Gurkha Welfare Trust, The

Today, many of the Gurkhas who helped fight for our freedom in World War Two and beyond desperately need our help. Without a monthly ‘welfare pension’ from the Gurkha Welfare Trust, many of these brave old soldiers and their dependants would be destitute.

The plight of these Gurkha ex-servicemen is really no government’s fault. Just like the British ‘Tommy’ who served just for ‘the duration’ of the Second World War, many Gurkhas do not qualify for an official military pension. But unlike the ‘Tommy’ the Gurkha returned to a homeland as perilous as it is beautiful. Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the World. There is no state welfare system and monsoon floods and natural disasters are an ever present threat.
Working through 19 Area Welfare Centres in Nepal and one in India, the Gurkha Welfare Trust provides welfare pensions and free medical care for 9,000 old Gurkha soldiers and widows. In addition, last year the Trust investigated hundreds of cases of additional hardship and made emergency payments to alleviate distress following natural disasters. The Trust is also the lead charity for Gurkhas in need in this country.
The Trust relies heavily on legacies and public support to help find the £12 million needed each year to fund this essential work.