A homeless man has undergone an amazing transformation after three Good Samaritan friends got him a haircut, a place to stay and a new job as a cleaner.
Robert Maxwell, 35, from Hull, had been on drugs and and was sleeping in freezing conditions outside a Co-Op in Birmingham for nine months.
He was spotted by friends Waqar Salim, 36, Humzah Shah, 21, and Wakas Khalid, 27 – who turned his life around.
They gave him a job, organised a place to stay and placed him on a rehabilitation programme – and even took him for a haircut.
Homeless man Robert Maxwell has undergone an amazing transformation after three Good Samaritan friends got him a haircut, a place to stay and a new job as a cleaner
Robert Maxwell, 35, from Hull, had been on drugs and and was sleeping in freezing conditions outside a Co-Op in Birmingham for nine months
He was spotted by friends Waqar Salim, 36, Humzah Shah, 21, and Wakas Khalid, 27 – who turned his life around
The Good Samaritans run Metroflex Gym and Rehabilitation, where Mr Maxwell now works in his new job as a cleaner.
He is now looking with hope towards the future – and said he had the three friends to thank for ‘saving his life’.
He said: ‘I’ve now got something to get up for in the morning.
‘I clean the machines, the showers, I talk to people and it all makes me feel welcome.
‘I was born in the care system and never had a family, but they make me feel part of something – and that’s worth living for. I don’t want to end up back on the streets.’
The trio have been helping the homelessin the city for some time.
Optometrist Mr Salim, who met Mr Maxwell on January 3, said: ‘Humzah called me one day andsaid there was a guy sleeping rough outside the park in the Jewellery Quarter and wondered if we could do something for him.
‘Robert was in a bad state,’ he said. ‘He had scars all over his face, a huge ulcer on his leg and he was on drugs.
‘He had nothing to live for. He was just begging to make ends meet.’
Waqar Salim, Humzah Shah, and Wakas Khalid and Mr Maxwell
Mr Salim took Mr Maxwell to Metroflex which he co-owns, that same evening, where he showered and was then given new clothes and food.
He was then taken back to the Jewellery Quarter – with a choice.
Mr Salim said: ‘Wakas gave him £10 and we said, ‘you need to show us that youare serious about this. If you want to change your life, bring the money back to us and don’t spend it on drugs.’
And determined Mr Maxwell proved he was serious about turning his life around and later returned with the money unspent.
Mr Salim said: ‘We tried to get him accommodation, gave him a job in the gymas a cleaner and general administrator to keep him going and thirdly and most importantly, we sent him to a rehabilitation programme.’
Almost a month on and Robert has put on weight, has a roof over his head and is off drugs.
He said: ‘They gave me a chance when no one else would. I’m hoping people do not judge me. I am helping myself.’
In December, a team from Metroflex gym travelled to Bangladesh to join the aid effort for persecuted Rohingya refugees.
Kind-hearted members raised more than £32,000 through donations and special charity events.