Cheltenham Lottery celebrates its first £25k jackpot winner

A lottery player has become the first person to win the Cheltenham Lottery's £25,000 jackpot prize.

The lucky winner, who supports Friends of the Wilson through their weekly lottery ticket, scooped the top prize in the recent draw.

The Cheltenham Lottery is a weekly lottery that supports good causes in and around Cheltenham. Since launching, it has raised more than £230,000 for local charities and community groups, helping organisations across the borough continue their valuable work – approximately £33,000 every year.

The lucky lottery winner said: "What a superb surprise! Regular contributions, no matter how small, help charities plan for the future and I support Friends of the Wilson, who do a great job supporting our town's wonderful museum and art gallery. I intend to donate £5,000 of my winnings to Friends of the Wilson and will book a holiday or buy a new car, possibly both, with the rest."

Councillor Jamie Jamieson, cabinet member for safety and communities, said: "We are delighted to celebrate the Cheltenham Lottery's first £25,000 jackpot winner. This shows that people can support local good causes while having the chance to win life-changing prizes. The lottery, benefits 103 good causes, makes a real difference in our communities. It raises vital funds for charities, voluntary organisations and community groups across Cheltenham."

Judie Hodsdon, Chair of the Trustees for the Friends of The Wilson, said: "Congratulations to the winner of this wonderful prize. We are so grateful to them for giving a proportion of the prize to the Friends of the Wilson, which will be used to fund a project at The Wilson.

"Every pound raised through the Cheltenham Lottery helps us continue supporting The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum for residents and visitors alike. Thank you to everyone who supports us through the Cheltenham Lottery."

Jessica Brewster, CEO of the Cheltenham Trust added. “Thank you so much to everyone who supports local causes through the Cheltenham Lottery, and to the jackpot winner for sharing their prize with the Friends of the Wilson. We are reopening the museum at The Wilson in a few weeks, and the support of the Friends of the Wilson has been vital in enabling us to share Cheltenham’s history in a fresh new way.”

Phil Wright, general manager of Gatherwell who are the external lottery manager for Cheltenham Lottery, said: "It's fantastic to hear the surprise and see the impact the £25,000 jackpot win has for the lucky supporter playing the Cheltenham Lottery. It shows that playing the lottery and supporting charities and good causes in Cheltenham is a Win:Win for all involved locally.”

Players can buy a ticket and support the local community. There are so many good causes to choose from when purchasing tickets. The lottery supports a wide range of organisations, including animal welfare, education, and arts organisations, as well as organisations that help children, disadvantaged groups, and the elderly. The chosen cause receives 50 per cent of the £1 ticket, with 10 per cent going to No Child Left Behind.

To play the lottery and find out more information visit the Cheltenham Lottery website.

To be eligible for funding from the Cheltenham Lottery, good causes need to be based in the borough and provide a service which directly benefits Cheltenham’s residents. More terms and conditions can be found on the Cheltenham Lottery website.

For media enquiries, contact: communications, telephone 01242 264231, email communications@cheltenham.gov.uk

Cheltenham Lottery celebrates its first £25k jackpot winner

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