Josh Ellie was once a frequent fixture outside the Greggs on Kirstall road. He was addicted to drugs for nearly two years, struggling with dependencies on spice and cocaine and sleeping rough.
During this tough period, whenever Greggs' store manager Shelagh saw him outside she would buy him breakfast and a hot drink - a gesture he says helped to save his life whilst he was sleeping rough.
Over the past four months he’s managed to turn his life around, thanks in part to help of Leeds charity Vulnerable Citizen Support.
Fronted by Pudsey local Hayden Lee Jessop, the charity picked him up outside Greggs, found him housing and helped him to start work as a landscaper.
Ellis has now been clean of cocaine and spice for over 124 days.
Greggs on Kirkstall road
Having come so far, he went back to thank Shelagh for the help she gave during one of the most difficult periods of his life.
He told her: “I want to say thank you for what you did buying me breakfast each morning.”
Shelagh couldn’t believe how much he had changed, adding that he isn’t just inspiring himself but others around the UK too.
The charity, who’s slogan is “homeless not helpless”, was founded by Jessop at the start of 2020.
A reformed criminal himself, Jessop spent time in prison in 2013 for violence and drugs. Having turned his own life around, he now wants to help others do the same.
He has spent the past year building temporary homes out of shipping containers and helping addicts get clean as part of a one year detox programme.
The charity also provides food parcels to local individuals and families in need.
Photographs of Josh’s reunion with Shelagh have been circulating on social media, with many praising his recovery.
Leeds
New and improved LEGO store with Yorkshire-inspired models announces opening date
The 456sq m store will give shoppers the chance to fully immerse themselves in the world of LEGO building.
No matter what age, you just can't beat a bit ot LEGO.
And it's safe to say that excitement is well and truly building (get it?) as the LEGO Group has announced its new store will open at Trinity Leeds on Thursday April.
To celebrate the opening there will be specially-designed, Yorkshire-inspired LEGO models available to see and pose with on launch day.
The new and improved store will include a LEGO Pick a Brick Wall, where shoppers can search for the perfect piece to complete their masterpiece, start a brand-new build, or customise an existing LEGO set.
Images: Supplied
There will also be free build challenges and events in-store, as well as a create your own LEGO Minifigures area giving customers the chance to mix and match from a wide selection of pieces, with ‘Brick Specialists' on hand to offer expert advice.
Steven Foster, Centre Director at Trinity Leeds, said: “The new LEGO store is bigger and better than ever before with some incredible interactive elements that will allow creativity and imaginations to flourish. As the only LEGO store in West Yorkshire, it has already proved incredibly popular here at Trinity Leeds, and this new store will bring even more of what LEGO fans love.”
The new LEGO store comes alongside a whole host of new openings inside Trinity, including schuh, Jerk Junction, Lane7 and Footasylum.
Announcing the news to Instagram, Edge's Pizza said: "Well there’s good reason for our silence over the last few months, (planning permission pending) we’ve got a home! Seven months of looking and we’ve learnt so much on this journey already, from investment that didn’t work out, to dodgy buildings not fit for purpose. We’ve got there in the end.
"All that to say, we pride ourselves on perfection and wouldn’t settle for anything less. We hope this will be worth the wait, and that you’ll support us on this next huge step. We are terrified to say the least, but we’re also so excited and immensely grateful to you our lovely customers for this opportunity."
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This would be great news for Leeds, as their pizza is something unlike anything we have in the city at the moment.
Forget the floppy, Neapolitan-slices that you fold before shoving in your gob. These slices are satisfyingly thin, perfectly crispy and just downright delicious.
We would love to welcome Edges Pizza to the city and we'll keep you updated with the progress. You can bet we'll be the first to order.
Georgina Pellant -
28th April 2021 
