A Cardiff mum who went to bed asking her late sister for “a sign” woke the next morning to discover her family syndicate had won £10,000 every month for the next 30 years on The National Lottery’s Set For Life.
Amanda Hampton, 51, had been struggling with grief after the death of her beloved sister Michelle in April 2024, when she spoke to her in her thoughts before going to sleep.
Amanda said: “I’d had a really bad day and was feeling incredibly sad about losing my sister. Lying in bed that night, I remember speaking to her in my head and saying, ‘I just need a sign that you’re okay.’”
The following morning, Amanda noticed an email from The National Lottery, but initially thought it was another notification about a small win.
“I’d had those emails before and usually it was for a £5 win, so I didn’t think much of it”, she said.
Later that morning, while walking to Greggs to get breakfast and a coffee before work, Amanda opened The National Lottery app to check her numbers.
“I nearly fell over. I immediately called Matthew at 6am. He wasn’t very happy I’d woken him up until I sent him the screenshot. Then he couldn’t believe it either!”
The winning syndicate is made up of Amanda, her brother Gareth, 46, close family friend Louise, 46, and Amanda’s ex-husband Matthew, 55.
Amanda Hampton’s family syndicate won National Lottery’s Set for Life
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Amanda called The National Lottery once its phone lines opened to check whether the win was genuine.
She was travelling with work colleagues when the prize was officially confirmed.
“Everyone from work was in the car when I got the confirmation. When they told me it was real, we all just screamed”, Amanda recalled.
The £10,000-a-month prize has transformed the family’s finances. Before the win, Amanda was working between 60 and 70 hours a week to cover her outgoings.
She said: “I was constantly worrying about money and whether I could keep everything going.
“The win has completely changed my life and seeing the money go into my bank each month feels like winning over and over again, every single month.
“I now feel completely secure and can look forward instead of worrying all the time.”
The syndicate had played Set For Life since the game launched, attracted by the prospect of a regular monthly income.
Since winning, Gareth has paid off his mortgage, while Amanda and Louise have made changes to their homes and gardens. Matthew bought a new car, and Louise has been able to enjoy regular trips to Spain.
One of the family’s most treasured celebrations since the win has been at Celtic Manor, a place where Amanda, Michelle and Louise had celebrated birthdays and special occasions together
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The family has also been able to help their children. Amanda and Matthew’s son is preparing to attend university in Scotland without needing to take out a student loan, while Amanda is supporting Michelle’s son as he prepares to travel to Australia.
“We know Michelle would be thrilled that the family is secure and that we’re looking after the children,” Amanda said.
One of the family’s most treasured celebrations since the win has been at Celtic Manor, a place where Amanda, Michelle and Louise had celebrated birthdays and special occasions together.
The three friends had a running joke that if they ever won The National Lottery, they would stay in the hotel’s Presidential Suite. After the win, Amanda made sure they finally fulfilled that promise, arranging a stay to coincide with the anniversary of Michelle’s passing.
On the first night, close friends gathered to remember Michelle, while the wider family came together the following evening to raise a glass to her.
“Whenever we go to Celtic Manor, I always take a photo of my sister with me. It makes me feel like she’s still part of the celebrations”, Amanda said.
“Michelle should have been here enjoying all of this with us. We miss her every day. Everything we do, we think about whether she’d be smiling about it.”
She added: “Winning Set For Life has changed everything for us. It’s given us freedom, taken away the stress and allowed us to make memories together.
“But most importantly, it’s given us the chance to do things that Michelle would have loved and to keep her memory alive in everything we do.”