The City Circle forms a network of professionals drawn mainly from the City of London. Established in 1999, it is an open circle for open minds. The Circle holds weekly gatherings that act as a focal point for professionals to network, learn and harness their dynamic energies and talents into bettering our communities. The Circle invites progressive thinkers and traditional scholars of various backgrounds to discuss the issues that affect us. It also holds seminars and conference on social and environmental issues. The Circle acts as a 'service provider' to the community by working in partnership with existing charities to help them raise their profile, funding and volunteer base. The City Circle also runs its own targeted community based projects, including Saturday Schools, Career Forums, School Industry Days.

To date the activities of the City Circle (registered charity number 1088931) have predominantly been focussed within the Muslim community in London, and so the majority of its voluntary workers are from the Muslim community. The Circle's website (www.thecitycircle.com) provides a flavour of the work that is undertaken.

Among the main professions that are represented in the Circle, the main are: accountants, bankers, barristers, civil servants, doctors, engineers, it specialists, journalists, lecturers, lawyers, marketers, management consultants, psychologists, public relations executives, recruitment consultants, sales, scientists and teachers.

During Ramadan 2003, the City Circle is running a 'Feeding London's Homeless' project. The Circle is looking to supply dinners on the four Saturdays of Ramadan, and Sundays if sponsorship permits, to the following homeless people's hostels across London:
• Look Ahead Hostel, Aldgate E1
• Endel Street Hostel, Shaftsbury Avenue WC2
• Southampton Row Hostel, Holborn WC1
• Blakeslay Hotel, Ealing W5.
These hostels have been chosen due to mix backgrounds, races and religions that are represented here.

Food will be sourced through Muslim caterers who will also deliver the food. The Circle is looking for people who wish to contribute to this project, get involved in the distribution of the dinners and/or wish to spend time with the homeless. Last year the Circle managed to raise funds to provide over 1,850 meals during the Ramadan and Christmas period with the meals gratefully received by all, Muslim and non-Muslim.

The Qur'an teaches us:
`And they feed, for the love of Allah, the poor, the orphan, and the captive (Saying): 'We feed you for the sake of Allah alone: no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks'"
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 8-9.

The dinners cost around £3 per head. You can sponsor as much or as little as you can:
• 5 people for four Saturdays @ £60
• 10 people for four Saturdays @ £120
• 20 people for four Saturdays @ £240
• or more or less, whatever you can afford.

Email your pledge to take part in this project to Waheed Malik at waheedm@talk21.com or contact him on 07973 989 316. Concurrently please send your donations made payable to 'City Circle' (clearly detailing your full name, contact number and email on the back of the cheque so an acknowledgement and update can be sent to you) and post to 'Feeding London's Homeless', The City Circle, PO Box 29890, London SW19 8FX.

Asim Siddiqui
City Circle