Mecca Bingo a Shining Light

Monday, 17 September 2012

Bingo can be an incredible game for bringing members of the local community together, with initiatives often in place to benefit charities and other worthwhile causes. In North America, bingo halls are open with the sole purpose of doing good work for charity. This time we have a positive story from the UK and it all revolves around the community work of Mecca Bingo. Currently, we are just a couple of weeks away from a momentous in the Mecca Bingo calendar. On Friday 28th September, people from throughout the Greater Bolton area will gather at the Mecca Bingo hall on Ormerod Street to celebrate the good things about the city.

A series of award categories have been formulated and member of the community in Bolton have been voting decide on the worthy recipients. Examples of the categories that will be won include local hero and best restaurant; the goal is to reward both people and businesses. A total of 10 awards have been created and Mecca Bingo has worked closely with organisation Thebestof Bolton to develop them. Mecca Bingo realises that their bingo hall in Bolton is a valued source of entertainment in the local community and wants to give something back.

Mecca Bingo’s community work in Bolton seems to just be the tip of the iceberg because the site is on the lookout for community champions from throughout the UK. The name of the initiative is Real People Community Champions and it is being run between Real People Magazine and Mecca Bingo. The nationwide aspect of this scheme will see six categories voted for in communities up and down the country. Have a look over the categories and decide if there any votes that you would like to make:

• The caring person of the year
• The hero pet of the year
• The unsung hero of the year
• The community neighbour of the year
• The longstanding community project of the year
• The community big idea of the year

In spite of the transition of bingo halls to online bingo, there is still a real sense that bingo can add a lot to a community. Mecca Bingo is still a brand that maintains a significant network of bingo halls in the UK and intends to do good in the community through them.

Charitable bingo is not a concept completely alien to the UK, because Mecca Bingo is one bingo brand that believes firmly in offering support. The fortunate beneficiary of Mecca Bingo’s charitable efforts is Marie Curie Cancer Care, which has been selected as the former’s charity of the year. A variety of different money raising activities have been undertaken, with examples including bike rides bingo games. Earlier this year a whopping £12,000 was raised by Mecca Bingo for Marie Curie, and money is still flowing in! Mecca Bingo in Blackpool is one hall that has proven to be shining example in particular.