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51���� Law student and asylum seeker Md Mominul Hamid has won the inaugural

The Award celebrates one outstanding individual in each of North East’s seven local authority areas - Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland. Md was recognised for setting up MD's Little help Food Bank at the beginning of the pandemic. Alongside other volunteers, he delivered essentials on his bike to vulnerable asylum seekers across the West End of Newcastle throughout lockdown. Today he continues to volunteer at Covid vaccination clinics and encourages others from the refugee and asylum seeker community, and the Bangladeshi community, to get vaccinated.

The Award judges described Md as a “truly inspirational community champion who has and continues to give so much to communities right across Newcastle.”

Commenting on his award. Md said: “I am honoured and really happy to receive this prestigious recognition from my community. As an asylum seeker, it's more difficult to engage with society but I am conscious of the difficulties faced by vulnerable people in our community. In every part of society, I am happy that I have been able to give some support to other people in difficult situations. I want to dedicate this recognition to my community and the people of Newcastle and my beloved mum, family, friends and my university.”

Professor Michael Stockdale, Head of Department at Northumbria Law School, added: “I congratulate Md on this well-deserved recognition of the tireless work he undertakes within the community. As an asylum seeker he has already overcome significant challenges and continues to inspire, both through his charitable work and indeed through his legal studies with us. He is extremely determined and when he engages in a project has an excellent success record.”