Abdullah Abdul Samad Patel

Senior operational and service-delivery leader with more than a decade of experience across education, charity, community services and business. Combines first-hand hardship-fund delivery with responsibility for a £1m+ organisational budget, procurement, service contracts, performance monitoring, safeguarding and governance. Founded and leads Gloucester Zakat Fund, a registered charity distributing tens of thousands of pounds annually through needs assessment, eligibility checks, confidential casework and auditable funding decisions.

Brings strong resident insight, provider-side experience and evidence-led judgement directly relevant to Crisis and Resilience Fund commissioning and continuous improvement.

Founder & Director - Gloucester Zakat Fund - Gloucester, UK

(2019-01)

Founded and lead a registered charity providing approximately £50,000 each year in crisis and financial-hardship support to local residents.

• Designed and oversee the full case cycle: intake, applicant interviews, evidence review, needs and eligibility assessment, risk consideration, funding decisions, distribution, follow-up and signposting.
• Maintain confidential records and auditable decisions, and oversee financial records, donor accountability and volunteer governance, balancing urgent need with finite resources.
• Use casework themes and resident feedback to identify barriers including insecure income, caring responsibilities, health needs, language and difficulty navigating formal systems.

Headteacher & Business Manager - Al-Ashraf Primary School, Gloucester - Gloucester, UK

(2018-09)

Lead an independent primary school and nursery with 40+ staff, full operational accountability and an annual budget exceeding £1m.

• Manage forecasting, procurement, service contracts, supplier relationships, invoices, cashflow, cost control, income generation and high-stakes resource decisions.
• Run performance and assurance systems using pupil, staffing, safeguarding and financial information; report progress, risk and corrective action to governors and external bodies.
• Lead statutory compliance, safeguarding, SEND, HR, safer recruitment, complaints and risk management, maintaining accurate evidence for inspection and governance.
• Translate priorities into multi-year workstreams with owners, milestones and success measures, working with local authority, NHS, safeguarding, charitable and community partners.

Founder & Director - Peace Inclusion CIC - Gloucester, UK

(2023-09)

Lead a non-profit inclusion consultancy delivering evidence-led training and advice to local government, professional sport, higher education, schools and a confidential central government client.

• Scope needs, tailor delivery, coordinate contributors and use feedback and evaluation to improve practical interventions across public, private and voluntary-sector organisations.

Founder & Director - The Date Hut Ltd - Gloucester, UK

(2021-01)

Manage end-to-end procurement, international suppliers, negotiation, logistics, compliance and financial control; secured organic certification and maintain a Level 5 hygiene rating.

Imam & Community Educational Lead - Masjid e Umar, Gloucester - Gloucester, UK

(2015-02)

Provide confidential crisis support, safeguarding, conflict resolution and signposting, and coordinate volunteers and partnerships for a large, diverse community.

Open Degree - Psychology and Sociology - The Open University (2016-01 - 2025-12)

Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training - Training Suite UK (2018-01 - 2020-12)

Level 3 Diploma in Counselling Skills - CPCAB (2018-01 - 2019-12)

Islamic Theology - Islamic Theology - Islamic College Bury (2010-01 - 2014-12)

GCSEs - Sir Thomas Rich's Grammar School, Gloucester