A couple who won the lottery a decade ago are using their time and freedom to volunteer in their local community and give back to others.
Former bus driver Kevin Jones and his wife Michele found out they had scooped the jackpot of £6.1m when they were living in Crewe in 2016.
After leaving her job and paying off their mortgage, Ms Jones took advantage of her newfound freedom by joining a food bank in Cheshire.
“I was lucky enough to retire nine years earlier; I had always wanted to help people and help the community,” Mrs Jones told BBC Radio Stoke.
“I get a lot of satisfaction out of helping people that need support.”
Ms Jones joined The Pantry @ Sandbach Hub when it was set up four years ago, and helps them provide meals to those who are struggling with the cost of food.
“It’s an incredible team doing incredible things for people, and I feel privileged to be part of it,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to help other people, so I’ve got the opportunity now.”
The couple also spend their time doing charitable projects across the country. They were recently in Manchester helping an art group, and have also renovated gyms in Stockport and laid paths at the National Arboretum.
Mr Jones said it took a few years for the reality of winning the lottery to sink in, but says he, “never forgets how fortunate and privileged we’ve been to win that money, and the odds of winning it, how incredible it was to have done so.”
After finding out they had matched all six lottery numbers, the couple sat up all night figuring out how they would use it to change their lives.
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“The first priority was to look after the family, the children… We’ve secured their futures; they have no mortgage anymore,” Mr Jones said.
“It gives you the freedom and the time to do what you like.”
“Kevin did go into work the next morning; he didn’t want to let people down that were catching the bus to work,” Ms Jones added.
Official operator of the National Lottery, Allwyn, has introduced major changes to its lottery that it says will create hundreds more millionaires each year.
Now, every £2 Lotto line will automatically be entered into two draws on the same night, improving players’ odds from one in 9.3 to one in 4.9.
Lotto draws on Wednesday and Saturday will include two rounds, with two sets of six main numbers and a bonus ball drawn using two separate machines.
The National Lottery operator said the changes are expected to create around 345 millionaires each year, up from 140.
Andy Carter, senior winners’ adviser at Allwyn, said: “This is a huge moment for players as we enter a new era for the nation’s millionaire maker, Lotto.
“From now on, every ticket gives you two chances to win for the same £2 price. We’re talking more winners, more excitement and hundreds more millionaires made every year. It really could be you – not once, but twice.”
