Video: Leeds boxing hero Josh's charity support packs a meaty punch

So who better than Leeds sporting star Josh Warrington to serve up a knockout boost for some of the neediest people in his home city?

He was on hand as the donation of a year’s supply of meat to Leeds’s St George’s Crypt homeless charity was announced yesterday. (Nov 3)

The commitment has been made by Josh and one of his sponsors, national retail butchery specialist Dalziel Ltd.

Their donation, which is worth nearly £20,000 and includes Drovers beef, Glenvale pork, Oakwell gammon and Gressingham turkey, will be used to provide up to 350 meals a week for the homeless in Leeds during 2017.

Josh said: “We can all play a role in supporting those less fortunate than us who sleep on the streets in Leeds and it’s great to have this opportunity to help out.

“Giving them food each week through 2017 is a small step to getting them back on the road to recovery.”

After yesterday’s handover, Josh tweeted that it had been “inspirational” meeting people who had turned the corner with the aid of the charity.

The support of Josh and Dalziel was welcomed by David Pilling, chef at the St George’s Crypt-based Nurture programme.

He said: “We at the Crypt are so grateful to Dalziel and their supplier partners for the tremendous support they are providing to us in donating such a lot of high quality meat.

“This will make such a difference to our clients. Nurture offers jobs and volunteering opportunities to former Crypt clients and the generosity of Dalziel will not only provide fantastic meals in the run-up to Christmas, but also will enhance the training opportunities for our team in preparing these meals.”

Dalziel’s Jim McLean said: “We are amazed at how much St George’s Crypt does to help people in their hour of need, which is why we’re proud to provide our support.

“With huge thanks to our suppliers Dunbia, Pork Traders, Westvlees and Gressingham Foods, we are committing to a year-round campaign aimed at helping the most vulnerable in society.”

Dalziel is the UK’s specialist supplier to the nation’s retail butchery industry, serving butchers since 1926 with a full range of the finest quality frozen and chilled meat, an extensive range of ingredients, butchers’ sundries and packaging.

Josh, meanwhile, furthered his already impressive claims to being Britain’s best featherweight fighter after knocking out Patrick Hyland at the First Direct Arena in Leeds in July.

CHARITY HAS ITS ROOTS IN THE 1930S

The Story of St George’s Crypt began in the Great Depression of 1930, when thousands of people were forced out of work and onto the streets.

The clearing of the Crypt beneath St George’s Church in the heart of Leeds was meant to provide a temporary shelter for those in need.

But its work has continued to this day, with as many as 40 people estimated to be homeless in Leeds at any one time. Visit www.stgeorgescrypt.org.uk for more details.