The people who
WE all dream about what we’d do if we landed a National Lottery jackpot. Perhaps take that holiday of a lifetime, move home, or even give a lifeline to a charity close to our heart.
The National Lottery has been changing the lives of winners across the UK since 1994, and over the past 26 years it’s created over 5,900 millionaires. But it’s also helped people whose lucky numbers haven’t yet come up.
Across the UK there are 44,000 retailers selling National Lottery products, and whose businesses have been given a huge boost by selling tickets and scratchcards. They help to create excitement in their stores, bringing a buzz to the community ahead of a big draw, and increasing footfall and sales. Then there’s the thrill of celebrating if someone local wins big!
That’s why Camelot is proudly sponsoring the Brilliantly British campaign, which has been launched to get us all pulling together, buying British products and supporting our British retailers – such as shop keeper Eugene Diamond.
Eugene was only 22 when he opened his traditional newsa gent’s shop in Ballymena, Co Antrim, back in 1979.
Now 63, both he and his shop have become firmly established as pillars of the local community.
“The shop is my life – it’s who I am,” says Eugene. “When I was a kid, I used to have a Sunday newspaper round, and I would also help out in the local newsagent’s – I loved it.
“After leaving school I went to work in a menswear shop where I was manager for a while, before setting up Diamond’s Newsagent.
“Ever since then I’ve always remained open seven days a week, except for two months at the start of lockdown when I did reluctantly close – but only because, as a diabetic, I was in the high risk category. I reopened as soon as I thought it was safe to do so.
“It has a traditional cornershop atmosphere – the sort of place where regular customers drop in to buy lottery tickets and scratchcards along with their newspapers and magazines, often stopping for a chat.
“I signed up as a retailer for the National Lottery within three months of it being launched, and it has undoubtedly been a major asset for my business, bringing more people into the shop.”
But there are other ways in which The National Lottery helps people in local communities too. Everyone who has ever bought a ticket has contributed
One of Scotland’s first National Lottery retailers, the Buywell DayToday convenience store in Glasgow was opened in 1991 by Anayat Ullah, and is now run by his son Mohammed Rajak, 50.
“My father saw straightaway the potential of The National Lottery to draw customers,” says Mohammed.
“We’ve had a few big winners, but people don’t always realise that the ticket money doesn’t just go to the winners; it has also benefited local communities all over the country. I like to go walking in
The Trossachs National Park, to the £42billion the National Lottery has given to good causes since the first draw more than two and a half decades ago.
“We’ve been officially credited with selling tickets that have raised more than £1million for good causes,” says Eugene.
“And a number of our customers have had substantial wins too.” where the National Lottery Community Fund has helped to support conservation and maintain footpaths and other facilities.
“Here in Glasgow it helped to finance improvements prior to the 2014 Commonwealth Games and build the nearby hockey stadium.”
Mohammed’s business has been presented with two National
Lottery Fund awards by Camelot CEO Nigel Railton – one for selling tickets that have raised £2.2million for good causes nationally, and another for helping to raise £19,000 for a local project.
Maintenance manager Kevin Francis regularly pops in to his local McColl’s newsagent in Fareham, Hants, to pick up his morning newspaper. But the 62-year-old never expected to make the headlines himself – until he also picked up a £1million-winning National Lottery scratchcard last year.
“It caused quite a stir in the shop when he came in the next day as usual and told us he’d hit the jackpot,” recalls store manager Steve Hoe.
“For years Kevin has come in regular as clockwork to get his paper. He doesn’t always buy scratchcards – this time he only did so because his wife had asked him to, so he bought two £5 Merry Millions scratchcards.
“Kevin’s big win and the publicity surrounding it certainly helped to bring in more customers, especially in the weeks immediately afterwards!”
“He’s been very sensible and hasn’t gone on a big spending spree or anything. He has talked about maybe getting himself a little sailing boat someday, but that’s about all. He’s still living in the same house just down the road and still comes in every morning for his newspaper.”