University and local groups

About University and Local Groups

Friends of Antara UK recognises the value of communities and small groups in working efficiently and effectively. For this reason most of our day-to-day activity is organised by local groups.

A local group is simply a commitee of interested people who want to help Friends of Antara UK on a sustained basis. They aim to carry out our core activities in their local area or community including:

Fundraising (Events, sponsored challenges, collections, selling Antara products)
Awareness (Organising events, talks and stalls)
Direct Support (Recruting volunteers and letter exchange)
Research and Cooperation (promoting links)

A local group has quite a lot of freedom and autonomy to carry out these activities though always under the guidance and authority of our national general committee. Many of our local commitee members also represent at our national commitee and are ex-volunteers with our partner organisation.

Why not get involved in your area? We have had local groups in York and in Leeds and Warwick Universities. See our contact page to get in touch with your local committee.

Alternatively you might think about setting up a local group in a school, place of worship, community group or university. All of our groups start in a small way and we can support you by providing resources and advice as you get going.

Contact our local groups coordinator for details unigroups@friendsofantarauk.org

Leeds University

The 'Friends of Antara UK' group at Leeds University started in 2004. Since then students have been very active, fundraising £1000s and raising awareness in the student body and beyond.

Some of the activities Leeds have been involved in include:

Firewalking
Curry Nights
Sponsored runs and walks
Stalls
Antara product sales and links to Fair Trade shops.
Recruiting undergraduate and graduate volunteers
Organising talks and speaking at university events.

Contact: friendsofantara_leeds@yahoo.co.uk

Warwick University

The local group in Warwick University and Medical School started in 2007.

Ex-volunteers to Antara have raised awareness about Antara and recruited volunteers through Medsin (a national network of medical students which acts on health inequalities and global health).

We hope Warwick will grow to be another very active local group.

Contact: fofa.warwick@gmail.com

York University

A local group ran at York University from 2002-2005. After a three year absence, F of A UK is establishing a new local group at York, and began by recruiting volunteers in October 2008.