News & Events

Charity Commission Report Charity 1128754

The Forgotten British Gurkha

Chairman’s Report 10^th Dec 2011

This year has been one of change. The chairman decided to move, permanently, to France, and a couple of Trustees, for various reasons, have resigned. This left myself, one Gurkha and one absentee Trustee in situ.

The absentee travels a lot and has been uncontactable for much of the time, so has not been able to attend any meetings

I have taken on the role of Chairman, but as a local Councillor, I have been able to give limited time to the Charity. However my Gurkha friend and Trustee, Chandra Burathoki has worked very hard, and we have been able to use our finances to good effect by funding an allotment in the local village. This has been split into 4 or 5 plots and has allowed Gurkha families, not only to grow their own produce, but to become friendly with fellow, English, plot-holders. We now have the offer of another, larger, plot in another allotment complex, and we are looking for Gurkhas to work this one. We have purchased a shed for the storage of tools etc, and as shelter if it rains, and have also obtained a load of manure from a local supplier, which the Charity has paid for.

In June this year, we paid for a young Gurkha daughter to come to Uk, to act as a carer for her totally deaf Dad. She, Pushpa, has settled in very well, she has good English, and her Dad, Prem Sunwar, is really happy.

Collection-wise, we have had one street collection in Reading, another one is booked for next year, and several collections outside local supermarkets, Tesco and Morrisons being very generous.

Our income from collections and donations over the year was about £6500, outgoings around £3000, leaving is with about £8,500 in the bank.

We have recently been able to recruit two new trustees and there are two more in the pipe-line.

Originally we had hoped to find work of some sort, for our Gurkha friends, but it has become obvious that they are not interested. However, occasionally, part time jobs come up and somebody will find a need for a bit of pocket-money.