A 12-year-old boy on a nationwide mission to spread kindness visited several places of worship across Leicester over the weekend, sharing homemade cakes and a message of unity through his growing ‘Cake Not Hate’ campaign.
Joshie Harris – affectionately known as “The Joshie-Man” – travelled with his father, Dan, visiting a number of local mosques over the weekend (March 14 & 15) including Masjid Mu’adh ibn Jabal, as well as the historic Leicester Cathedral.
Picture credit: Suleman Nagdi
The campaign began in their hometown of Peterborough after a local mosque there was targeted in an act of hate. Rather than responding with anger or fear, Joshie and his father chose a different path – bringing people together with homemade cake, warm smiles and a message of peace.
Since then, Joshie – a nonspeaking autistic boy who communicates with the world in his own way – has visited around 60 mosques, alongside churches, temples and community spaces across the UK.
Their mission is simple: to replace division with togetherness.
The journey has also gained international recognition. In a remarkable honour, Joshie was invited by the authorities at Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, the Prophet’s Mosque, in recognition of the positive impact he and his father have made through their campaign.
During the Leicester visit, worshippers gathered after prayers as Joshie handed out cakes he had baked himself – a gesture that many said showed how powerful small acts of kindness can be.
Community advocate Suleman Nagdi said the visit offered an uplifting reminder at a time when communities can feel increasingly divided.
“In a climate where division can feel relentless, Joshie and Dan offer something refreshingly human,” he said. “They remind us that the most meaningful responses to hatred are often the most modest ones – and that kindness, offered sincerely, has a reach far beyond what any of us might expect.”
To find out more about Joshie’s campaign, visit his Instagram, which has over 100,000 followers: https://www.instagram.com/thejoshieman/
