A 2014 BBC study found Sikhs to be the most 'giving' community in the UK, and the notion of Sikhs as a charitable people is well known in the countries in which they reside in significant numbers.

In the UK, Sikhs are frequently in the news for their community work and charitable enterprise, setting up food banks that serve communities throughout the country, as well as providing support when natural disasters such as flooding occurs.

UK based Sikh charities have a global footprint, with Khalsa Aid conducting work in war zones and fragile states, while Sikh charities from North America, Panjab and India are also growing in prominence. This section lists various Sikh charities with links to their donation pages.

Charity in Sikhi

The concept of charity in Sikhi is a fundamental aspect of the faith. In Sikhi, all is connected. The first (and most important) concept of Sikhi is ik, or 'one'. In the Sarabloh Granth we are taught "I am it, and it is me, there is no difference between us". In the Guru Granth Sahib we are taught that "the entire diversity of the world was generated out of one. The one has in it a creative principle by which it grows from one to many".

This concept of 'oneness' directs Sikhs to ensure all aspects of the one are treated to the best of our abilities and is a driver behind Sikh charity. This philosophy is supported by a call to action in the daily Sikh prayer which asks for sarbat da bhalla, or the welfare and prosperity of all. Finally, this call for action is supported by the practical implementation by the Sikh Gurus of enabling infrastructure, such as the dasvandh.

The dasvandh or 'tenth-part' is core part of Sikh philosophy where individuals are encouraged to share 10% of their earnings with the community or those less fortunate. The dasvandh is one aspect of the broader Sikh application of seva or 'service'. In Sikhi, seva can be subdivided into three approaches:

Tan: this is service through physical action and includes the concept of langar or the 'Sikh free kitchen' which provides food to the community and the needy. This can also be delivered through progressing the physical world by volunteering to build infrastructure, or through protecting the needy from oppression.

Man: this is service through the application of the mind and includes the use of creative and intellectual skills to improve and progress the physical world. This category encompasses disciplines such as providing mental support helplines, therapy, or through individual/community ingenuity to solve problems that cause poverty and suffering.

Dhan: this is service through material resources such as charity and encompasses the concept of the dasvandh. This should always be delivered in a selfless manner, without ego and includes the concept of gupt or 'anonymous' seva.

List of Sikh charities

This isn't a comprehensive list of all Sikh charities and charitable organisations, but includes some of the more well known. If you have the means to provide support to any, please do.

  • Khalsa Aid: One of the better known global Sikh charities based out of the UK. They assist the poor and downtrodden across the world. The very meaning of sarbat da bhalla and fantastic ambassadors for Sikhi.
  • United Sikhs: An American based charity which provides support through three pillars: humanitarian aid, civic empowerment and human rights. Sikh Aid is their humanitarian arm.
  • Pingalwara Charitable Society: One of the earliest 'modern' Sikh charities and based in Panjab, the organisation was founded by Bhagat Puran Singh in the early 20th century and focuses on healthcare, education and homelessness. 
  • Hemkunt Foundation: Based in India, the Hemkunt Foundation grew from providing free schools, to encompassing more humanitarian work, including covid-19 relief.
  • Sikh Helpine: A UK Midlands based charity that provides assistance for victims of bullying, domestic abuse, grooming and other cultural and social taboos through a free and confidential helpline. (I spent a bit of time volunteering with these guys when I was younger and Giani Sukha Singh is someone who has done a lot for Sikhs in the UK)
  • Sikh Soup Kitchen: Another Sikh charity based in the English Midlands, the Sikh Soup Kitchen regularly provides food bank services in its local Birmingham area.
  • Midland Langar Seva Society: One of the earliest community food programmes in the Midlands, MLSS is one of the best known Sikh charities providing amazing support to the most vulnerable.
  • Langar Aid: Another Midlands based Sikh community kitchen project, under the umbrella of Khalsa Aid.
  • Sikh Relief: Founded as a charity focused on representing Sikh political prisoners, it also focuses on other related projects.
  • Lions MMA: Provides martial arts training to Sikhs up and down the UK through a Sikh ethos in Gurdwara premises (I spent a some time training with them, and rate them very highly)
  • Basics of Sikhi: A project that aims to educate the world on the philosophies and values of Sikhi through modern media.
  • Nishkam Swat: This was the first real community food project and unlike the others mentioned above, this one focuses on London.
  • Sikh Sewa Organisation: A community food project based in the north of England.
  • Gurdwara Aid: Helps Sikh Gurdwaras and charities with issues like Gift Aid, as well as runnings its own food project.
  • YourSeva: A Midlands based charity focused on shaheed families as well as other vulnerable and poverty stricken families in Panjab