From the beginning of the pandemic lockdowns Stoke-on-Trent fast food business owner Mohammed Arfan began helping anyone in his community that was in need of a meal – and he hasn’t stopped.

From his business, Sizzlers in Abbey Hulton, he offered free meals to shielding pensioners and vulnerable people while supporting firefighters, NHS staff and care home workers with food.

Providing free food was just the beginning of what turned into wider support for the communities within which his business is based

Arfan and his team progressed to raising money towards the cost of funerals and helping struggling families at Christmas.

He has also supported people who have suffered house fires and assisted local charities that have struggled with fundraising.

Arfan even rewarded home-schooled children for excellent reports and having a good attitude to learning.

In 2021 Mohammed was named Charity Champion or Volunteer of the Year at the Your Heroes Awards and was praised for being ‘a beacon of light’ and for ‘putting the spirit back into local communities’.

Now Mohammed has entered the Business in the Community category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.

He said: “We are a community- based takeaway surrounded by amazing communities. We at Sizzlers for over four years now have been helping and serving our communities across the city by delivering free food packs to pensioners and giving money to pensioners to top up their gas and electric meters.

“We have also helped many vulnerable families with funeral costs and young families that are struggling with nappies and milk.

“We also for the  past few years now have raised more than 1,000 Christmas presents for children as well as Christmas hampers for struggling pensioners and families.”