Cabbies reveal their next charity drive

A TAXI firm which has supported a range of residents in need throughout lockdown with hot meals, food deliveries and more has announced its next charitable initiative as lockdown eases.

Number 1 Diamond Cars, which is based in Middleton but serves areas including Rochdale, reached into its own pocket to provide thousands of hot meals and PPE items to key workers and make deliveries of essential food and medicine supplies to residents free of charge and were recognised for their community contribution with an appearance on the BBC’s HealthCheck UK programme.

As hints of normality start to return, manager

Kamran Rashid now says he and his staff will be turning their attentions to support homeless people in Middleton and its surrounding area.

He said: “We’ve worked with some of our local hospitals throughout lockdown and things seem to be getting a bit slower there as they’re starting to see a bit of normality, so we’re moving on to support the homeless in our community.

“First we’ll be going out to build a rapport with them and bring them some hot meals to hit off a relationship.

“Then we want to help any of them that are struggling with addiction as well, and put them in touch with the right people to get them back into work and housing.”

Besides the support they have offered to residents, Kamran also estimates Number 1 drivers have delivered thousands of hot meals to NHS staff at the Royal Oldham and North Manchester General hospitals, with an estimated 95 per cent of the costs for the meals being paid by the firm.

Lockdown has not been an easy time for the business, with jobs down as much as 60 per cent and previously as much as 90 per cent at the peak of lockdown.

However Kamran said spirits had been buoyed by the feedback for their community work, with cards and gifts coming in from grateful residents.

He added: “This is the first time in my life that I’ve seen so much warmth

●●Kamran Rashid, manager of Number 1 Diamond Cars in Middleton, has made regular visits to hospitals with donations of hot meals from people. People have come together in a way you’d never see in normal life, so if there’s anything positive that’s come from Covid, it’s that community cohesion - long may it continue.”