Latest news with #ComicRelief
Telegraph
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Omaze is cashing in on Gen Z's despair – and my friends are falling for it
How many bedrooms does your dream mansion have? I don't think I'd bother with less than five. This is the sort of question I find myself asking as I am bombarded with inane advertisements for whatever McMansion Omaze is flogging this week. Sigh. A property lottery is a simple premise, and one that Omaze didn't invent, although it has successfully hijacked my social media to promote itself. Buy a ticket – for £10, for £25, for £50 – and if you're the lucky winner, you'll be handed the keys. But even without the notorious 'Omaze curse', which recently hit the former Miss Wales finalist, Vicky Curtis-Cresswell, buying a ticket (or, for goodness' sake, a subscription) to these lotteries is a complete waste of money. The odds were never in your favour. Any lottery is an idiot tax, but this feels a particularly egregious example. Maybe it is the excruciatingly irritating Instagram chirruping. Maybe it's the too-good-to-be-true gut feeling. Maybe it's the capitalising on Gen Z's despair of ever getting on the housing ladder with well-shot property porn. And Omaze really capitalises. It promised to donate 17pc of sales from what will eventually be Ms Curtis-Cresswell's house to Comic Relief. The company donated £4.1m in all. My simple maths suggests Omaze raked in more than £24m on that single draw. Given that it cost £10 to enter, you can get a good idea of how many tickets were sold. With average UK prices hitting £265,000, is it any wonder that even my own 20-something friends are being lured in by Omaze's cheap tickets and glossy Instagram ads? Some recently told me: 'It was New Year's Day and I was hungover.' And: 'It was 11pm, I was depressed.' It's hard to blame them. A young professional desperate to get on to an ever-more difficult property ladder will obviously chance their arm at every possible opportunity. Angela Rayner, the Housing Secretary, promised to have the answer, but her home building plans are substantially below target and face never-ending blockages. The next time you're tempted, think again. Donate the tenner to Comic Relief directly. Spend it on a middling bottle of plonk from Lidl – or five battered paperbacks from the charity shop – or one-and-a-half pints at a London pub.
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
'Omaze raffled two homes in our two and we've noticed one huge change'
'Omaze raffled two homes in our two and we've noticed one huge change' The US-based firm, which teams up with a charity for each draw, has given away two luxury homes in the small town of Blakeney, Norfolk, in the past two years Business owners in Blakeney say Omaze has brought people into their town (Image: wellsie82 via Getty Images ) Traders living in a picturesque seaside town where luxury homes have been won as raffle prizes have noticed a big change in the area. Omaze has held two luxury draws featuring properties in Blakeney, Norfolk. The company teams up with a charity each time, marking the properties online and on television. As a result, business owners in Blakeney say they have seen an upturn in trade since the first draw in 2023. Daren Bell, from Bournemouth, won Omaze's first prize draw in the town. He swapped his Dorset home for a £4,500,000 mansion, netting £100,000 in cash in the process. With Omaze covering the mortgage, stamp duty, and legal fees, Daren was able to sell his previous home and now enjoys a more comfortable lifestyle. Despite this, the self-proclaimed "workaholic" has chosen to continue working full-time at a facilities management firm, with plans to reassess his work-life balance in the future. Blakeney in Norfolk has seen two Omaze raffles (Image: Peter Swan via Getty Images ) Article continues below Daren remarked: "I am still working full-time but I'll re-evaluate that in a few years - I may cut down my hours or retire early. I sold my old home in Bournemouth and didn't have a mortgage on it, so I have a good chunk of cash saved for the future." Omaze, which originated in the US in 2012, recently raffled off a second property in Blakeney, a £6 million home, to raise funds for Comic Relief. However, the winner has yet to receive the keys due to an ongoing planning dispute with North Norfolk District Council, reports the Mirror. After a complaint from an anonymous member of the public about the house not being constructed according to approved designs, local businesses in Blakeney have noticed a positive impact due to the attention from Omaze's competition. Tallulah Darby, 21, who works at a family-run fishing stall in the town, described Blakeney as a "hidden gem" to the BBC. She observed that the contest had "definitely brought in so many more people around the area". Families in Blakeney say Omaze draws have brought more attention to their hometown (Image:) Tallulah revealed that even two members of her family purchased tickets, drawn by the allure of a home they "would never dream of being able to own". She expressed her surprise at the competition taking place in Blakeney, saying: "It's quite amazing, because you only ever think of those competitions happening in places like Cornwall, Devon or London." James Player, another local entrepreneur, also feels that the raffles have put Blakeney on the map. The 41-year-old, who feels "very lucky" to live on the coast, rents out holiday homes there. James commented on the benefits of the publicity from the raffles, noting that it has helped to "showcase the beauty of the area". He commended the competition for its role in "getting people living in houses". Speaking to the BBC, he highlighted the appeal of promotional materials, stating: "You have these beautiful drone shots over the salt marsh and things like that, which people are gonna really like and really draw people in." Article continues below Omaze, which started in the US 13 years ago, pledges to donate at least 17 percent of proceeds to charitable causes. The company's current raffle, offering a chance to win a £4 million home in Sussex, is set to conclude at midnight on June 29.
Times
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
The Times Daily Quiz: Friday June 20, 2025
1 Which event in 1666 destroyed more than 13,000 tightly packed wooden houses in London? 2 Which British charity launched its first plastic-free, plant-based Red Nose in 2021? 3 A new lifeline, 'Ask the host', was added to which TV quiz in 2018? 4 Which Asian country granted Mother Teresa citizenship in 1951? 5 The name 'Jack Tar' was given to members of which of the armed forces? 6 Which Take That member had his first solo No 1 single with Forever Love (1996)? 7 The Venetian dish, fegato alla veneziana, combines onions and which offal? 8 The prophet Jokanaan calls the title character of which Oscar Wilde play a 'daughter of Sodom'? 9 Which island in the Bristol Channel is named after the Old Norse for 'puffin island'? 10 Siderophile elements, such as platinum and rhodium, tend to bond with which metal? 11 The largest freshwater fish in North America is known as the white … what? 12 Which Canadian comedian plays a fictionalised version of himself in the TV series The Rehearsal? 13 Which South Korean author wrote the 2018 therapy memoir I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki? 14 Highland Games competitors who toss the caber must wear which Scottish garment? 15 Which Strictly Come Dancing co-host is pictured? Scroll down for answersAnswers1 Great Fire of London 2 Comic Relief 3Who Wants to be a Millionaire? 4 India 5 Royal Navy 6 Gary Barlow 7 Liver, usually calf's 8 Salome 9 Lundy 10 Iron 11 Sturgeon 12 Nathan Fielder 13 Baek Sehee 14 Kilt 15 Tess Daly
The Irish Sun
19-06-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Beauty queen who won luxury £6m mansion in £10 Omaze raffle is DENIED keys amid planning dispute
A UK beauty queen has been denied the keys to her own £6m home following an anonymous complaint about its design. Former 7 Vicky Curtis-Cresswell was in the Miss Wales 2008 Final in Cardiff Credit: SWNS 7 Her new luxury home won through Omaze is located in Larkfields in Norfolk Credit: Omaze/SWNS 7 It's swimming pool and tennis court were key in promoting the draw for the property Credit: Omaze/SWNS 7 Ms Curtis-Cresswell scooped the Omaze Million Pound House for £10 Credit: SWNS The house, however, has been under investigation after a member of public raised concerns in March about the design approvals of the home. Ms Curtis-Cresswell, originally from south Wales, described the "pure joy" she felt after winning the property in Blakeney, Norfolk. She entered the Miss Wales competition in 2008, where she became a finalist and also won Most Driven Contestant. But after winning the £10 Omaze raffle draw, Ms Curtis-Creswell said: "Our lives changed forever and we became multi-millionaires. "It's crazy, one week, we're worrying about our old car breaking down, the next thing we've got a £6 million house." She had been living at her in-laws' home and was hoping to find a property for her family. The mansion was the most expensive that has been given away in a UK prize draw, as the competition raised £4m for BBC's Comic Relief. It was modelled on the luxurious seaside villas of Long Island's Hamptons, with a tennis court and swimming pool. Most read in Money These features, however, are reported to not have planning permission, with the property also appearing to have been built larger than permitted according planning documents and photographs inspected. Omaze say these issues were not revealed during checks and surveys by the fundraising firm before the property was purchased. Win this coastal house in Cornwall with Omaze They added: 'Omaze continues to work with North Norfolk District Council in relation to recommendations made regarding the property in Norfolk. "Omaze has submitted a pre-application to the council and is submitting a retrospective planning application. 'Omaze reiterates that it guarantees no house winner would ever have to incur any costs whatsoever to remedy any historical planning issue. "Omaze further guarantees that all house prizes are transferred to winners with good and marketable title." North Norfolk District Council who are investigating the planning breaches of the home, which may have to face enforcement action and even rebuilding. A spokesperson for the council said: "We are waiting for an application to be submitted by the owners to try and regularise the current breaches of planning control. "We are expecting an application to be submitted by the end of this month." Ms Curtis-Cresswell has revealed she plans to sell the luxury mansion to instead buy a house in Wales for her family. Managing director of local estate agents Minors and Brady, Jamie Minors, has however said the planning problems are likely to significantly impact the property's chance of sale, as well as value. He said: "Selling it will definitely be more difficult and challenging, as solicitors will definitely advise against it." Read more on the Irish Sun If rented out, the property could earn around £5,500 per month, but Ms Curtis-Cresswell has said: "I think we'll sell it to release the money and buy another amazing house somewhere in Wales." The 5,000 square-foot home came with a £250,000 cash prize, along with its summer house, all-weather AstroTruf tennis court, secluded pontoon, and £165,000 worth of furnishing. What to Do If You Disagree with the Council's Planning Decision Disputes over planning applications can be stressful, but there are steps you can take to challenge or resolve the situation: Understand the Reasons : Carefully review the council's decision and the specific reasons for refusal or enforcement. This will help you identify areas to address. Seek Professional Advice : Consult a planning consultant or solicitor with expertise in planning law. They can offer tailored advice and represent your case if necessary. Submit an Appeal : If you believe the decision is unfair, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. Be prepared to provide evidence and technical details to support your case. Explore Compromise : Engage with the council to see if a compromise can be reached. Adjusting aspects of the development, such as materials or design, may lead to an acceptable solution. Engage the Community : Support from neighbours and local residents can strengthen your position. A petition or letters of support may highlight the development's benefits. Act Promptly : There are strict time limits for appeals and responses to enforcement notices. Ensure you act within the specified deadlines to avoid further complications. Remember, while it can be frustrating, maintaining a constructive dialogue with the council is often the best way to find a resolution. 7 Ms Curtis-Cresswell, currently lives with her husband, Dale, 41, and young daughter Credit: Mark Field Photography/Omaze/SWNS 7 The home was built in the style of architecture found in Cape Cod and the Hamptons Credit: Omaze/SWNS 7 Her new home comes with a wrap-around balcony offering panoramic views of the North Norfolk Coast Credit: SWNS
Scottish Sun
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Beauty queen who won luxury £6m mansion in £10 Omaze raffle is DENIED keys as neighbour sparks bitter planning row
She may now sell it HOUSE THAT Beauty queen who won luxury £6m mansion in £10 Omaze raffle is DENIED keys as neighbour sparks bitter planning row Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A UK beauty queen has been denied the keys to her own £6m home following an anonymous complaint about its design. Former Miss Wales finalist, Vicky Curtis-Crewell, 38, won the luxury mansion in February when she was drawn from a £10 Omaze and Comic Relief raffle. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Vicky Curtis-Cresswell was in the Miss Wales 2008 Final in Cardiff Credit: SWNS 7 Her new luxury home won through Omaze is located in Larkfields in Norfolk Credit: Omaze/SWNS 7 It's swimming pool and tennis court were key in promoting the draw for the property Credit: Omaze/SWNS 7 Ms Curtis-Cresswell scooped the Omaze Million Pound House for £10 Credit: SWNS The house, however, has been under investigation after a member of public raised concerns in March about the design approvals of the home. Ms Curtis-Cresswell, originally from south Wales, described the "pure joy" she felt after winning the property in Blakeney, Norfolk. She entered the Miss Wales competition in 2008, where she became a finalist and also won Most Driven Contestant. But after winning the £10 Omaze raffle draw, Ms Curtis-Creswell said: "Our lives changed forever and we became multi-millionaires. "It's crazy, one week, we're worrying about our old car breaking down, the next thing we've got a £6 million house." She had been living at her in-laws' home and was hoping to find a property for her family. The mansion was the most expensive that has been given away in a UK prize draw, as the competition raised £4m for BBC's Comic Relief. It was modelled on the luxurious seaside villas of Long Island's Hamptons, with a tennis court and swimming pool. These features, however, are reported to not have planning permission, with the property also appearing to have been built larger than permitted according planning documents and photographs inspected. Omaze say these issues were not revealed during checks and surveys by the fundraising firm before the property was purchased. Win this coastal house in Cornwall with Omaze They added: 'Omaze continues to work with North Norfolk District Council in relation to recommendations made regarding the property in Norfolk. "Omaze has submitted a pre-application to the council and is submitting a retrospective planning application. 'Omaze reiterates that it guarantees no house winner would ever have to incur any costs whatsoever to remedy any historical planning issue. "Omaze further guarantees that all house prizes are transferred to winners with good and marketable title." North Norfolk District Council who are investigating the planning breaches of the home, which may have to face enforcement action and even rebuilding. A spokesperson for the council said: "We are waiting for an application to be submitted by the owners to try and regularise the current breaches of planning control. "We are expecting an application to be submitted by the end of this month." Ms Curtis-Cresswell has revealed she plans to sell the luxury mansion to instead buy a house in Wales for her family. Managing director of local estate agents Minors and Brady, Jamie Minors, has however said the planning problems are likely to significantly impact the property's chance of sale, as well as value. He said: "Selling it will definitely be more difficult and challenging, as solicitors will definitely advise against it." If rented out, the property could earn around £5,500 per month, but Ms Curtis-Cresswell has said: "I think we'll sell it to release the money and buy another amazing house somewhere in Wales." The 5,000 square-foot home came with a £250,000 cash prize, along with its summer house, all-weather AstroTruf tennis court, secluded pontoon, and £165,000 worth of furnishing. 7 Ms Curtis-Cresswell, currently lives with her husband, Dale, 41, and young daughter Credit: Mark Field Photography/Omaze/SWNS 7 The home was built in the style of architecture found in Cape Cod and the Hamptons Credit: Omaze/SWNS
