Dear all,

I need to inform you about a member of our community who is in desperate need of our help.

On Wednesday afternoon, as I was driving down Barkerend Road in Bradford, I saw a young man with a message written on a cardboard, ‘I am homeless, please help’ . I turned my car round and parked up, walked over to the central reservation where he was sat and gave him some money.

When I asked him how he got here, he said he had split with his partner and now had nowhere to live. He told me that he sleeps in the doorway of a business near the town centre. He explained the local authority/housing said he was not priority. A charity had given him a tent to sleep wherever he could.

I asked him his name. he said it was Karl but his Muslim name was Hamza. He said the Mosque near to where we were stood would not let him pray because he was not clean. His ex-partner would not let him see his child because he converted to Islam. As Hamza told me his story, sweat was pouring down his face and clearing some of the dirt from it, yet he was so cheerful and hopeful. It was truly humbling to be in his presence.

I am sure you also are moved and saddened by his story, especially in Ramadan. My wife and I have decided to try and raise funds to get Hamza back on the road, hopefully to get a roof over his head and so give him a chance to earn a living.

I am asking you to please donate whatever you can to help Hamza get a roof over his head and start from there. If you need to contact me, you can do so on 07545 128978.