LOTTO LUCK
I won £1m EuroMillions prize & my pals won same amount on scratch cards – we’re hoping our luck can help YOU too
The women all scooped £1 million each before banding together to help out-of-work mums
A LOTTERY winner who scooped a fortune on EuroMillions is now helping mums on benefits get into work.
Zoe Hoare set up a ladies boutique after winning £1 million - and was later joined by scratchcard winners Danielle Heavens and Taryn Hawkes.
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Working alongside The Women's Work Lab nine-month programme, which helps mums rebuild confidence and get back to work, Zoe created a pop-up shop providing the perfect clothing for each of the job hunters.
It's based at The Great Western Hotel, Taunton, Somerset.
Zoe said: “Every one of the ladies we have worked with today is celebrating their last day in the classroom with Taunton Women’s Work Lab, before exploring work experience opportunities and for some, attending job interviews.
“We know a new top or some super stylish trousers won’t guarantee a job, but we really hope that each of the graduating mums will be able to feel that bit more proud of their achievement and a little more confident when they do step through the door of a possible employer.”
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Zoe scooped the live-changing prize with husband Nick in May 2017. The couple were running The White Horse Inn in Quidhampton, Wiltshire, when they matched the EuroMillions Millionaire Maker code.
Danielle's then-fiancé Jamie bought a winning scratchcard in 2016 while filling up his van on the way to work. The couple have since enjoyed a lavish wedding and invested in properties.
However, neither gave up their day job, as Bournemouth roofer Jamie - who was just 22 at the time - told the BBC in 2019.
He said: "People think I'm minted - that I'm cash rich and can just go and buy what I want every day. But it's not like that.
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"I'm living a comfortable life now. I'm running my own business, I've got my own family, but it's not a case of if I want that £70,000 car, I'm just going to go out and spend it.
"I'm still money conscious about things. I live a normal day-to-day life, pay myself a normal wage and my wife goes to work two days a week.
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"We bought a couple of properties, we don't have a mortgage on them. Money makes you more comfortable but it shouldn't change the way you live your life."
Taryn and her husband Grant, from Cornwall, won big on the Lotto Lucky Dip in 2018.
When Taryn realised she had won the prize, she "screamed so loudly the whole street heard me".
She continued to work as a teaching assistant - and spent the sum on medical treatment to stop her husband Grant spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
Speaking about their charitable scheme, Taryn said: "I can relate to so many of the stories we have heard today and am humbled by the sacrifices many of the mums have made to make sure they complete the Women’s Work Lab programme.
"Before our incredible spot of National Lottery luck, we were in a very difficult position financially and times were very tough.
"My secret weapon to feel confident was always my shoes – if I had snazzy shoes, I felt braver.
"So hopefully some of the amazing outfits we have created today will help these inspirational mums feel that same level of extra confidence."
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The Women’s Work Lab is a social enterprise and its programmes combine bespoke classroom training with a work placement, 1-to-1 career coaching and mentoring.
Unlike other training, the programme is uniquely designed specifically for mums so they can find work that really works for them and their families.
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UK's biggest lottery winners
By Ethan Singh
- Anonymous winner - £195,707,000
A UK ticket-holder scooped the record EuroMillions jackpot of £195 million on July 19 2022 – the biggest National Lottery win of all time.
The holder, who remains anonymous to this day, amassed the fortune with just one lucky ticket.
- Joe and Jess Thwaite - £184,262,899.10
Britain's previous EuroMillions record holders were Joe and Jess Thwaite.
The couple won a record-breaking £184million jackpot in May 2022 and shared hopes of a Hawaiian holiday and a new horse box for their children's ponies.
Joe bought his winning ticket online on May 10, 2022, and the following morning received an email with good news.
As he learnt of the huge win, he was in disbelief and initially kept it for himself as he did not want to disturb his wife, who was sleeping.
Joe, a communications sales engineer, and Jess, who runs a hairdressing salon with her sister, have been married for 11 years and have two children.
- Colin and Chris Weir, £161,653,000
Colin and Christine Weir landed the colossal prize money in 2011 and were Europe’s second-biggest winners until someone in Italy won a jackpot worth £193m in 2019.
They splashed the cash at an astounding rate of £100,000 a week before tragedy struck.
But at the time of Colin’s death in December 2019 his share of the prize money had dwindled by around £40m.
He spent the millions living a life of luxury, forking out for sports cars, property and the football club he supported.
Colin and Christine divorced shortly before his death after being married for 38 years.
He left money for their children Carly and Jamie.
- Adrian and Gillian Brayford - £148,600,000
Adrian and Gillian won 190 million euros in a EuroMillions draw in August 2012, which came to just over £148 million.
But Adrian split from Gillian the following year because of the stress of the win.
The couple bought a Grade II listed estate in Cambridgeshire, complete with cinema and billiards room, but it was sold in 2021.
After divorcing in 2013, he failed to woo ex-sausage factory worker Marta Jarosz — but fell for stable girl Sam Burbidge.
She left him in 2017, taking 30 prize horses Adrian bought.
It might have worked out in the end for Adrian though as the former postman was seen smiling with ambulance worker Tracey Biles last year.
- Frances and Patrick Connolly - £114,969,775
Former social worker and teacher Frances set up two charitable foundations after she and her husband hit the jackpot.
They scooped almost £115 million on New Year’s Day 2019.
She estimates that she has already given away £60 million to charitable causes, as well as friends and family.
- Richard and Debbie Nuttall - £61,000,000
The couple from Colne, Lancashire, took home £61 million on January 30 2024.
Both 54, they were enjoying a holiday in Fuerteventura, celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary.
But they then discovered the big EuroMillions win.
Richard revealed they originally thought they had won £2.60, but then received another email telling the pair to check their account.
Other eye-watering anonymous winners:
- 2019 - £123million
Another anonymous winner scooped up a prize of £123,458,008 in the June Superdraw rollover.
- 2021 - £122million
Following nine rollovers, one ticketholder bagged the £122,550,350 jackpot last April.
The successful participant chose to remain anonymous.
- 2018 - £121million
Another anonymous winner found their fortune during the Superdraw jackpot rollover in April 2018, securing £121,328,187.