A BRADFORD community figure said he was honoured to have been invited to the Queen’s garden party after being recognised for his selfless charity work.

Nazim Ali, who is from Manningham, was invited to rub shoulders with the royals on account of the more than two decades he has spent supporting the less fortunate.

Nazim – who was initially invited to attend the 2020 party, only for it to be cancelled due to the pandemic – has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for good causes over the last 24 years.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Nazim Ali at the eventNazim Ali at the event

Through his Creating Smiles Gifts Initiative he has given presents to poorly children at Bradford Royal Infirmary and Airedale Hospital, with the help of his Bradford-based sponsor SaveCo Cash & Carry.

He has also raised £300,000 for charity through his 10k Ramadan runs, something he has done annually for nine years, despite fasting.

Nazim has also served the homeless for the last eight years, through the Curry Circle project at Manningham Library, and has been a full-time careers adviser for students at Bradford schools for the last 14 years.

READ MORE: Bradford man smashes £500,000 fundraising goal after Blackpool Ramadan run

“I am profoundly humbled and honoured to have attended the royal garden party at Buckingham Palace,” said Nazim, who was also the youngest chair of Girlington Community Centre, taking charge at just 21.

“I view the fact that I was invited to this event as not only as a great honour for myself, but also for my home city of Bradford and everyone who has supported me over the years.

“Although the Queen was unable to attend due to her ongoing mobility issues, it was lovely to see Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Edward Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Princess Beatrice and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.” 

Nazim – who attended the party with his childhood friend, Wajid Khan – is of Pakistani descent, born and raised in Bradford to working-class parents from Azad Kashmir.

He added that this fact has made his success, and his subsequent invitation to the event, even more poignant.

“I would never have envisaged that the son of first-generation immigrants from Azad Kashmir, born and raised in Manningham, would be invited to the residence of the Queen,” he said.

“I was the first in my family to go to university and I think that also shows that if you work hard, your socio-economic background shouldn’t be a deterrent to being successful.

“We have challenges, but you can still reach your potential and reach goals you never thought would be possible.”

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