YOUNG people who went above and beyond over the festive season have been honoured at a special ceremony at Mannigham Mills Community Centre.

The ceremony, which was on Tuesday, recognised the hard work of children and young people who helped to deliver food and essential items to vulnerable and isolated people over Christmas, as part of the Volunteering Interfaith Partnership (VIP).

Some of those people showed their appreciation by attending the ceremony, giving boxes of chocolates to the young people to say thanks.

Certificates and gifts were presented, on behalf of Strengthening Faith Institutions (SFI), by Thomas Lovesey, Head of Engagement for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, who travelled up from London. 

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

“Over 850,000 older people were to spend Christmas alone, and this fact was only worsened by the cost of living crisis,” said Dr Javed Bashir, SFI Consultant and Founder of VIP.

“Faith communities have always played a pivotal role in supporting vulnerable groups.”

Christmas hampers were also distributed to elderly people in Manningham through local madrassas.

Madrassa teacher, Hafiz Mohammed Zubair, said: “By cultivating kindness in our children, we can benefit them, as well as wider communities.

“For kindness to become the norm, our children will need to learn how to be kind and carry the torch forward for future generations.”

Habib, Fathima-Zahra, Adyan and Ismaeel Hussain are some of the volunteers who helped their neighbours as part of the scheme. 

“I was really pleased to receive this award. I got involved as looking after your neighbours is important in my religion, and I feel like it’s my duty to help them”, said 15-year-old Habib.

“As a Muslim, I don’t celebrate Christmas, but I still enjoy the smile it brings.

“Christmas is meant to be a time of happiness – imagine you have nobody to give gifts to and no one to share a hug with.

“Being kind makes us feel good, and motivates us to do it more.”

10-year-old Adyan added: “It’s nice to visit your neighbours and to share something with them. It makes them happy.”

The Dawoodi Bohra community, Bradford Hindu Council and Ramgarhia Gurdwara were also recognised for preparing meals and distributing them to people in need.

Dr Murtuza Mookhtiar, a Dawoodi Bohra community representative in Bradford, said: “With the cost of living rising, it’s important that we support vulnerable communities – not just during the holiday season, but throughout the year.

“The Bohras were excited to join the VIP and play our part.”