Many people dream of winning a big prize in the EuroMillions and imagine what they would spend the money on. But it is likely that one of the first projects we would consider would not be a large charitable investment. In contrast, Steve Thomson, a British bricklayer who won a €123 million prize in 2019, invested much of his prize money in making the lives of others a little happier. This Sunday, the Mirror published a report on Thomson, explaining how he transformed an abandoned building into the headquarters of a charity that supports young adults with disabilities so that they can live, learn and work.
‘My father’s sister had severe lumbar scoliosis, so I was raised to respect people with disabilities and try to help in any way I could,’ says the millionaire. ‘When I was ten, my father, Peter, started teaching children with disabilities to swim every week. I was a good swimmer, so I would help out, and that went on for a few years. My father’s kindness planted the seed for what I do now,’ he continues.
The new centre, located in the city of Chichester, has three floors, with a training room, a sensory room, an open-plan classroom, and a training kitchen and cafeteria called Boardwalk Cafe. The centre, operated by the organisation Together Our Community (TOC), offers young people the opportunity to learn to cook and develop hospitality skills.
‘After winning (the prize), I knew exactly where I wanted to help. Some friends have sons and daughters with autism and other learning difficulties, and there was nothing in the area where they could safely get together, learn skills and make friends,’ explains Thomson. “As soon as they turn 18, they are completely forgotten, unless they are lucky enough to get a funded place at university. Even then, parents are completely isolated and often have to leave their jobs to support their children. It’s a real struggle and it’s heartbreaking to hear their stories,” explains the generous millionaire.
‘During lockdown, I realised the magnitude of the problem. At first, I helped TOC with a small donation, buying a second-hand van to take young people to do internships at local companies, do volunteer work and enjoy day trips,’ adds Thomson. ‘It soon became clear that what TOC really needed was a permanent centre, a place where they could expand and help other young people between the ages of 18 and 35, and that’s when I started looking for and buying a building for them,’ says the millionaire. ‘I’m going to invite my father, who is now 76, to the Boardwalk Café, because I know he will also be delighted that I have done something to make a difference. I met the young people who will benefit from this new centre and from working in the café, and I found it deeply moving and humbling, and as heart-warming as it was back then,’ he concludes.
