Norwegian Lottery Offers Financial Aid to Volunteers

Following the release of Crisis Package 1 earlier this year, the Norwegian Lotteries and Foundations Authority has expanded on, not only the time period of those affected, but also the categories which can be compensated.

The first package was set up for lost income from 5 March to 30 April, and volunteers could be compensated for lost ticket income, participation fees and additional expenses. Now the Authority invites applications up to 31 August and includes a few more loss of income eventualities.

More Details Who Can Apply?

Those in need can make an application if:

Income is lost from events that should have been arranged during the period (for example, lost ticket income, parking income, income from flea market or kiosk income).
Ticket revenue from other specified activities during the period (for example museums, aquariums, cinemas or sports facilities) is lost.
Rental income during the period is lost (rental of buildings, facilities, cabins, vessels and other rooms and premises).
Income as a result of the organization losing assignments in connection with an event or other specified activity during the period is lost.

In order to apply, you must be registered on the Volunteer Register and have your main activity in Norway.

Applications can be completed online and, should you correctly check the necessary boxes, the system will take you through the rest of the process.

Atle Hamar, director of the Lotteries and Foundations Authority, said that the scheme had been expanded substantially and many applications were expected.

What Will You Get?

The Norwegian Lotteries and Foundations Authority goes on to stress that this process is based on trust, including:

“Any ambiguities, questions and remarks in the application will require discretionary assessments that may lead to more people being able to postpone the payment of compensation.

If the organization disagrees with the structure of the scheme, questions must be directed to the Ministry of Culture, which has established the regulations on the basis of the Storting's decision. Ex-post inspections will be carried out, and unjustified or excessive compensation may be demanded in full or in part.”

Applicants can be paid up to 70 percent of the application amount.
Financial aid will be paid out as quickly as possible, and in pools.
The application deadline is 15 September 2020.

The purpose of the scheme is to compensate volunteers or volunteer organizations who have lost income from events that have had to be canceled in whole or in part, postponed or closed due to Covid-19, or assignments they have lost because an event or activity has been canceled.

Those who attempt to manipulate the offer in their favour will be heavily penalized.