Whopping Win For Wales

A total of 606 Cwmbran residents are celebrating today after winning a share of our amazing £3 Million prize in February's Postcode Millions.

Six neighbours each pocketed cheques for £196,528 when NP44 3DD was revealed as the full winning postcode. The good news kept coming for one of the lucky six Poppy Field Avenue winners who doubled their prize to a whopping £393,056 thanks to playing with two tickets.

The 600 other Cwmbran winners received a range of different cheques depending on the number of tickets they played with. Players with a single ticket in the winning sector collected £2,387, and those with two tickets picked up £4,774. Seven neighbours played with three tickets and scooped £7,161 each. One winner in the sector played with four tickets and walked away with £9,548!

Supporting Charities

Nursery teacher Joanne and husband Huw were lucky winners of £196,528. She screamed all the way to the stage when her full postcode was revealed. She said, "This is going to make a huge difference to us. Our children, Tom and Georgina, both have bad eyesight, and this means we'll be able to get the operation that our Georgie needs.

"That just by playing we are helping raise money for charity is hugely important to me. I lost my mum to cancer and I suffered so badly with the loss. What charities do to support people is just incredible and so important. It was the loss of my mum that pushed me to retrain and become a nursery teacher - I know that all she'd want is for me to be happy. One day I'll maybe be able to open my own nursery now."

Huw added, "We're going to enjoy life now."

Life-Changing

Chloe and her partner Joe had gone home after finding out they'd won £2,387, to get back to their nine-month old daughter, before the full winning postcode was announced. They saw on Facebook that their postcode had been drawn and rushed back to the event at Cwmbran Stadium. When the couple were presented with their new cheque of £196,528 they both screamed in shock.

Chloe said, "This is going to change our daughter's life. We can buy a house now. It's life-changing!"

Totally Speechless 

Local finance worker Louise also received a £196,528 prize. She said, "I'm totally speechless. I never expected to win this kind of money and the champagne will definitely be popping tonight. Since hearing my postcode area had won, I haven't been able to stop singing the 'someone's knockin' at the door' song. I'm ecstatic."

Louise has a few ideas on how she'll put her winnings to good use, including a few treats for her daughter, Daytona. She said, "Daytona had her heart set on a dressing table for her bedroom. She kept saying 'it will be a big win, mum, I'm sure' and she was right! I've also always wanted to take her on a safari holiday. South Africa would be top of my list and thanks to winning, I'll be able to make it even more memorable for us both."

People's Postcode Lottery Presenters Judie McCourt and Matt Johnson hosted the special winners' event at Cwmbran Stadium. Congratulating the winners, Wales's own Matt Johnson said, "It's been absolutely brilliant to see so many neighbours winning and celebrating together today. Finding out what the win means to them is one of my favourite parts of a Postcode Millions and none of our winners were short on ideas as to how they'll spend the cash. A massive congratulations again to all of our lucky Cwmbran winners!"

Today's winners weren't the only ones receiving a gold envelope this weekend. A special funding award of £15,000 was presented to Llanhilleth Miners Institute to help fund its efforts in supporting local flood victims of Storm Dennis. 

Tom Whyatt MBE, chair of the Institute, said, "We are absolutely delighted that People's Postcode Lottery has awarded £15,000 to the Llanhilleth Miners Institute to support our community engagement work. The award will support our community engagement staffing and running costs to enable us to continue to provide support in the future both to flood victims and to the wider community. A very big thank you to the players of People's Postcode Lottery."

Matt added, "The team at the Miners Institute are providing much needed support to those within the local community who have been affected by the recent flooding. Thanks to players, this funding boost will enable this good cause to do even more at a time when people need it most."

Charities And Good Causes

With 32% of the ticket price going to good causes, players have raised more than £500 Million for thousands of charities since 2005.

February's Postcode Millions is part of a draw promoted by Postcode Heroes Trust, which supports good causes making a positive impact on communities through education, health, community development and sports-focused projects.

National Museum Wales has received more than £1.9 Million since 2014. This funding has supported a range of projects, including helping make the Big Pit National Coal Museum dementia friendly.

Many smaller good causes, nearby to the winning postcode sector, have benefited from the support of players too. Blenheim Road Community Primary School received £1,000 for outdoor learning resources, and Torfaen Citizens Advice Bureau's Smart About Money project was able to help provide more people in crisis or facing homelessness with debt, benefits, tenancy and budgeting guidance and support thanks to a grant of £20,000.

Not playing People's Postcode Lottery yet? Don't miss out on all the fun and the chance of a whopping cheque! If you aren't sure what's involved, find out How It Works. There are thrilling Prizes announced every day of the month. Feeling lucky? Why not sign up to play and see what you can win!

See photos of our Cwmbran winners in our February Postcode Millions album on Facebook.