HOMELESS people have been invited to enjoy a fancy Christmas dinner alongside politicians and police chiefs.

Sajed Mahmood, head of events at charity Just Give, which helps vulnerable people across the city, organised the occasion to give people a chance to speak to their councillors and MPs as well as enjoying a festive meal.

Award-winning Indian restaurant group Aagrah has teamed up with the charity to feed more than 100 homeless people from Bradford and Leeds at the Midpoint in Pudsey on December 19.

Sajed, who organised a similar event last year, said: “The people who came to the event last Christmas were really happy with it, there were plenty of wows and gasps when they got into the restaurant.

“One guest said to me he is usually the guy looking in through the window at nice restaurants and for once he was on the inside looking out.

“The homeless will get to meet councillors, MPs and people from the police so they can tell them what they are really going through.

“They are citizens as well. Politically, they need to be heard.”

Guests invited to the dinner include youngsters living in temporary hostels, refugees and other people living in dire poverty on the city’s streets.

Choir singers will be entertaining diners with Christmas songs after the meal, which will also be attended by dignitaries and sporting celebrities from across the region.

Sajed added: “They all sit on the same tables so you might have the chief of police sat next to two homeless people.

“We are trying to demonstrate that nobody is above anybody else.”

He said that a similar event held at Mumtaz Leeds last Christmas was a big success for the charity and helped the homeless share their experiences with elected officials.

Sajed said: “We wanted to highlight what the homeless are going through so there will be speeches by guests and by some refugees.”

Aagrah’s managing director Mohammed Aslam said: “We have come up with a special turkey with an Asian influence for the day, served with all the special side dishes and trimmings.

“It perhaps isn’t your traditional Christmas dinner but we know it will be just as tasty and we hope to create a real festive atmosphere on the day.”

Guests will arrive at the venue from 6pm and be seated for dinner at 8pm.

Just Give is a charity that works with orphans, widows, the disabled and homeless to provide housing, education, food and clothing.

The organisation, which is based in Bradford, works with vulnerable people from all over the world.

It is currently fundraising for a number of projects including plans to buy a mobile soup kitchen and provide high-quality sleeping bags as well as essential items to help support people sleeping on the streets.

To donate items or to get involved with the charity’s upcoming events such as the World Wide Warrior fight nights, visit justgive.org.uk.