Abdou is Director of grants at Paul Hamlyn Foundation, one of the largest independent grant-making organisations in the UK. Within this role, Abdou leads the development of the foundation’s grant making strategy, towards its vision for a just society in which everyone, especially young people can realise their full potential and enjoy creative lives. Prior to that Abdou worked for the National Lottery Community Fund as Deputy Director of partnerships where he led the development of the Fund’s approach to embedding innovative national and placed based partnerships across England. He also spent three and half years as Head of regional funding in Yorkshire and Humber leading the Fund’s approach to relational grant making within a regional context.
Before stepping into the grant making sector, Abdou also worked in the voluntary sector for over 15 years, including 12 years at the Children’s Society where he built a successful track record directly delivering and leading services aimed at refugee and asylum-seeking children, young people and their families, victims of domestic abuse, sexual exploitation and trafficking as well as disabled young people.
