Adeem Younis – Wikipedia

Posted on by
before-content-x4

English-Pakistani entrepreneur and humanitarian (born 1980)

 after-content-x4

Adeem Younis (born 17 October 1980) is an English-Pakistani entrepreneur, philanthropist, and humanitarian. He is best known as founder of digital matrimony platform SingleMuslim.com and international humanitarian charity Penny Appeal.[1][2][3][4]

He is a founding board member of Penny Appeal USA[5] and also helped set up Penny Appeal South Africa, Penny Appeal Canada and Penny Appeal Australia.[6] He is a Founding Circle Member of the British Asian Trust[7] and was listed as one of Yorkshire’s leading entrepreneurs by Insider Media in their “42 under 42” list of 2019.[8]

Early life and education[edit]

Younis was born in Wakefield, West Yorkshire on 17 October 1980. His father died when he was eight years old. He was raised by his mother and grandparents.[9] He attended Outwood Grange School and went on to study at Wakefield College where he maintained a close relationship upon graduation. The college nominated him for an Association of Colleges Gold Award for his achievements as an outstanding alumnus of the school.[10]

In late 2018, Younis announced that the charity he founded, Penny Appeal, had bought the Thornes Park campus in which he had studied and were transforming it into a new international headquarters for the charity.[11][12][13][14]

He received his bachelor’s in Graphic Designing from the University of Leeds.[citation needed]

 after-content-x4

Younis funded his studies by founding his first business, GoWebPrint, at the age of 17 above the fast food shop where he worked part-time.[15] He went on to help set up a restaurant in Wakefield, which was renowned for its chocolate curry, before focusing his efforts on his humanitarian work and business.[16]

Younis is the founder and CEO of world’s largest Muslim digital matrimony platform, SingleMuslim.com. It has over 2 million users registered with market penetration estimated at 52% of all British Muslims aged between 16 and 60.[17][18] The website was launched on 1 August 2000, and its headquarters is in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England.[9] As SingleMuslim.com’s founder,[19] Younis has helped facilitate over 100,000 Muslim marriages.[20][9]

Younis has said of his platform: “We make it very clear this is for people who are serious about getting married, and it is not some ‘meet up’ service… We’re not just facilitating marriages. It’s a really liberating service, we help people and it’s a cornerstone to a society. Religion is bringing people together.”[21]

Younis’ memoir, Small Change, Big Difference: The Penny Appeal Story was published on 12 April 2021 by Can of Worms Press.[22][23][24]

Charitable activities[edit]

Penny Appeal[edit]

In 2009, Younis founded Penny Appeal, a charitable organization working in over 52 countries and providing essential aid and welfare to those in the UK. It builds wells, orphan homes, and schools, and provides life-saving medical relief, nourishing meals and more. In the UK, Penny Appeal runs a fostering and adoption agency, funds a number of soup kitchens and food banks and supports refugee settlement. The two times Guinness World Records holding charity raised just over £100,000 in 2012.[25] In 2017, Penny Appeal’s total turnover had exceeded over £22 million. The organisation has launched a sister domestic relief programme, demonstrating their commitment to begin charity at home.[26] The charity has helped an estimated 20 million individuals and raised over £60 million for good causes.[27] Penny Appeal has been recognized as largest provider of orphan care in The Gambia by its president.[28] The charity has enlisted a number of high-profile ambassadors including Amir Khan and Cat Stevens.[29]

Younis ran the London Marathon in aid of Penny Appeal’s Thirst Relief campaign in 2017, 2018 and 2019, raising tens of thousands of pounds in the process.[30] In 2019, in celebration of the charity’s ten years of operation, Younis appointed the first ever charity ‘Kid’ CEO, Shakira Rahman.[31] Younis met Rahman at Penny Appeal’s Great Muslim Pantomime tour, was inspired by her “can-do” attitude and created a special role for her to contribute to the charity from the perspective of a child.[32]

Penny Appeal has been lauded for handling challenges to the leadership and governance of the organisation.[33] Former employees have described the organisation as being “the most unethical and Immoral organisation you will find”.[34] The charity was shocked following allegations of abuse in one of their partner organisations working in the Gambia .[35] Penny Appeal has since instituted a range of organisational enhancements, however has confirmed that the Government of Gambia has dropped any case related to potential allegations. [36]

Penny Ventures[edit]

Younis is director and co-founder of Penny Ventures, which works in partnership with the James Caan Foundation.[3] Caan and Younis co-created Penny Ventures as an investment fund that supports budding entrepreneurs launch and grow new businesses.

SalaamGiving[edit]

Created in partnership with JustGiving, SalaamGiving is an online crowdfunding platform tailored for Muslim communities.[3] The platform was co-created by Younis and launched in 2018.[37]

Suspension from Penny Appeal[edit]

In September 2019, Younis was suspended from charity Penny Appeal after “serious issues” were brought to the attention of the Chief Executive and trustees.[38] In July 2020, Younis was reinstated in his board role within the charity after an investigation into allegations of misconduct found no wrongdoing.[39]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Younis was awarded Young Director of the Year by Yorkshire’s Institute of Directors.[40] He was made an Ambassador by The Yorkshire Society owing to his success as an entrepreneur and awarded Entrepreneur of the Year at the Asian Business Awards 2017.[41] Also in 2017, Younis was decorated as the Natwest ‘Entrepreneur for Good’ in the 2017 Natwest Great Entrepreneurship Awards.[42] In 2018 he received Entrepreneur of the Year award at British Muslim Awards.[43] In the same year he received the ‘Charity Chair of the Year’ Award at the Third Sector Excellence Awards.[3] In 2019, Younis was awarded the ‘Ummul Mu’minin Khadijah’ Award for Excellence in Enterprise at the Muslim News Awards.[44]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Green, Lydia (10 December 2014). “Why millions of Muslims sign up for online dating”. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  2. ^ “Majority of Muslims not for polygamy: Poll”. The Express Tribune. 4 November 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d “Third Sector Awards 2018: Charity Chair of the Year – Adeem Younis, Penny Appeal”. www.thirdsector.co.uk. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  4. ^ “Third Sector Awards 2018: Charity Chair of the Year – Adeem Younis, Penny Appeal”. www.thirdsector.co.uk. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  5. ^ “Meet the Team at Penny Appeal USA”. pennyappealusa.org. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  6. ^ Worley, Thomas (29 November 2017). “Adeem Younis – Bond Humanitarian Award nominee”. Bond. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  7. ^ “British Asian Trust – Transforming lives together”. British Asian Trust. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  8. ^ “Yorkshire 2019 42 under 42 Members | Insider Media Ltd”. www.insidermedia.com. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  9. ^ a b c Hussain, Tharik. “UK’s leading Muslim matrimonial service eyes global market”. My Salaam. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  10. ^ “21st century matchmaker wins AoC Gold Award”. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  11. ^ Laidler, Gill (20 November 2018). “Former student returns to buy Wakefield College site”. Business Up North. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  12. ^ “Mary joins Penny Appeal to celebrate their 10th anniversary”. Mary Creagh MP. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  13. ^ “Wakefield College – Adeem Younis”. Association of Colleges. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  14. ^ “TopicUK Yorkshire Business Magazine February 2019”. Issuu. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  15. ^ “How Adeem Younis played Cupid for thousand’s of Muslim couples”. British Muslim Magazine. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  16. ^ “Wakefield College – Adeem Younis”. Association of Colleges. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  17. ^ “Charity Chairman says ‘I do’ to pay for 100 weddings – TMV”. 10 February 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  18. ^ “YP Profile: Adeem Younis, SingleMuslim.com”. www.yorkshirepost.co.uk. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  19. ^ “Tackling the taboos around dating for young British Muslims”. ITV News. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  20. ^ “How dating apps are changing the game for Muslim millennials”. Topics. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  21. ^ Buller, Alicia. “Meet the man who has played cupid for 100,000 Muslim marriages”. ArabianBusiness.com. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  22. ^ TSB, Can of Worms Press (12 April 2021). “Small Change, BIG DIFFERENCE – The Penny Appeal Story”. Can of Worms Press. Archived from the original on 20 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  23. ^ “Penny Appeal Founder Pens Memoir”. BookBrunch.com. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  24. ^ Small Change, Big Difference The Penny Appeal Story. ASIN 1911673106.
  25. ^ “Charity Penny Appeal celebrates Ramadan by simultaneously breaking record and saving lives”. Guinness World Records. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  26. ^ “A new record! 33 British Muslims honoured in New Year’s Honours list 2019!”. Muslim Engagement and Development. 8 January 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  27. ^ Worley, Thomas (11 February 2019). “Adeem Younis”. Bond. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  28. ^ Worley, Thomas (29 November 2017). “Adeem Younis – Bond Humanitarian Award nominee”. Bond. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  29. ^ “Mary joins Penny Appeal to celebrate their 10th anniversary”. Mary Creagh MP. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  30. ^ “Single Muslim Adds Unicorn and Panda to #SingleMoji Campaign”. Global Dating Insights. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  31. ^ “11-year-old ‘Kid Boss’ appointed as charity CEO for first time”. East London and West Essex Guardian Series. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  32. ^ Siddique, Haroon (12 April 2019). “Meet Shakira, the 11-year-old mini-CEO of Penny Appeal”. The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  33. ^ “Penny Appeal submit serious incident report to Charity Commission”. 5Pillars. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  34. ^ “Penny appeal glass door”. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021.
  35. ^ “Wakefield charity ‘horrified’ by allegations of safeguarding issues at orphanage”. www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  36. ^ “Gambia Statement – children safe and case has been suspended”. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021.
  37. ^ “Penny Appeal Founder, Adeem Younis, wins “Charity Chair of the Year” Award”. TopicUK. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  38. ^ “Adeem Younis suspended in Penny Appeal war”. www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  39. ^ “‘Integrity’ of Muslim charity founder restored as investigation finds no wrongdoing”. www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  40. ^ “Director of the Year Awards 2017 finalists announced – Director”. Director Magazine. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  41. ^ “In Pictures: English Asian Business Awards 2017”. Asian Image. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  42. ^ “Double-award delight for Penny Appeal businessman”. www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  43. ^ “British Muslim Awards 2018 winners”. Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  44. ^ “Winners of The Muslim News Awards for Excellence 2019”. The Muslim News. Retrieved 12 May 2019.

External links[edit]

after-content-x4