Our Year Ahead: 2026-27
Our teams in Nepal work to the Nepali financial year, which runs from 1 July to 30 June. As we look to the year ahead, our staff of around 520 will continue working tirelessly to ensure Gurkha veterans and their widows can live with dignity.
The Gurkha Welfare Trust provides vital financial and medical aid to Gurkha veterans, their families and communities in Nepal – and we now enter our 57th year of delivering this essential support. None of this would be possible without your help.
Where we work
We work from 22 regional offices called Area Welfare Centres, plus our Headquarters in Pokhara. They are hubs for our Gurkha community to gain access to the wealth of support we offer.
Programme Director Deepak Shrestha looks to the year ahead
“As we look ahead to the next financial year, we reflect both on what has already been achieved and on the work still to be done.
For me, that work is deeply personal. After serving in the Gurkhas for more than two decades, I joined The Trust in Nepal in August 2017, which allowed me to continue serving my Gurkha brothers, their families and their communities, just in a different uniform. Seeing the tangible, life-changing impact on our Gurkha community gives me a sense of purpose and fulfilment that is difficult to put into words. I am proud to lead a team that delivers dignity to those who have given so much.
This year, we celebrate the 50th year of implementing clean water projects in remote communities. The Trust’s pioneering ‘One House, One Tap’ model has transformed daily life for many households over this period and I am grateful to be leading a team aiming to help another 31 communities this year.
Over the year ahead, our priority will be to build on these achievements and extend our reach and remit where support is needed most.”
Providing Financial Aid
Over the next year, our Financial Aid programme will continue to provide a reliable lifeline to around 2,500 Gurkha veterans and widows who are not eligible for a British Army pension.
At its heart is a monthly pension, paid directly to those most in need, helping them cover everyday essentials such as food, clothing and household costs.
In 2026–27, the monthly pension will increase by 10% to NPR 22,000 (£112.82), offering reassurance and stability in later life. Additionally, for those who reach 100 years of age, the pension payment will be doubled.
Clean Water and Sanitation
Our clean water and sanitation work continues to expand both in reach and impact. These vital schemes ensure that families no longer rely on unsafe water sources, providing them with year-round access to tap stands and clean water just outside their homes.
2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the first clean water initiatives we provided in Nepal, and over the next year, we will construct 31 water projects, directly impacting over 6,600 people. We will also implement five Simple Drip Irrigation schemes, providing communities with a sustainable way to grow fresh produce all year round, improving their diet and supporting income.
Building Earthquake-Resilient Homes
Over ten years since we built our first Earthquake-Resilient Homes in Nepal, the need is very much still there. With your kindness, our build programme has maintained strong momentum and will increase over the next year. In 2026-27 we will build 100 new Earthquake-Resilient homes for Gurkha families.
We will also place greater focus on retrofitting the first homes we built, returning to add accessibility features such as ramps and handrails, and improving comfort through insulation and ceiling-mounted fans. This will enable us to continue providing safety, dignity and stability for years to come.
Medical Aid
Over the last few years, our medical provision has developed into an increasingly comprehensive, proactive healthcare system. Our medical teams will continue to deliver international-standard care through clinics, home visits and medical camps, reaching many patients often in remote areas where alternative care is unavailable.
This Winter we will relaunch our winter appeal to help shield vulnerable pensioners from serious illnesses. With your help, our medical teams hope to deliver over 14,500 vaccinations as well as other medication to help protect Gurkha veterans and widows against flu and pneumonia.
Supporting Pensioners in our Residential Homes
Over the coming year, our two Residential Homes, in Kaski and Dharan, will continue to provide a safe, caring environment for Gurkha veterans and widows who can no longer live independently. Offering round-the-clock care in a setting that feels like family, the homes combine high-quality medical support with companionship, dignity and respect for later life. They also provide short-term rehabilitation stays for those needing additional support before returning home, ensuring each resident receives the right care at the right time.
Over the next year our two Residential Homes will provide 52 bedspaces for Gurkha veterans and widows.
Building a Brighter Future: Our Schools Programme
Our Schools Programme will continue to honour our veterans by improving access to education for their communities and families. By ensuring that children across Gurkha communities can learn in safe, clean environments, with gender-separate toilet facilities, children of all ages are more likely to attend and stay in education into their teenage years.
We predict that this work will benefit over 29,500 students across 108 schools, including targeted extensions at smaller schools, two major build projects, and classroom upgrades. Alongside construction, there is an increasing emphasis on improving the overall learning environment through better furnishings, safer facilities, and enhanced teaching capacity.
“We can only do all this thanks to your kindness – thank you, as ever, for being part of our Gurkha family.”
~Deepak