A HALESOWEN youth charity spread some seasonal joy by helping the homeless, sick children and the elderly.

Volunteers from the Halesowen Long Lane branch of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA) delivered gifts to sick children at Russells Hall Hospital, provided Black Country Food Bank with supplies, and fed the homeless at Midland Heart in Blackheath and Chawn Hill Church, Stourbridge.

The volunteering is part of the AMYA's national Muslims for Humanity campaign which aims to help the vulnerable and sick over the winter. The charity also has set up an emergency relief team to help those impacted by the challenging weather conditions.

Wasim Shah, a local AMYA youth leader said: ''As a youth charity we try to educate young people that each of us has a social responsibility to help our local communities, especially those challenged by sickness, homelessness and loneliness.

"We are trying to do this by getting out into the community and offering our time, smiles and some simple gifts."

He added: ''I was extremely touched by the warm response of the local community and by the truly inspirational people we had the pleasure of meeting and serving.''

On New Year's Day volunteers did a litter pick session in Halesowen and Dudley town centres after morning prayers.

Youth leader Wasim Shah said: “As Muslims we believe that cleanliness is a requirement of faith."