<![CDATA[Pressat Main Newswire]]> https://pressat.co.uk/rss/ <![CDATA[Pressat Main Newswire]]> https://pressat.co.uk/media/site/logo.png https://pressat.co.uk/rss/ en-gb Copyright: (C) Pressat Pressat <![CDATA[ HALAL-ARIOUS COMEDY TOUR WINS MUSLIM CHARITY AWARD ]]> https://pressat.co.uk/releases/halal-arious-comedy-tour-wins-muslim-charity-award-885bfdc0c637e5c9e51050cc1b7ab35a/ https://pressat.co.uk/releases/halal-arious-comedy-tour-wins-muslim-charity-award-885bfdc0c637e5c9e51050cc1b7ab35a/ Wednesday 1 March, 2017

Penny Appeal, international humanitarian charity, took home the award for the “Fundraising Campaign of the Year” at the inaugural Muslim Charity Awards.

The charity won the category for The Super Muslim Comedy Tour 2016, which featured top Muslim comedians from the UK and America. Omar Regan, Abdullah Afzal (Amjad in BBC1 comedy Citizen Khan) and Moses the Comic were among the acts who sold-out shows in 11 cities across Britain.

The judges at the awards, organised by the Muslim Charities Forum, praised the charity for its innovative approach to fundraising for its newest campaign, ‘Forgotten Children’ that aims to rescue street children and give them the chance of a childhood.

Aamer Naeem, CEO of Penny Appeal said, “We are told that comedy is a serious business and it is in this vein that Penny Appeal brought together an eclectic array of renowned Muslim comedians. Through recognising our privilege of being able to bring our families together to laugh, we encouraged our audiences to remember those forgotten children to whom laughter and play is but a distant dream.”

The campaign met with a brilliant response. Several people, attending the comedy tour decided to support the cost of a fully-fledged rescue centre for street children, costing £25,000, and hundreds of people signed monthly direct debits in support of our campaign. “

Penny Appeal will focus on essential outreach work to identify vulnerable street children and provide food, clothing, medical support and, where necessary, shelter. The relief efforts will start in Pakistan and Bangladesh with the view to rolling out in Africa in the near future.

During the ceremony, Penny Appeal was also awarded a commendation for ‘Charity of the Year’. The judges particularly singled out its outstanding work in the UK and beyond. With its ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ programme the charity runs a number of transformative projects including feeding the hungry and homeless, encouraging Muslims to adopt or foster children in care and providing a counselling service for victims of domestic abuse.

“It is both humbling and a great honour to receive this recognition’ added Aamer, ‘it is only made possible by the hard work of our teams and the generosity of our donors. I would like to thank them all for making a difference to the lives of the less fortunate.’

The keynote speaker at the awards, Baroness Syeeda Warsi, said of the awards,

“It is very important that we recognise the contributions British Muslims have made to civil society here in the UK and abroad. At a time when Islamophobia, hate crime and misrepresentations of Muslims in the press remain prevalent, it is upon us to offer an opposing narrative, one which celebrates the humanitarianism of the British Muslim community.”

Notes to Editors

For more information or to arrange an interview with a Penny Appeal spokesperson contact Nasreen Suleman, nasreen.suleman@pennyappeal.org or call, 07710 005702. The Communications Team on 03000 11 11 11. communications@pennyappeal.org

The picture attached to this email can be used for print, online and social media. If you would like further images, please contact us.

Penny Appeal is a humanitarian charity, launched in 2009, that works in the UK, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, to provide water solutions, mass feedings, orphan care, emergency food and medical aid in disaster and conflict-affected areas. Penny Appeal’s projects comprise a mixture of emergency support, short and long-term relief aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty. In the UK, the charity creates tailored projects to support hard to reach and disadvantaged communities including homeless people and victims of domestic abuse




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http://www.pennyappeal.org 01 Mar 2017 11:12:14 GMT Charities & non-profits Entertainment & Arts
<![CDATA[ Penny Appeal spreads smiles and raises spirits during visit to UCLH ]]> https://pressat.co.uk/releases/penny-appeal-spreads-smiles-and-raises-spirits-during-visit-to-uclh-615fc8de7f1b4a0c82c56d07c31bdfd7/ https://pressat.co.uk/releases/penny-appeal-spreads-smiles-and-raises-spirits-during-visit-to-uclh-615fc8de7f1b4a0c82c56d07c31bdfd7/ Wednesday 22 June, 2016

International humanitarian charity Penny Appeal spread smiles at University College London Hospitals this week during a special visit to give gifts to children and offer moral support to families.

Penny Appeal arrived with volunteers on the charity’s special Serving in the Community Bus, which travels around the UK to reach people in need as part of the Love Thy Neighbour UK programme. The bus was packed full of toys and presents for children and young adults receiving treatment at UCLH.

The charity team spent time with patients on several wards, including the Paediatric Oncology and General Paediatrics and Adolescent wards, and also dropped off gifts for those on the Teenage Cancer Ward and Teenage & Young Adult Cancer Outpatient Service.

Over 130 gift bags were given to patients of all ages, from babies and toddlers to teenagers and young adults, as well as items for the communal play areas and games rooms.

One of the patients they met was Sian Yeatman, who is currently receiving treatment on the paediatric ward. She said: “It was nice, a really big surprise. Please come again!” Sian’s mum added: “Amazing present, it was fabulous having you visit!”

Harris Iqbal, UK Programmes Manager at Penny Appeal, said: “It was a truly blessed experience and had a real impact on the patients. They were absolutely mesmerised and so overjoyed that strangers would come and be so generous to them. We feel honoured to have touched many hearts and helped create some special memories.”

Haroon Mota, Midlands Fundraising Manager at Penny Appeal, has previously worked at UCLH with the Teenage & Young Adult Cancer Service so he knows the struggles that patients face. He explained: “Illness is difficult for everyone but young people are particularly vulnerable to the emotional and psychological effects. I feel strongly that children and young adults in hospital deserve our time and care and I’m delighted that Penny Appeal is committed to doing so much to support hospitals and hospices across the UK, especially during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.”

Laura Walter, play specialist at UCLH, added: “The patients and staff really enjoyed the visit and the gifts were very well received by the children and young people! During the Christmas season, we receive many donations, but not much during the rest of the year. As UCLH is such a multicultural hospital, it is lovely to celebrate Ramadan, and we want to thank Penny Appeal for its generosity!”

The Penny Appeal visit to UCLH was just one of many that the charity has already undertaken this month, with many more still to come. Staff, volunteers and the Penny Appeal bus have visited Martin House Hospice in Wetherby and Eden Valley Hospice & Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice, in Carlisle and handed out hundreds of gifts and toiletry kits.

Find out more about Penny Appeal’s UK and overseas work and donate at pennyappeal.org or by calling 03000 11 11 11.




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http://www.pennyappeal.org 22 Jun 2016 16:19:58 GMT Charities & non-profits Children & Teenagers Health
<![CDATA[ MuslimFostering.org launched to recruit carers and ensure children receive appropriate religious support ]]> https://pressat.co.uk/releases/muslimfosteringorg-launched-to-recruit-carers-and-ensure-children-receive-appropriate-religious-support-f91e2dc1bd62e68e549e3d3f6bc27c05/ https://pressat.co.uk/releases/muslimfosteringorg-launched-to-recruit-carers-and-ensure-children-receive-appropriate-religious-support-f91e2dc1bd62e68e549e3d3f6bc27c05/ Friday 20 May, 2016

A dedicated fostering advice and support service has been launched with the aim of recruiting more foster carers and ensuring they can fully and sensitively meet the religious needs of children in their care.

MuslimFostering.org, operated by humanitarian charity Penny Appeal, is encouraging more Muslims to become foster carers, and offering guidance and training to carers and agencies, to help ensure the Muslim children they care for can feel comfortable and confident in their faith.

The service is led by Social Worker Tay Jiva, who says Muslim potential foster carers do not always feel they are fully supported or understood, and that Muslim foster children are not always cared for by fosterers who understand their religious needs.

Furthermore, with thousands of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children expected to be resettled in the UK over the next few years, and interest in caring for refugees increasing, the need for more Muslim foster carers and strong Islamic and cultural awareness among all foster carers is increasing.

“Children in care have often suffered abuse or trauma and they deserve a safe home where they can be themselves and get the support they need to heal and grow,” Tay explained. “However, too often foster carers don’t have the knowledge or confidence to assist children with their religious needs.

“By helping more Muslims become foster carers and giving non-Muslim foster carers a better understanding of Islam, more Muslim foster children can feel at home.”

Freedom of Information requests* have revealed that:

Of approximately 2,000 Muslim children who come into foster care every year, half are placed in non-Muslim homes.In several local authorities, 75% of Muslim foster children spend time living in non-Muslim homes.20% of local authorities do not record the religion of foster carers or foster children because it is not compulsory for them to do so.

Aamer Naeem, Penny Appeal CEO, added: “MuslimFostering.org works nationwide, signposting potential carers to appropriate authorities or agencies in their area and offering guidance on the process of becoming a foster carer. We also offer approved carers dedicated Islam awareness and training sessions, as we know that living with carers who have a good understanding of their religion makes a massive difference to the child.”

Anyone interested in becoming a foster carer can visit: www.pennyappeal.org/appeal/muslim-fostering or call 03000 11 11 11 for information and advice. Donations to support the guidance and training services can also be made online or by telephone.




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http://www.pennyappeal.org 20 May 2016 12:55:53 GMT Charities & non-profits Children & Teenagers
<![CDATA[ The Apprentice star Mergim Butaja takes on charity running event to support refugees ]]> https://pressat.co.uk/releases/the-apprentice-star-mergim-butaja-takes-on-charity-running-event-to-support-refugees-8da88dd025544be20b6f00b91ae1f057/ https://pressat.co.uk/releases/the-apprentice-star-mergim-butaja-takes-on-charity-running-event-to-support-refugees-8da88dd025544be20b6f00b91ae1f057/ Friday 18 December, 2015

Penny Appeal's Run For Their Lives Coventry challenge helps those fleeing conflict

Former refugee Mergim Butaja, whose emotional farewell speech on The Apprentice highlighted the importance of remaining strong and determined in the face of adversity, is taking on a charity challenge to support families fleeing ongoing conflict.

The 23-year-old has joined with other volunteer fundraisers from international humanitarian charity Penny Appeal to run Coventry's Half Marathon at the end of February.

Members of #TeamOrange, the name given to Penny Appeal's volunteer family, will hit the city's streets for a 13.1mile race. They'll be calling on friends, family and colleagues to sponsor their efforts, with all money raised going to the charity's Refugee Emergency campaign.

Mergim, whose family fled from war-torn Kosovo to the UK when he was just seven years old, said: “I came to the UK in the back of a lorry. That difficult journey made me who I am today, giving me the strength and determination I carry now.

“I'm so thankful that I was able to make it to the UK and be able to call this my home, and it's important to give back to help others.

“The Run For Their Lives challenge will bring people together to help refugees who are in similar situations to mine – their homes are being destroyed and there's no hope for the future. We'll be able to provide some of the necessities they need on their journeys, such as food, warm clothes and medical support, and also help them find strength and determination.”

Penny Appeal's #TeamOrange runners are sponsored by MesmerEyez and will be lining up alongside thousands of other participants for Coventry's Half Marathon on Sunday 28th February.

The charity's participation in the event is being organised by Haroon Mota, Midlands Fundraising Manager at Penny Appeal, who is a keen runner with many miles under his belt.

“A physical challenge such as a half marathon is a great way of giving fundraisers a feel for the hardships that refugees face,” said Haroon.

“Penny Appeal teams are on the ground in countries such as Greece, Turkey, Syria and Iraq, providing essential aid to refugee families, and we'll continue that support over the difficult cold months through our Winter Emergency campaign. Waterproof clothes, hygiene items, sleeping bags and tents can make a world of difference and even save lives, so we're delighted that so many people are taking on this challenge to help refugees.”

Penny Appeal still has places available for Coventry's Half Marathon, with each participant asked to pay a £25 registration fee and then raise a minimum of £100 in sponsorship. Places can be booked online at: www.pennyappeal.org/appeal/run-for-their-lives or by calling 03000 11 11 11.

Donations can be made to the #TeamOrange runners via their JustGiving team page: www.justgiving.com/Teams/CovHalf16.




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http://www.pennyappeal.org 18 Dec 2015 10:55:57 GMT Business & Finance Charities & non-profits Entertainment & Arts Main News
<![CDATA[ Carlisle residents stay strong with Amir Khan in their corner amid flood devastation ]]> https://pressat.co.uk/releases/carlisle-residents-stay-strong-with-amir-khan-in-their-corner-amid-flood-devastation-fd7af1d41ad16816ea374631e68b9ee9/ https://pressat.co.uk/releases/carlisle-residents-stay-strong-with-amir-khan-in-their-corner-amid-flood-devastation-fd7af1d41ad16816ea374631e68b9ee9/ Thursday 17 December, 2015

World champion boxer joins charity volunteers to support the Carlisle community

The gloves were off for two-time World Champion boxer Amir Khan on Saturday (12th December) as he and his Amir Khan Foundation, alongside international charity Penny Appeal, came out to show moral and practical support to the victims of the recent flooding in Cumbria.

After touring the streets of Carlisle and witnessing the devastation at first-hand, Amir waded in with physical support by helping to move residents' furniture and removing water-battered items.

Humanitarian charity Penny Appeal helped organise a solidarity day at the local Greystone Community Centre, where Amir Khan served hot lunch to locals and handed out some early festive presents to young children from the flood-hit area. After offering support at the centre, Amir went back on to the streets to hand-deliver food parcels and hot meals to the elderly and those isolated at home.

Amir Khan said: “It was heartbreaking to see just how the floods have destroyed people's homes, including kitchens, living areas and even things like children's toys. The Amir Khan Foundation wanted to show their support by giving out food and even some new toys to the kids, and remind those affected that they're not alone in dealing with this crisis."

Graham Weber, Greystone Community Centre Manager, added: “Having an icon like Amir Khan here has given the people of Carlisle a real lift – and it's come at just the right time as many homes are still without electricity and gas. The volunteers have been just as brilliant and I can't thank everybody involved enough."

International humanitarian charity Penny Appeal works in the UK as part of its 'Love Thy Neighbour' campaign. Volunteers from the charity, alongside those from Amir Khan Foundation, were present throughout the day offering support and delivering hot meals and food packs – which contained essential items like pasta, rice, sugar, cereal and cooking sauces.

Aamer Naeem, Penny Appeal CEO, added: “The UK community always gives generously when disasters strike overseas, but we recognise that people at home need help too. That's why Penny Appeal is proud to be carrying out essential work in the UK and we're also delighted that we can safely facilitate our network of volunteers who want to get more involved."




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http://www.pennyappeal.org 17 Dec 2015 13:34:47 GMT Charities & non-profits Environment & Nature Sport