A lockdown success story is finding a home in Meanwood.
From an up-cycled horse trailer to a coffee shop, Humbl is the UK’s first battery powered mobile coffee shop with a lockdown success story that started off, and continues to be, an entirely self-funded small business.
Located in the heart of Meanwood, a leafy suburb less than three miles from Leeds city centre, the little coffee shop now has big plans to take over one of Meanwood's shops to open a permanent home.
Ever-humble, the independent coffee stop is owned by locals Matt and Georgia (and their dog Lou) and after growing their business presence at a host of pop-up events around Leeds over the past year and securing a local spot near Meanwood Park and Seagulls Reuse, the owners are now hoping to give the suburb that has taken in Humbl for the past twelve months, a permanent home in the form of a coffee shop.
From horse box to coffee shop. / Image: Humbl
The couple shared their vision on Crowdfunder at the weekend and are hoping to raise £6000 for coffee-making equipment. With the help of the local community, the aim is to raise enough to purchase a two group coffee machine, so that Humbl can cope with the bigger demand of a coffee shop.
The owners said: "We are excited to announce that we have just got the keys to this amazing local treasure and while we're well on our way to making our dream a reality we need your help to get us over the finish line!"
Humbl started as a converted horse trailer. / Image: Humbl
The owners shared a message on local community pages earlier this week, offering exciting merchandise, vouchers, invites to their opening and even a black card as part of their fundraising efforts:
"Humbl beginnings! We’re opening a coffee shop in Meanwood! Some very exciting and scary times ahead. We could not have come this far without your amazing support. Our aim is to give Meanwood a speciality coffee shop with a focus on sustainability, arts and community.
The location of the new Humbl coffee shop. / Image: Humbl
"A space where we can support local artists, projects and fellow small businesses! While we're well on our way to making our dream a reality we need your help to raise funds to get our small business off to a flying start.
"In return we are offering some fantastic rewards, including limited edition merch, VIP launch party invites and free coffee on us for a whole year. Your contribution, no matter how great or small, would mean the world. We can’t wait to welcome you all! Your Humbl humans, Matt, Georgia and Lou."
Some of the crowdfunders will receive tote bags as thanks. / Image: Humbl
Every £20 donation will give the donor access to a limited edition birthday blend, 250g bag of beans, limited edition tote and a free coffee upon opening, but the prizes scale all the way up to £1500 donation offerings.
The top offering is one of four 'Humbl Black Cards' which will entitle the lucky donor to 50% off any bill sit in or take out forever, as well as a hand written invite to soft launch/opening day and after party with a plus one, a plaque with your name on it in the venue- and a permanent state of gratitude from the business owners.
Whilst renovations take place, Matt will still be "smashing out his famous flats whites" at Humbl's locally-known spot next to Meanwood Park every Friday - Sunday until the opening of their permanent store, as well as attending plenty of pop-up events around the city too.
The owners pictured on their Facebook post. / Image: Humbl
A £1.6m grant has been given by the government to Leeds City Council to help tackle rough sleeping.
The funding has been allocated to Leeds City Council as part of the Government’s national Rough Sleeping Programme.
The overall target is to help rough sleepovers off the streets by Christmas through providing safe accommodation.
The council have said that voluntary organisations and charities will be able to help them reach this target.
The council report said: "This funding will be used for immediate interventions to ensure all those rough sleeping have an offer of accommodation by Christmas and support longer term sustainment of accommodation.
“The initial target is to provide a suitable offer of accommodation for everyone who is rough sleeping by Christmas 2026.
“Providing a path into supported accommodation and independent living is the key objective and sustaining this independent living with, where necessary, ongoing support to prevent any return to rough sleeping and homelessness.”
The government announcement spoke of the scheme: "The programme is intended to support people experiencing rough sleeping.
"People experiencing rough sleeping may have differing entitlements to housing and support depending on their individual circumstances, including their immigration status and eligibility for public funds."
The funding is intended to help provide immediate support for people currently sleeping on the streets, while also helping them access longer-term accommodation and the support needed to maintain independent living.
By working with local charities and voluntary organisations, the council hopes to ensure people are not only offered a place to stay but are also given the help they need to avoid returning to the streets.
M&S launches massive recruitment drive in Leeds with hundreds of jobs available
Emily Sergeant
M&S has launched a massive recruitment drive across Yorkshire.
With the festive season fast approaching, and most British stores having already unveiled their Christmas ranges for 2026, one of the country’s largest brands has launched a massive UK-wide seasonal recruitment drives to gear up for what is always one of the busiest times of the year for the retail industry.
M&S has announced it will recruit for plenty of new colleagues across the UK.
As mentioned Christmas is one of the busiest moments of the year for M&S, and seasonal colleagues play a ‘vital’ part in delivering that.
Image: Supplied
New recruits will be tasked with helping M&S deliver a ‘brilliant’ service for customers.
Stores with vacancies span the whole of Leeds - including city centre, Moortown, Crown Point, White Rose Shopping Centre and Pudsey.
M&S says the roles are ‘fast-moving and hands-on’, with colleagues required to work together to make sure customers still get the very best of M&S, even at its busiest.
The roles will pay £13.41 per hour, with successful applicants receiving the training, tools and support needed to get up to speed quickly.
“We can’t wait to welcome over 300 new colleagues to our store teams here in Greater Manchester,” commented Zeba Khan, who is the Regional Manager at M&S.
“As we get ready for our busiest time of year, it’s a great opportunity to join us and help bring a magical M&S Christmas to our customers.
“We have a range of opportunities available, whether joining our city centre flagship or our fresh market-style foodhalls. We’re looking for colleagues who are passionate about delivering great customer service and being part of a team.”
Fancy it then? Applications are now open, and you can find out more and apply on the M&S Christmas careers page here.
Sophie Smith -
5th April 2022 
