Description of organisation

The ASHA Centre is a UK charity working for the empowerment of young people, sustainable development and peace & reconciliation worldwide. The Centre is a hub of intercultural activities, hosting a range of educational, performing arts and environment-based programmes throughout the year. The ASHA Centre exists since 2006 and has a wide range of experience at the local, regional and international level. However, the ASHA Foundation started over 20 years ago with your founding director Zerbanoo Gifford. Today the ASHA Centre is a unique venue for all type of people and renowned training centre. It is located within the magnificent scenery of the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, UK. We have five acres of land, including a substantial productive fruit and vegetable garden, flower plots, an entrance court, sports lawn, events patio, walking paths, rose garden, secret garden, agricultural building and eco-lodge. The ASHA Centre is a distinguished venue for youth empowerment and leadership and is now one of the foremost organisations in the UK that worked within the previous Youth in Action programme, which was administered for the UK by the British Council. In addition to hosting European training courses and many other local initiatives, the ASHA Centre is a coordinating, hosting and sending organisation for the European Voluntary Service (EVS) and hosts 6-12 volunteers throughout the year. The ASHA Centre has an in-house team of experts and support staff who deliver a high quality of training (including theatre practitioners, multi-faith educationalists social pedagogues, political scientists digital technicians and others.) It also has a large pool of other experts to draw on as contributors/trainers to the success of the courses and on-going projects.ASHA comes from the Sanskrit root meaning “eternal law” and “the inherent nature of existence”. In Avestan Persian the word ASHA means “the righteous way”, “divine justice” and "truth". In many languages it also means “hope”. At ASHA we offer a calm and welcoming environment for everyone and a platform for each person to make a contribution depending on their enthusiasm and motivation. ASHA can achieve remarkable results with a wide range of people because we offer a life-enhancing experience and the chance to satisfactorily meet personal challenges such as performing in a large theatre or in front of a small audience in a school or community group. Everyone has the opportunity to work with a very wide range of people and levels of ability in a safe and supportive framework. The ASHA team is aware that for many people the ASHA is transformative. All our young participants have reported back to us that being at ASHA has been a life changing and positive experience for them. The most frequent comment in our visitor book about ASHA is ‘inspirational’.In summary, ASHA's mission is to have an active hub of intercultural events, where we host a range of educational activities, performing arts and environment based programmes throughout the year, offering projects designed to meet the challenges and potential of our times. ASHA encourages young people to experience the joys of working on the land, living in community and engaging in their personal and social development. The ethos at ASHA is that everyone has special gifts that need to be nurtured to enrich the world and their communities.