MOHAMMED Saddique was one of the few English speakers in his community when he joined Victim Support.

The 66-year-old, affectionately known as Saddique, has lived in Bradford since the early 1960s and started volunteering with the organisation in 1976 after a conversation with a burglary victim.

Now he is celebrating 40 years of volunteering with the Bradford branch of Victim Support, the charity supporting people affected by crime.

Over the years Saddique has helped more than 1,000 people affected by crime by working directly with victims, providing support and helping them to move forward. In recognition of his contribution to Victim Support, Saddique received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 and was nominated for an Outstanding Individual Achievement Award at the Charity Times Awards last year.

Saddique, originally from Pakistan, supports people from all sections of the community, always has a positive attitude and contributes towards improving community cohesion, particularly in the wake of events that have escalated inter-racial tension in the area.

When Saddique, originally from Pakistan, joined Victim Support the language barrier was a problem for many people in Bradford's early Asian community. He continues to use his linguistic skills to bridge the language gap that the charity says can prevent some people from seeking help and getting justice.

“I’ve stuck to volunteering because I really like doing it - helping people as a volunteer can be better than work sometimes,” says Saddique.

“I’ve always looked at the staff and volunteers at Victim Support in Bradford as my own family. They are all very friendly, they have always respected me and I respect them.”

Emma Stafford, Victim Support community engagement officer who works closely with Saddique and other volunteers in the Bradford district, said: “Saddique is a well respected member of the team; he has been with Victim Support through its transformation over the years and still believes in the service as much today as he did the first day he walked through the door. Victim Support in Bradford wouldn’t exist without the hours volunteers like Saddique dedicate to us.”

She adds: "All volunteers with language skills are a huge asset to Victim Support. Although we are able to communicate with victims who don't speak English through services such as our language line, this is a three-way process with an interpreter either in person or over the phone. If a volunteer can speak the victim's language it is always a better quality of support that they can offer, not to mention the time and cost implications."

Emma says the language barrier can still be a problem in some Asian communities, particularly among older generations.

"However, often younger members of the family are able to help in translating. That said, the victims doesn't always want a family member to be aware of the support they're receiving," she says.

Victim Support is seeking volunteers who speak different languages and can offer one-to-one support.

"Bradford is a diverse area with many different communities and it is often comforting to a victim if they're able to receive support from someone who understands their customs, culture and lifestyle," says Emma. "It would hopefully encourage more people to come forward to seek support, even if the incident hasn't been reported to the police. Often people haven't heard of Victim Support until they need to access the service, so promoting what it does within these communities and in their own language is very important."

Victim Support volunteers help not only victims and witnesses, but their families and other people involved.

"We wouldn’t be able to carry out the important work we do to help people overcome the impact of crime without the hours our volunteers dedicate to us," says Emma. "This comes in the form of emotional support, practical help and signposting to other organisations. Services are provided in victims' homes, at our offices and through outreach services in the community. Volunteers are specially trained so they have the right skills to provide the required support."

Victim Support Bradford is part of the West Yorkshire service which helps more than 18,500 victims a year. The charity runs a Homicide Service supporting people bereaved through murder and manslaughter and more than 100 local projects tackling domestic violence, anti-social behaviour and hate crime, as well as helping children and young people and deliver restorative justice.

* Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer is asked to call (01274) 532216 or visit victimsupport.org.uk