Our Story

Many reading this may have been fortunate enough to know him, others may have known about him only through the charity. However, both will be left with no doubt that he was a remarkable person who left a phenomenal legacy behind.

Adnan had a very a successful career in the City but what really defined him was his passion and ability to connect with people from all walks of life and form life long bonds of trust and friendship. Adnan was always there for others and willing to help and support people in need. His charitable work started with the Princes Trust charity, Mosaic, which aimed to inspire children from disadvantaged backgrounds through the use of successful role models.

In 2009, Adnan decided the approach used by Mosaic was too limited and a more hands-on programme over a longer period of time was necessary to really help children struggling at school and lacking in confidence and ambition. Adnan understood the empowering nature of education to transform lives and One Degree was born!

He took on a group of challenging students at Crest Academy with low predicted GCSE results and persuaded his friends to join him in working with these students at weekends. Using a combination of study and sport, he built up a great sense of camaraderie between mentors and students and dramatically improved the actual exam results achieved.

Crest Academy were so impressed with the outcome, they invited Adnan to make the One Degree programme a regular mentoring programme at the school. See 2009 to present academic results here.

Adnan’s personality was key to his success. He was kind and genuine with a sense of humour that could leave you in stitches and melt hearts. His own life had many challenges and crossroads and he always showed great strength of character in the face of adversity and set an example for others to follow.

He was very passionate about One Degree and forged a unique bond with each student and their story. His biggest quality was that his charitable work was genuinely to help others less fortunate and not for publicity or attention. He was very understated about his contribution but he would surely beam with the great pride on seeing how far his vision has gone today.

Adnan had a dream and a vision to help disadvantaged children realise their potential through education. His friends and family have worked very hard to fulfil his vision and a permanent legacy to his work is now taking shape with the opening of the One Degree Academy.