Can you believe it’s been two years since we relaunched our Members’ Prize Draw? So many of you love taking part, and it’s had a positive impact on a variety of wonderful charities too. Therefore, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the past 12 months and remind you why the prize draw is something well worth being involved in.
What is the Members’ Prize Draw?
The Member’s Prize Draw takes place every month and sees one lucky winner receive a cash prize.
The draw was relaunched in April 2021 and it’s grown in popularity ever since.
GMBCU members can hold from one to ten tickets and a ticket costs £1.00 per month. This creates the prize pot every month and the winner receives half of the prize fund, with the other half going to the charity of their choice.
Win win!
Why is the Members’ Prize draw so popular?
We all love a giveaway, right? The anticipation of our prize draw is something our members look forward to every month, and the chance to take home the prize fund is an exciting prospect. In fact, we get as excited about it as you do!
Because the draw keeps increasing in popularity, more and more members pay into it every month – so the amount of cash in the pot keeps going up.
As a result, the prize fund gets higher all the time, and you have every chance of bagging it for yourself. But of course, you have to be in it to win it.
The prize draw encapsulates our attitude to you and your financial wellbeing. We want to support our members, keep it within our community, help great causes, and give you lots of reasons to smile and stay positive about all things money-related.
We’re all in this together, after all. So even if it’s not your name called out this time, the money makes a real difference to someone like you and supports a deserving cause in the process.
How much could I win if I enter the prize draw?
The prize draw winnings increase all the time as more and more members get involved.
When we first relaunched the Member’s Prize Draw in April 2021, the total prize fund stood at £708.
By February 2023, it was at its highest-ever total of £1,120.
And while it isn’t quite the level of a lottery windfall, it can still make a big difference to your life – plus, as it’s only open to you and your fellow members, you have a much higher chance of taking home the jackpot!
In the past, monthly prize draw winners have used their winnings to treat their families to gifts or lovely meals out, make special occasions more memorable, or even invest in long-awaited home improvements.
How would you spend yours?
How much of the prize draw goes to charity?
When GMB Credit Union relaunched the prize draw in April 2021, we decided to give something back to worthy causes by donating half the prize pot to charity.
Charities have experienced extremely difficult times during the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, as donations dropped and funding was pulled. So, we’re proud to play a small part in supporting deserving organisations.
The best part? You get to choose which charity receives a donation if you’re the lucky winner of the Member’s Prize Draw.
So, if your name gets picked, you don’t just see the impact on your own life, you get to support a cause you care about too.
Which charity would you choose?
Which charities have we supported in the past 12 months?
We love seeing which causes you care most about, and over the past 12 months you’ve helped to support a fantastic variety of charities big and small.
Here’s a breakdown of every charity your donations have supported in the past year with an insight into where your money goes.
Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue
In April 2022, Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue received a donation of £543 to support the work done by its team of volunteers. 100% funded by charitable donations and run by volunteers, the organisation helps locate and support people who are missing, suicidal, lost or disorientated due to dementia.
Specially trained volunteers search on foot, in water, via drone, or on bike to locate people in need, responding to 60+ callouts every year.
The Sheffield Beekeepers Association
Back in May 2022, £540 went to The Sheffield Beekeepers Association, which runs training courses and events to help people care for our bee population responsibly.
The organisation also goes into schools and other community spaces to educate the public on the importance of looking after bees to protect our wildlife and ecosystem.
Cruse Bereavement Support – Foyle
We’ve all experienced grief at some point, and it can feel impossible to navigate. In June 2022, we donated £547 to Cruse Bereavement Support to help them care for people experiencing grief. The charity responds to 31,500 helpline calls a year and helped 100,000 people in 2022.
DEC – Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal
In July 2022, 50% of the prize fund went to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. £546 was donated to help provide food, clean water, medical care, cash, warmth, and psychological support to people experiencing the devastating impact of the conflict.
Samaritans – Luton
Luton, South Beds and Harpenden Samaritans was the recipient of our August donation of £539. Your contributions helped the organisation provide emotional support, offer coping skills, and prevent suicide over the phone, in person, and in schools.
National Coal Mining Museum for England
The National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield, Yorkshire, provides a fascinating insight into the history of mining and how it shaped communities, towns, politics, and our economy.
We donated £542 to the museum in September 2022 to support its mission to bring this integral part of Britain’s working past to life for future generations.
Cancer Research UK
Sadly, most of us have experienced the effects of cancer, and we were proud to donate £545 to Cancer Research UK in October 2022.
Cancer Research UK funds medical research, treatments, individual support, and campaigning for government policies to beat cancer and support those living with the disease.
Marie Curie
In November 2022, we donated £533 of prize draw funds to Marie Curie, the UK’s leading end-of-life charity since 1948. Donations to Marie Curie help to fund the nursing and hospice care they provide to patients, as well as a free helpline to offer emotional support.
Ronald McDonald
Ronald McDonald House Charities UK offers free accommodation and support for families of hospitalised children. In December 2022, we donated £519 to the charity to help sick children keep their families close by without the expense and stress of travel and hotels.
Back Up North West
Backup North West helps young people in Bolton who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. It provides supported accommodation, advice and guidance for people aged 18 to 25 to get back on their feet and work towards a brighter future.
In January 2023, the charity received £554 from our Member’s Prize Draw to continue the important work it does in the community.
The Orchard Dementia Centre
The Orchard Day Centre in Chertsey, Surrey, offers sensitive care and stimulation for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Fully trained staff work closely with individuals to encourage independence, socialising, and wellbeing for people in their care.
The centre received £560 from our draw in February 2023.
To see which charities your contributions supported in the first year of the Member’s Draw, read this article.
How can I get involved?
All GMBCU members are welcome to join in the prize draw as long as you’re 18 or over.
You pay £1 per ticket via direct debit, and you can buy up to 10 tickets each month to be automatically entered into the draw.
On the last working day of each month your names are entered into a computer and one winner is chosen at random.
100% of the money raised is paid out – 50% to our monthly winner, and 50% to their chosen charity.
Would you like to join in the fun? Simply complete a prize draw form via
Download the GMBCU app now from the Apple store or Google Play and simply complete a prize draw form via the app.
Good luck!