www.turningpointacademy.org.ukRegistered Charity No. 1150947

TURNING POINT ACADEMY PROVIDES:

TPA was established in 2004 as there was no structured support available in London for women who had embraced Islam.

TPA sessions began at the founder’s home with just one student. By word of mouth, the class started to grow. Venues were then found to run daytime and evening study sessions. Today, the classes continue to grow as more and more women embrace Islam.

Study sessions at the rented venues began in April 2011. These sessions included provision for children so mothers could also continue with their Islamic Education.

Over the past 10 years, TPA has supported 600 students and guests by the grace of Almighty Allah (SWT).

ABOUT TURNING POINT ACADEMY (TPA)

ENROLMENT DATA

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 20140

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Number of Members at Turning Point Academy

Year

Num

ber

of M

embe

rs

OUR MISSIONTurning Point Academy:• provides information about Islam to non-Muslims.• offers educational programmes.• provides spiritual and social support to those who have embraced Islam. • is non-judgemental, non-sectarian and non-political.• attracts women from all backgrounds, regardless of faith, age, ethnicity or number of years since

embracing Islam. • facilitates students and their families to be part of the growing Muslim community as well as the

wider London community, by promoting peace and understanding through interaction and education.

Turning Point Academy runs daytime and evening study sessions for new Muslim

sisters and women who are interested in Islam. The teaching programme includes:

Courses and Workshops

Pre-Shahadah/Islamic Awareness

Shahadah Witness and Certification

Wudu (Ablution) and Salaah (Prayer)

Qur’an Memorisation/Hifz

Qur’an Recitation

Structured Qur’anic Tafsir (Explanation)

Arabic Language of the Qur’an

STUDY SESSIONS

TPA STUDENTS ARE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD!

AUSTRALIA…BOSNIA...BRAZIL...COLOMBIA...CONGO...HOLLAND…FRANCE…GREECE...

THE CARIBBEAN...HAITI...HAWAII…INDIA...IRELAND...JAMAICA…LITHUANIA...THE PHILIPPINES...POLAND...SCOTLAND...SLOVAKIA...SOUTH AMERICA…SPAIN...

WALES...ENGLAND...SOUTH AFRICA...GUYANA...HUNGARY…ANTIGUA...ITALY...MAURITIUS...TAIWAN...

EGYPT...GERMANY...RUSSIA…LATVIA...SWITZERLAND...TURKEY...IRAN...CANADA...ROMANIA...UGANDA…

MOROCCO...THE NETHERLANDS...CHINA...VIETNAM...WEST INDIA...BARBADOS...CROATIA...PORTUGAL...NIGERIA...

JAPAN...FINLAND...SWEDEN…KOSOVO...SYRIA...ERITREA...DENMARK...GRENADA...ST LUCIA...

CAMEROON...SRI LANKA…

RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS OF TPASTUDENTS BEFORE ISLAM

Christian…Roman Catholic…Hindu…

Culturalist...Buddhist...Protestant... Greek

Orthodox...Atheist... Agnostic...Jehovah Witness...

Qadiani...Church Of England...

Nation Of Islam...Sikh…Shia…Seventh Day Adventist...Quaker…

OUR PROFESSIONAL TEAMTEACHERS

TPA currently has 20 qualified teachers who

volunteer their time and expertise. All

educators are trained and have knowledge of the wider social context in order to provide on-going

gentle guidance to new Muslims.

MANAGERSTPA has eight

management staff members consisting

of a mixture of teachers and

students from various educational fields. They possess a range of essential professional skills

and expertise.

LECTURERSTPA has a pool of

lecturers consisting of both on-site and visiting lecturers.

Workshops, discussions and

structured courses are professionally

planned and delivered to suit new

Muslim sisters.

CRÈCHE

Turning Point Academy hires a professional, government-regulated crèche so mothers can study and learn in peace.

CATERING

Turning Point Academy provides lunch for students

and staff at the daytime study sessions, as sisters come early and stay for the whole day. At

the evening study sessions, students often attend straight

after work, university or college so a simple cooked

meal is provided.

EVENTS AND TRIPS• Annual ‘Shahadah Certificate Event’

• ‘Iftaar Events’ in Ramadan (breaking of fast) for staff and students

• ‘Eid Gatherings’ for single sisters

• ‘Termly Open Days’, where non-Muslim family, friends and colleagues are invited too

• Annual Community Funday

• Mosque and Islamic Exhibition Trips

WEEKLY PRESENTATIONS BY VISITING LECTURERS

“And you will see the people enter the religion of God in crowds”. (Qur’an 110:2)

A happy day for sisters as Shahadah certificates are issued

London Central Mosque, Regents Park

Muslim World League, Goodge Street

NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

Students study Qur’an at different levels.

Each table has a trained teacher.

Laura is a 19 year old single student originally from Uganda.

Her father is a Christian Priest. She travels from North London to South London

every week for the TPA study sessions. She has no income and no support for her Islamic

education. This was a barrier for her until she received travel money from TPA.

She is an extremely dedicated student and now wears hijab for the pleasure of Allah, despite the displeasure and disapproval of her family and friends.

PROFILE OF STUDENT “LAURA”

Learning the Arabic Alphabet

Students praying, some for the very first time. Praying in congregation is useful for those who

are learning the actions and words.

Katie is 40 years old. She is from a mixed English and Middle Eastern background. She was abandoned on the street as a baby and was raised

by nuns at a Christian convent. At 20 years old, she was ready to take her nun vows as she

knew nothing else. She began to question some aspects of Christianity and her

questioning led to her being thrown out on to the streets. With no experience of the world outside, she suffered many

trials, abuse and violence from both Muslim and non-Muslim men.

Eventually, Allah opened her heart to Islam and she now feels inner peace Alhamdulillah.

PROFILE OF STUDENT “KATIE”

An interactive Islamic Studies workshop

NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

An interactive workshop on ‘Health and Islam’.

Olive is a 65 year old English lady. She is divorced and has grown up children. Her negative encounter at her local Mosque left her with much distrust. Through research and reading, Allah opened her heart to Islam. After her conversion, she was subjected to much emotional and

psychological abuse from her Atheist children and lifelong neighbours and friends.

She is trying very hard to learn Arabic for Salaah. She has started to wear Hijab even though there are no Muslims in her

area. She lives outside London alone and visits whenever she is well enough

and when TPA has the funds to pay for her transport costs.

PROFILE OF STUDENT “OLIVE”

Non-Muslim students learning the actions of prayer for the first time.

Michelle is 22 years old and originally from Jamaica. Her parents affiliated to the Nation of Islam cult. She grew up on the streets of Brixton and became a gang leader.

She was respected and feared by her violent gang. Allah turned her heart towards Islam after a life-changing incident,

where she was near to being murdered by an opposing gang member.

She has now devoted her life to learning and teaching Islam to the youth.

She recites the Qur’an beautifully and would like to be a Hafidha Insha-Allah.

PROFILE OF STUDENT “MICHELLE”

28 students took their Shahadah with the Imam and obtained their certificates in

2014. We also had two Nikahs!

Suzanna is an 80 year old African lady She took her Shahadah at the age of 76 and has been a TPA

student since. She travels by public transport from North London to South

London for the TPA study sessions, using a walking stick! The journey takes almost two hours, yet she is the first one to

arrive and the last one to leave. She has learnt how to pray and now knows the Arabic

alphabet.

PROFILE OF STUDENT “SUZANNA”

150 TPA sisters gather to break fastin Ramadan

Food packs prepared for the new Muslims to have after 18-hour long Summer fasts, the

very first Ramadan for some students.

STUDENT TESTIMONIAL

“I would describe Turning Point Academy (TPA) as a warm and friendly place, where everyone tries their utmost to

make people feel welcome and included. As TPA is such a diverse community no one is made to feel like the odd one out. The knowledge and friendship that I have gained through TPA has had a huge impact on mine

and my family’s life. Not only have I made friends, but through the Open Days

and Ramadan Iftaars, my family have also got to know other converts’ families and have been reassured that I am in good company. Also, the open, honest and community-

focused ethos makes it a comfortable environment to learn and spiritually grow in.”

Student Rachel

TEACHER TESTIMONIAL

“No words can describe the feeling of supporting new Muslim Sisters. It is inspirational seeing the beautiful

smiles on sisters’ faces after realising how far they have come and what they have achieved!

I feel honoured to be a part of such a noble organisation and the support I receive from my colleagues is fantastic! The sisters maintain such a lovely atmosphere and spirits

are always high.

Turning Point Academy has taught me many skills, which have helped to develop myself professionally and

personally and I am grateful to the Almighty Allah for this opportunity. It is such a great feeling knowing I contribute

to this all, I love it!”Teacher Sarah

GUEST TESTIMONIAL

“I attended the TPA Open Day to see where my daughter goes every week. The first thing I noticed and very much

liked was how extremely nice and friendly everyone was…not often can one find themselves amongst so many nice

women!

I felt that everything was very well organised and I could see passion, which is important. I found the organisers to be very hard working and loved to see people being so excited about

providing their best.

I liked very much that I did not feel pushed and think it should stay like this. As a guest, I did not feel that everyone

is trying to convert me and push me into Islam. I enjoyed listening to the

personal stories the most.”

Non-Muslim Mother of TPA

Student

ATTENDANCE STATISTICSAugust 2013 - September 2014Attendance Statistics Number

of People

Term 1 Daytime Attendance (Oct-Dec)

Term 2 Daytime Attendance (Jan-Mar)

Term 3 Daytime Attendance (Apr-Jul)

786676

Term 1 Evening Attendance (Oct-Dec)

Term 2 Evening Attendance (Jan-Mar)

Term 3 Evening Attendance (Apr-Jul)

696771

Term 1 Daytime Teachers (Oct-Dec)

Term 2 Daytime Teachers (Jan-Mar)Term 3 Daytime Teachers (Apr-Jul)

191913

Term 1 Evening Teachers (Oct-Dec)Term 2 Evening Teachers (Jan-Mar)Term 3 Evening Teachers (Apr-Jul)

101211

Attendance Statistics Number of

PeopleNew Enrolments 88

Declarations on Faith (Shahadahs) 32

Open Day (March 2014) 81

Open Day (June 2014) 80

Iftaar Event 1 116

Iftaar Event 2 153

Iftaar Event 3 (In smaller venue) 52

Funday Event (June 2014) 41

DONATE

Allow us to continue with this beneficial work by lifting the financial burden with your

generosity. To have a share of the barakah (blessings), please visit

the website to donate www.turningpointacademy.org.ukor transfer directly to TPA’s bank

account (details on the right). Jazakallah Khair

BANK DETAILS:TURNING POINT ACADEMY

(Registered Charity No. 1150947)Account Number: 02186691

Sort Code: 40-07-04IBAN Number: GB15MIDL40070402186691

SWIFT CODE (BIC): MIDLGB2142V

Amina OsmanPrincipal & Director

MA, Cert.Ed.

+44 (0)7791 556 637director@turningpointacademy.org.uk

www.turningpointacademy.org.uk

CONTACT