Lottery winners open the door to happy Christmas
Giant advent calendar includes biscuits, jam and chocolates for hard-working volunteers
CHRISTMAS is a time of giving – and that’s exactly what some National Lottery winners from the Potteries have done to reward hard-working volunteers.
In November 2008, John and Jackie Livesley won a £2.6 million Lotto jackpot, with Neil Jones landing £2.4 million two years later.
And the winners paid a visit to the National Lottery-funded Biddulph Youth and Community Zone where they helped spread some festive cheer.
The Church Road hub had started out as a youth cafe running every Friday night in 2010.
But it has grown rapidly to become a social enterprise operating as a community asset, running various events and programmes for people of all ages.
In 2015 it received £435,508 of funding from the National Lottery Community Fund to expand the youth cafe service – which was at risk of closure.
That meant organisers took on the running of the rest of the centre to include a community hub with the Friday night youth service then being extended to the weekends.
Neil, John and Jackie headed along to the building where they handed over a 1.4 metre high luxury advent calendar filled with Christmas goodies such as chocolate, jam and biscuits.
They also dished out boxes of biscuits and chocolates, as well as other Christmas gifts for the army of volunteers who give up their time on a regular basis to help the community.
Neil said: “The last 18 months have been tough for everyone but especially places like the Community Zone that can only do their great work due to even greater volunteers.
“I had my amazing luck over a decade ago – at this very special time of year – and it changed my life. I want to do my bit to help others who are so deserving of thanks.”
After their win John retired as a warehouse worker with Jackie continuing her work at the Probation Service.
She said: “If I can find a positive in this horrible covid, it is how communities have stayed together to help one another.
“Centres like the Zone here in Biddulph and across the Potteries are the glue that help keep people together and we should do as much as we can to support them.”
During the visit to the centre they met manager Antony Capostagno and the team of dedicated volunteers.
Antony said: “A massive thanks to Neil, Jackie and John for their kind donation, which is the perfect start to our countdown to Christmas.
“After the past couple of years everyone has had, their gesture will make a huge difference to our wonderful volunteers who themselves make a difference.
“We look forward to opening a new advent calendar door every day and seeing what’s inside. But I’m sure the multiple boxes of chocolates and biscuits also donated won’t last as long.
“The National Lottery Community Fund grant was a lifeline to the Zone, which is a vital resource and hub for the local community.
“Since receiving the funding we have expanded, putting in place more structured programmes that address people’s needs from film clubs to indoor bowling to badminton.”