Modern slavery survivor finds lifeline in volunteering

Mohammed Zaman has lived in the UK for 18 years

In 2005, nearly six million people came to the UK. One of them, Mohammed Zaman, travelled 5,000 miles (8,000km) from Bangladesh with a legitimate hope of a bright future.

Exploitation, lies and cruelty left him homeless, jobless and isolated.

This is how he rose from rock bottom to receiving awards for his voluntary work but still cannot get permission to stay in the country.

Mr Zaman's arrival in London was meant to be the start of a better life.

A young man, he had an employment visa, somewhere to stay, a sponsor and arrangements to train as a chef.

Instead his passport was taken away and later used to perpetrate fraud.

He was housed with 10 men - many of them undocumented workers - packed into two rooms.

His job was exhausting, abusive and unpaid.

He was not training to be a chef, he was a modern slave in a restaurant kitchen.

The visa expired, the sponsor became threatening, he could neither legally work nor claim benefits.

Mr Zaman has run five marathons, including London's

He was forced to plunge his bare hands into boiling bleach-filled water to wash cutlery until his hands were raw and sore, as retaliation for "not listening".

He was threatened with a knife and he still has nightmares about it. His identity was used by his employer to take out loans in his name.

He said he went to the police. Although his former employer was arrested, without any proof of what happened, the case never made it any further.

He had no money, nowhere to live, no support network.

The government accepts he is a victim of modern slavery but that does not entitle him to stay.

Mr Zaman, a volunteer at London 2012, still wears his uniform with pride

Mr Zaman, now 42, said he even considered taking his own life.

But instead he found meaning and motivation in volunteering - starting at the London Olympics.

"It was a huge moment for me. It changed my life actually," he said.

Helping others has helped him through a police investigation, hunger, a period of sleeping rough. Through the sofa surfing, the necessary relocations as he relied on the kindness of others.

He has made many friends who have heard his story and want to help him stay in the UK.

Mr Zaman was a baton-bearer for the Commonwealth Games

Retired London firefighter Paul Dawson met Mr Zaman in 2012 at the then newly-formed Newham Cricket Club, where Mr Dawson is the club's manager and welfare officer.

"Mohammed turned up and there was a bit of confusion because he realised he was in the wrong place," said Mr Dawson.

"So we started to chat about things and we realised he could be in the right place.

"And he's been volunteering for me ever since."

Retired firefighter Paul Dawson is "like family" to Mr Zaman

Now a trained cricket coach and umpire, Mr Zaman has five medals from running marathons, including this year's London Marathon. Mr Dawson cheered him on from the barriers.

Mr Zaman said: "Other people had family to support them but I have no one.

"Paul was there for me. He's more than a friend. He and his wife are like family to me."

Paul Dawson believes his friend's volunteering should count for something with the UK authorities.

Mohammed took part in this year's London Marathon

"He's got awards for volunteering, he's got a table full of medals from things he's engaged in.

"He'd be the perfect British subject."

Mr Zaman has raised about £50,000 for charity since escaping that nightmare kitchen.

He has amassed letters of praise for his volunteering efforts including one from former prime minister David Cameron.

A statuette from being a baton-bearer at the 2022 Commonwealth Games has his name engraved on it with thanks from the late Queen.

None of this is enough for his immigration status to be normalised and for him to be given leave to remain in the UK.

Mr Zaman has kept his certificate for volunteering at London 2012

He has now been living in the UK for 18 years.

He still wears his London 2012 volunteer uniform, earning him greetings from other volunteers and workers on the Olympic Park when he visits the Timber Lodge cafe there.

"I've given so much to this country through volunteer service. I'd like to stay here as a good citizen," he said.

"I am a good citizen. And I'd like to carry on."

The Home Office said it did not comment on individual cases.

It added: "Modern slavery is a barbaric crime.

"We provide support to thousands of victims each year, as well as working with a wide range of partners to prevent this terrible crime from happening in the first place."

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