Who we are - AMURT UK
Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team (AMURT) UK is a grassroots disaster relief and community development organisation working with local communities to relieve the immediate suffering of those affected by disaster and crises and helping them move on with their lives.
Our Vision:
AMURT UK envisions a world where everyone has the means and resources to meet their needs, and no one has to overcome a crisis or disaster alone.
Our Mission:
AMURT UK is a fast and flexible responder that supports and serves all people and communities to navigate crisis, disaster, and poverty, by assisting with their survival needs and by unconditionally providing the means to support their emotional, physical and spiritual well-being.
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.
Our Values:
The Indian Classic Principles of ethical conduct and engagement, Yama and Niyama, inform all our work. This is how we interpret these universal values in the context of AMURT UK’s operations.
Yama – Principles concerning the individual in relation to the society
Ahimsa – Benevolent Intention
We are rooted in action in all the ways we work and serve others, treating them with respect, kindness and compassion and intend no harm in thoughts, words, or action.
Satya – Honest Compassion
We work with strong integrity, high transparency, and enormous kindness, ensuring our communications and actions are dedicated to the benefit and welfare of others.
Asteya – Financial Integrity
We uphold strong financial governance, transparency, and accountability, ensuring that everything we do is guided by the spirit of generosity and responsible stewardship.
Brahmacarya – Universal Connection
We recognise that we are all interconnected as one loving family. This is reflected in the way we operate within our teams, treat our collaborative partners, and interact with those we serve in the community.
Aparigrapha – Dynamic Resources
We are deeply committed to serving others without personal gain. We use resources wisely, guided by fairness and sustainability, avoid unnecessary accumulation, and serve with generosity, integrity and ethical responsibility.
Niyama – Principles concerning personal responsibility
Shaoca – Cleanliness & Clarity
We maintain a high level of cleanliness in our physical workspaces, while encouraging charity of mind amongst all our staff.
Santosha – Peace & Contentment
We support our staff members in finding contentment within themselves and their roles, safe in the knowledge that each person brings their own unique gifts and qualities to their work.
Tapah – Deep-Rooted Call To Duty
We strive to go above and beyond the call of duty to best meet the all-round needs of each individual that we serve.
Svadhyaya – Inspiration & Purpose
We look to have a deep understanding of our values and the purpose of our work and commit to ongoing self-reflection, learning, and growth, to ensure our work remains purposeful, effective, and aligned with our mission.
Iishvara Pranidhana – Recognising Our True Nature
We encourage all those that we work with, be they staff, volunteers or service users to recognise their innate oneness.
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
