One Penny Appeal: From Wakefield to the World!

Last week we hosted the first ever One Penny Appeal International CEO conference at our orange home in Wakefield. We were honoured to be joined by our affiliates from all four corners of the map! We discussed unity, collaboration and synergy across our international offices and enjoyed sharing ideas about the bright future of Penny Appeal.

Take a look at what our CEO, Ridwana said about all the action.

This past week I was honoured to host the inaugural One Penny Appeal International CEO conference. The past few days have been a milestone for our organisation and have filled me with an overwhelming sense of gratitude, positivity, and hope for the future of our organisation, a testament to the incredible power of unity and collaboration across our global family.

“From Wakefield to the World”

This phrase captures the essence of our humble beginnings and our journey since. A small sincere effort, emerging from a tiny corner of Yorkshire that transformed into a global humanitarian movement reaching millions of people in need. It's been a journey filled with challenges, triumphs, and heart-warming victories, built by a glittering diversity of teams, oozing with passion, and a unified commitment to service.

“The World Comes to Wakefield”

Then, just as beautifully, the world came back to Wakefield. We had the pleasure this week of welcoming the incredible talent that constitutes our global family right here to our headquarters. This exchange of energy and ideas, this convergence of diverse perspectives, was a breath of fresh air that has reinvigorated our teams here in the UK. Witnessing the global team orange vision unfold this week was both humbling and awe-inspiring.

We had in the room the collective wealth of literally centuries of humanitarian experience. Our trustees, senior executive teams, and committed leaders from Canada, USA, South Africa, Dubai, Pakistan, Australia and here in the UK shared insights, shared their stories, and their invaluable wisdom. This extraordinary gathering reinforced the truth that Penny Appeais a movement that truly belongs to everyone.

A Special Thanks

There are a few individuals I would like to offer special thanks to. First, Naz Shah MP, who shared her signature realism and practical advice. As a woman who has lived through immense challenges, Naz's resilience is a testament to the power of channelling personal experiences for the betterment of wider society. Her words were a poignant reminder of our shared commitment to service.

We were also joined by DMusharraf Hussain, the distinguished translator of the Majestic Qur'an, who provided us with deep insights into nurturing moral intelligence in our endeavours. His words served as a powerful reminder of the values that guide our work and our collective mission.

Finally, described bAdeem Younias the true founder oPenny Appeal, Dr Hany El-Banna, the esteemed institution builder and founder of Islamic Relief, blessed us with a fountain of wisdom – and his classic humour! He reminded us of our core duty to always prioritise the communities we work with and strive to please our Creator. He has been a long-term supporter of our work and his insights were invaluable, offering sincere guidance and duas that will undoubtedly carry us forward in our ongoing work.

Unity, Not Uniformity

The strength of our globaPenny Appeafamily is rooted in this diversity of talents, experiences, and perspectives. It's rooted in the power of our shared vision and our collective commitment to service. It's rooted in the resilience and compassion that each one of you brings to this movement.

In the spirit of unity and collaboration, I want to reiterate my thanks to the hundreds oPenny AppeaBoard Members and Staff around the world. Thank you for your dedication, for your passion, and for your relentless commitment to service. Thank you for your trust and for those who were present with us in Wakefield, thank you for your engagement during the conference. Your input, your stories, and your vision for the future oPenny Appeahave left me feeling inspired and deeply hopeful about what we can achieve together.

The Future is Bright, The Future is Orange

This conference marks a new beginning in thPenny Appeastory, a story that we will continue to write together.

I ask Allah (SWT) to bless our united efforts, to guide us in our service, and to keep us rooted in our shared mission. May we continue to serve as a beacon of hope for those in need, and may our collective efforts be pleasing in His sight. Ameen

Here's to the next exciting chapter of thPenny Appeastory, hand in hand, and heart in heart. We’ve only just begun.

Ridwana 🧡