Inspiring blind Leeds volunteer gives his life to city's most vulnerable saying 'I’m one of the lucky ones'

The severe lack of sight won’t stop a blind Leeds man strive to help his community, as he claims "you don’t need your eyesight to support people".

Craig Winstanley, 47, has laughed in the face of adversity, pointing out his lack of sight won’t hold him back. The father of two has relied on disability allowance his whole life but is now “giving back”, by volunteering at a Leeds foodbank and helping ex-convicts rehabilitate into society.

Craig, from Seacroft, is currently volunteering for the St Giles Trust, which has a centre in Savile Mount, Chapeltown. Blighted with a rare eye disease since birth, retinitis pigmentosa, he only has three per cent vision compared to most people.

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Craig said: “I’ve been trying to get people to understand, you don’t need your eyesight to support people. I’ve still got brains, ears and a mouth. Just because my eyes don’t work, why should that stop me?

“I wanted to give something back to support people, to tell them they can blossom like a tulip. That’s my philosophy, I came up with it about a month ago.

Craig describes himself as 'one of the lucky ones' (Samuel Port)

"I’m registered blind so I just wanted to show people there is support there for anybody and anybody can achieve what they need to do really.”

The 47-year-old is training to become a support advance mentor for the trust. The trust not only offers a pantry for those in need and support for ex-convicts, it also supports vulnerable women, children and families.

Even though his life has been seriously debilitated by his blindness, Craig describes himself as “one of the lucky ones”. He’s said he’s seen many people in harrowing situations and it breaks his heart.

Craig is immensely proud of his two sons, who he says he raised as a single-father (Samuel Port)

He said: “I’m one of the lucky ones, I can manage with what I get. People on Universal Credit cannot survive, it’s not right. I’ve spoken to people who have nothing.”

The Seacroft man is immensely proud of his sons Thomas, a vape shop worker, and Matthew, who’s a groundworker, both almost 30, who he says he raised as a single father. Craig’s partner, who he’s been with for about a year, gives him a lift to the St Giles Trust each time.

Craig spends volunteers at the St Giles Pantry, the food bank while studying for his Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) course with the trust.

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