Ex-England striker Emile Heskey has teamed up with property tycoon Atif Malik to hand out food to the homeless in Manchester city centre.

The duo set up the Emile Heskey and Atif Malik Foundation last month and already a staff of eight to help them in their project to help the homeless.

On top of handing out food they hope to help homeless people off the streets and into homes where they can work on getting back into jobs, the Manchester Evening News reports.

Emile, 39, said: “You do notice it walking on the streets but you don’t realise how bad it is until you get into it a little bit more.

“There was a soccer game with the homeless I did, they came from all over, Scotland, Birmingham, Liverpool.

“It was just nice to be around them and talk to them and basically be there and to listen to them.”

Emile says he is only realising now how bad the situation is
Emile says it's important to listen to the homeless

Emile has previously helped out with Midland Langar Seva, an organisation that feeds around 200 homeless people in Birmingham every night.

Emile added: “We’re doing our bit and giving out food and possibly looking at shelters, we’re just going to look at everything we can to help people get back on that ladder.”

They were joined by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who has pledged to end rough sleeping in Greater Manchester by 2020.

Atif, 42, said: “I think we need some sort of support to cut through the red tape and to give us that support.”

Emile has also been trying to help get people into shelters
Emile Heskey and Atif Malik with members of their foundation

As part of their work the foundation are taking the details of the people they help so they can try and get them off the streets.

One of the many problems faced by homeless people is that it’s difficult to claim benefits when you don’t have a fixed address.

Atif said: “The truth of the matter is they say to you ‘the social services, they can’t help us’.

“You need to fill out these forms and for people who maybe can’t read, they’re already having a battering from life, they’re waiting, they’re hungry.

“It’s not a choice that these people make.”

Atif has worked with several charities over the past few years including Centrepoint Manchester before setting up the foundation last month.

He added: “We want these people off the streets.

“We want them to feel there’s somebody out there who cares about them, we want to help them in such a way they feel happy, they feel secure, before Christmas.”