
  • Hide your gambling from others
  • Gamble to escape problems

If any of these apply, it’s important to seek support early.

Tools to help you stay in control

Many UK-regulated gambling services offer tools such as:

  • Deposit limits
  • Time-outs or breaks
  • Self-exclusion options

You can also consider blocking gambling transactions through your bank or using national self-exclusion schemes.

Where to get help and support

If you need support, free and confidential help is available:

Additional support organisations are also listed by responsible lottery operators such as the National Lottery. (Responsible Play)

Our commitment

As part of a charity lottery:

  • We aim to provide a safe and enjoyable experience
  • We support responsible play at all times
  • We comply with UK regulations and licensing requirements
  • We ensure transparency about how funds support good causes

Charity lotteries must return a portion of proceeds to good causes and operate under strict legal frameworks. (Gambling Commission)

Playing the lottery should always be:

  • Fun
  • Optional
  • Within your means

If it stops being enjoyable, it’s time to take a break and seek support.