Our Story

Many reading this may have been fortunate enough to know him, while 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 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 lifelong 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 was so impressed with the outcome, that 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 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. One Degree Mentoring is one part of that, focusing on 15-18 year olds, and in addition, we have worked very hard to fulfil his vision even further for students aged 4-11 in the shape of an ‘Ofsted Outstanding’ primary free school called the One Degree Academy.

2009 to Present Day

Embracing Change to Maximise Impact
Since its inception in 2009, One Degree has been dedicated to mentoring and empowering students across London. Initially, our approach involved weekend meetings between March and June, focusing on one cohort of students at a time, in a single venue. This intensive program, while effective, was limited in its reach and duration.

Expanding Horizons: 2014 – 2019
From 2014 to 2018, we recognised the need for a longer-term impact. We expanded our program to start anytime from September to November, running through June. This extension allowed us to engage more deeply with students over a more extended period. The goal was simple: provide sustained support and mentorship to maximize our impact on the students’ academic and personal growth.

The Hybrid Transition: 2018 – 2020
In 2018, anticipating the need for flexibility, One Degree began integrating a hybrid model. While in-person sessions remained the core of our program, we complemented them with an online platform. This platform, purpose-built for our needs, offered students access to resources and online courses between in-person sessions. Little did we know that this foresight would become crucial.

Navigating the Pandemic: 2020 – 2021
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, our hybrid model allowed us to pivot swiftly to a fully online format. The transition was seamless, thanks to our existing online infrastructure. However, the shift wasn’t without challenges.

Post-COVID Era: 2021 – 2023
Resuming in-person sessions during the post-COVID era we witnessed a dramatic 60% drop in mentor numbers, likely due to the new work-from-home culture and the reduced presence of professionals in central London.

Funding also took a hit, with reductions in private donations, corporate sponsorships, and grant availability. Schools, adapting to new realities, began running their own intervention programs, further affecting our collaboration dynamics.

With these factors highlighting the need for adaptability, One Degree had to reinvent itself.

The New Era: 2024 and Beyond
Rising costs and the shifting landscape of educational support necessitated a new approach.

Our new model is predominantly online, supplemented by in-person workshops. This reversal—from in-person programs supplemented by online resources to online programs supplemented by in-person interactions—aims to address the economic and logistical challenges we face.