Who we are - AMURT UK

AMURT UK is a grassroots disaster relief and community development organisation. We work with local communities to relieve the immediate suffering of those affected by disaster and crises and empower people to lead healthy, happy, environmentally sustainable lives.

Our strength is in our people; our dedicated local staff, volunteers and experienced life-long volunteers – many of whom have sacrificed careers and material comfort to serve others.

Current projects in the UK serve vulnerable communities to:

• Relieve food poverty (involving food upcycling)
• Promote healthy food and lifestyle choices
• Engage, train, upskill and coordinate volunteers to promote mental health & wellbeing

We believe every individual has the right to have their basic needs fulfilled such as nourishment and being treated with respect regardless of race, gender or social status.

In the UK we currently work with local volunteers in London and Birmingham to relieve immediate suffering by delivering projects focused on food and feeding the homeless and food poverty affected beneficiaries including vulnerable children, families and households.

We also run a health-food store, Food for All, in Stoke Newington; its profits are used to support our help for vulnerable and homeless beneficiaries.

Internationally we partner with other AMURT chapters, to respond to the specific needs and challenges of their local areas. We work closely with AMURT Global and with AMURTEL, a separate sister organisation managed by women for women, to do this.

Guiding Principles

• Every human being has the right to meet his or her own fundamental needs such as nourishment, accommodation, medical care, clothing, and education. The resources of the earth should be used in a just and appropriate way to meet those needs.

• Every human being regardless of race, creed, gender, religion or social status is a dignified member of the human family and should be treated with understanding and respect.

• It is only by showing respect for women, and ensuring their integration and active participation in the development process, that a harmonious growth of the family, community, and society as a whole can be achieved.

• Development is a balanced process that maintains equilibrium between industry and the environment, urban and rural growth, human needs and available resources. Development should lessen the gap between the rich and poor and provide opportunities for all.

• Appropriate development begins within the social and cultural framework of each community. It enables underprivileged communities to gain a greater degree of independence to determine their own future.

Background

AMURT (Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team) is one of the few private international humanitarian organisations founded in India. It was founded in 1965 and its original objective was to help meet the needs of communities affected by disasters that regularly hit the Indian sub-continent. Over the years AMURT has established chapters and dynamic teams in thirty-four countries, to create a network that can meet disaster and development needs almost anywhere in the world. In 1985 AMURT broadened its goals to include long-term development and in 1986 AMURT UK chapter was founded. We feel that we can play a useful role in helping vulnerable communities break the cycle of poverty and gain greater control over their lives. For us, development is human exchange: people sharing wisdom, knowledge and experience to build a better world.

See also Meet the Team | Our Affiliates