A mother of 15 once dubbed Britain’s Benefits Queen has rebuilt her life and finances after leaving the welfare system and establishing a growing beauty business.
Cheryl-Anne Prudham, now known as Cheryl Drew, previously received up to £60,000 a year in benefits.
The 43-year-old no longer claims any state support beyond the standard child benefit and now runs three beauty salons specialising in tattoo removal, piercings and aesthetic treatments.
Ms Drew lives with her husband, Mark Drew, 47, in a ten-bedroom former nursing home in Wales.
Of their children, 12 live at home, while her youngest child, aged 18 months, attends nursery with fees paid entirely from her earnings.
One of her daughters is financially independent while studying at university, and all six of her children who have reached school-leaving age are now in employment.
The family receives child benefit available to all working households and free school meals provided universally to Welsh primary school pupils.
Ms Drew’s transition away from benefits followed the introduction of the two-child cap under the Conservative Government in 2017.
Mother of 15 once dubbed Britain’s Benefits Queen rebuilds life with growing beauty business after leaving welfare
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That same year, she separated from her first husband and was left supporting a large family on a reduced income.
After her income dropped, she secured work as a carer and began moving towards financial independence.
It was during this period she met her current husband, with whom she later formed both a personal and business partnership.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the couple invested in laser equipment and launched a mobile tattoo removal service.
The business grew steadily, allowing them to save enough money to open their first permanent clinic in Llandudno in 2024.
Since then, the enterprise has expanded to three locations.
One of the newer clinics also offers baby scanning services alongside cosmetic treatments.
She labelled the Budget as “stupid” and not helpful for mothers
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PAMs Drew has criticised Labour’s decision to abolish the two-child benefit cap, due to take effect from April 2026, which will provide families with an additional £3,647 per year for each child beyond the first two.
She’s told friends she believes removing the cap reduces the incentive for parents to enter work.
She said: “Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves need to do the country a favour and change that stupid Budget. Handouts don’t always help.
“I can’t believe what Rachel Reeves has done. She’s going backwards, not moving mums forwards.”
She has urged the Government to help businesses
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POOLThe Budget included tax increases to fund an additional £16billion in benefits spending.
Since her time on benefits, Ms Drew’s financial position has changed significantly and she now contributes to the tax system as a business owner.
She has previously spoken about struggling to top up her electricity meter by £10 at a time, and now covers a large household energy bill without assistance.
However, she has expressed concern about the wider economic environment facing small businesses.
“The Government needs to help us grow our businesses not kill them off. They’re screwing everything up.”
