The Gurkha Welfare Trust

It began to create a network of bases in Nepal to distribute financial aid to retired soldiers who had met with disasters such as landslides and floods.

[4] In an arrangement that endures to this day, the Trust agreed on a deal that its administrative costs would be largely met by a grant in aid funding from the Ministry of Defence.

Today, the Trust's field delivery arm – The Gurkha Welfare Scheme – employs around 400 staff members in Nepal.

Its footprint includes 21 operational bases (Area Welfare Centres) across Nepal that are run by former Gurkhas, as well as one in Darjeeling, India.

[8] In addition to its relief work for Gurkha veterans, the Trust also invests in Community Aid projects for the wider Nepalese population.

[11] Clean water supply systems and sanitation schemes are introduced to around 120 villages across the country each year, drastically reducing sickness rates and labour hours in those communities.

[12] With funding from the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association, the Trust organises eight annual open medical camps, performing thousands of dental extractions and cataract operations while offering free GP and gynaecology checks, performing minor surgery and distributing free medication.

[15] Gurkha Welfare Trust Foundation (USA) was established in 1978 by Ellice McDonald Jr.[16] Following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Nepal in April 2015, The Gurkha Welfare Trust was among the first relief organisations to respond to the disaster, making use of its extensive local footprint to deploy patrol teams including mobile doctors.

The teams distributed emergency financial, medical and material aid such as food and shelter in affected regions across the country.

On 9 June, hundreds of serving soldiers took part in a fundraising Pageant organised by The Gurkha Welfare Trust, attended by the Queen and other members of the royal family.