Euromillions winners help jobless father back into work with donation for bike

A COUPLE who won nearly £5 million in a Euromillions draw have donated £100 to help a struggling father get back to work – a problem that they knew all about, just two years ago.

As reported, jobless father-of-three Carl Wood, 25, of Weelsby Street, Grimsby, had to turn down offers of work because he was unable to afford transport to get him there in the morning.

Mr Wood was refused financial assistance and became so frustrated with the situation that he spoke with Austin Mitchell MP and even received a letter from the then Minister for Employment Chris Grayling in November 2011.

However, wealthy benefactors Lee and Susan Mullen, who won £4.8 million on the Euromillions last February, donated £100 to the dedicated father so he can buy a push bike.

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Mr Wood will now start his new job as a factory worker with food processing company Coldwater next week.

He said: "I was always brought up to work hard, pay my way and look after my children and I am so happy that I can finally do that again.

"People tar everyone on benefits with the same brush and think that you are addicted to drink and drugs but I just wanted to get back to work."

Mr Wood has been working since he was 13 years old but lost his last job as a driver in August 2011 after he had an epileptic fit and was forced to give up his licence.

It is a problem that lottery winner Lee, of Barnoldby-le-Beck, can relate to as he was also forced to live on benefits after being medically discharged from the Royal Navy. Mr Mullen, 40, said: "It is shocking that there are young people who are genuinely trying to get back to work and it seems like they are just getting kicked in the teeth.

"I have a son who is 23 and has got training at college and did four weeks of work experience – doing 12-hour shifts – and still wasn't offered a job at the end of it.

"Before we won the lottery we were living on benefits and I was struggling to get a job for two main reasons – because I was discharged for medical reasons and because I lived on the Nunsthorpe estate.

"It isn't easy living on benefits and people just automatically assume that you're a drunk or an addict – and it's not always the case."

Mr Wood added: "I thought no-one was bothered about my problems.

" It is nice to know that someone cared enough to try to help me and my family out."