Leicester caretaker fasting to support school 'family' during Ramadan

Alfie Tyler (left) has been fasting to support the Braunstone Community Primary School "family", led by head teacher Halil Tamgumus (right)

A caretaker has been fasting during Ramadan to support the "family" of pupils and staff at his school.

Alfie Tyler has been fasting alongside Muslim members of Braunstone Community Primary School in Leicester over the past month.

Mr Tyler said he wanted to see what some of the pupils were going through during the religious period.

Head teacher Halil Tamgumus said Mr Tyler is "amazing" for making the school feel like a family.

Mr Tyler said he had discussed fasting with Mr Tamgumus - known as Mr T - in 2023 and decided to take part during Ramadan in 2024.

"I've had a lot of people saying why on Earth are you doing it, and I just keep saying I don't know," he said.

"But, it's the community in the school and how everyone just wants to be a family.

"I think family's the key word at our school. We are all together as one."

A number of students and staff members at Braunstone Community Primary School are fasting for Ramadan

Mr Tyler said he "hated" the first few days of his fast but then things mellowed out and he got on with it.

"Some of the ladies bought me food at the end of the day to break my fast, and I felt welcomed just by doing it," he added.

"They were so proud of me, and that was nice to feel."

Mr Tamgumus, who grew up in Braunstone, said that Mr Tyler was providing a sense of belonging that he looked for as a child.

"I was one of only a handful of Muslim kids that grew up in the area, and I never really had that sense of belonging," he said.

"I just wanted that sense of belonging to be tight at the school and for staff, and for the children to feel safe here.

"After five years as head teacher, I think we're there now and I think we're now starting to really see the fruits of that labour."