Our Goal and Target
Further to our last meeting, set out in this document are essentially the following items:-
- Where GPF has come from, activities it currently undertakes, funds it raises etc
- A summary of the potential future focus of GPF for the next 3-5 years
- A summary of the potential sources of funds and approach to fundraising for the next 3-5 years
- A number of organisational and practical issues that are likely to need addressing as next steps
GPF was founded in [2011] with broad ranging objectives to support the Gurkha communities in both Kent and Nepal. Over the last 10+ years, GPF has funded a fairly broad range of projects and activities in Kent, Nepal and occasionally elsewhere. It is a relatively small charity with average annual income of c.£20-25k. GPF has been very reliant on volunteer resources in both the UK and Nepal to deliver its various programmes
GPF Today
Over the last few years, GPF has concentrated its efforts on the following areas:-
Kent
- Providing partial funding and assistance to two Gurkha advice and social centres in Ashford and Folkestone which provide a combination of a social meeting venue, advice on welfare, immigration matters etc and training such as computer skills
- Providing transport and interpreters for hospital visits, immigration applications etc
Nepal
- Drinking water projects in rural villages
- Educational projects including providing English teachers
In a typical month, the Folkestone and Ashford Centres are attended by [#] individuals. The Folkestone Centre is a recently refurbished facility which is available to the Gurkha community on an exclusive basis. The Ashford Centre is only available [2]days per week and is not big enough to meet demand
GPF – the next 5 Years
As discussed, it is of paramount importance to any charity is it needs (a) a very clear purpose and focus which is capable of being effectively implemented and (b) that purpose needs to be easily understood and resonates well with potential donors.
GPF essentially wants to (and needs for the benefit of the Gurkha community) continue to focus on what it is currently doing in both Kent and Nepal. Over the next few years, gradually increasing the scale of its activities and projects for which there is currently demand and, in many cases, an unmet need.
In summary, GPF’s objectives and areas of focus for the next 3-5 years can be summarised:-
- Supporting the Gurkha and broader Nepalese Community in Kent and Nepal
- Delivering projects to improve education and basic infrastructure in rural Nepal
- Delivering projects and assistance to help the Gurkha community in Kent focused on 2 Advice and Social Centres in Folkestone and Ashford
The one area where there is a need for GPF to act as a catalyst/focal point is to find a solution for the lack of a full time advice and social centre in Ashford. The capital required to fund a dedicated Ashford Centre is of a different size and scale to GPF’s current activities and, as such, is proposed in this paper to be dealt with as a separate initiative
In terms of what GPF is currently spending on its various projects and initiatives and, if GPF was able to increase its funding over the next 3 to 5 years, what GPF would be looking to provide this can be summarised as follows:-
| Folkestone Now | [Partial rent for Centre? Computer courses? Transport to Hospitals? Anything else?] | £[5?]k per annum |
| Folkestone 3 yrs Time | [What in addition would GPF like to add in Folkestone? Transport to shops?] | £[8?]k per annum |
| Folkestone 5 yrs Time | [What in addition would GPF like to add in Folkestone?] | £[10?]k per annum |
| Ashford Now | [Partial rent for Centre? Computer courses? Transport to Hospitals? Anything else?] | £[5?]k per annum |
| Ashford 3 yrs Time | [What in addition would GPF like to add in Ashford? More days?] | £[8?]k per annum |
| Ashford 5 yrs Time | [What in addition would GPF like to add in Ashford?] | £[10?]k per annum |
| Nepal Now | [[1] Drinking Water Project per year? [X] number of English teachers?] | £[10?]k per anum |
| Nepal 3 yrs Time | [[X] Drinking Water Project per year? [Y] number of English teachers?] | £[15?]k per anum |
| Nepal 5 yrs Time | [[Z] Drinking Water Project per year? [ZZ] number of English teachers?] | £[20?]k per anum |
With regard to a new Ashford Centre, depending on whether this is to be leased, how much refurbishment is required or whether this is ultimately going to be a newly built and owned facility, it is difficult to say at this point with any precision what the cost of this project is likely to be. It could be anywhere from a few thousand pounds as has been the case with the Folkestone Centre to hundreds of of thousands of pounds if a purpose built Centre is required. The role that GPF wants to play in relation to the new Ashford Centre is:-
- To provide a scope for what is required and justify based on the size of the Gurkha community in Ashford, the experience in Folkestone etc, that such a centre will be fully utilised and will be additive to the overall community
- Work with Ashford Borough Council and other potential partners to identify potential buildings and sites
- Once a building/site has been located look to partner with Ashford Borough Council and other partners (likes of National Lottery, Age Concern, Gurkha Welfare Trust etc) to raise the required funds
Historic & Future Approach to Finances & Fundraising
Looking at historic financial information on GPF from the Charity Commission website, if you strip out a bequest of c.£50k in 2018, GPF has typically raised £20-30k per annum
The only accounts that have been filed with the Charity Commission are in respect of 2018.
From these other than the bequests, the major fundraising items are:-
- Standing orders of £5k
- Gurkha walk £6k
- Duwali £5k
- Other donations/Just Giving £6k
In 2017 and 2021 GPF received Government grants
In terms of future approach to fundraising, what is required here is a 3-5 year Fundraising Plan which if implemented will deliver:-
- £30k of funds in Year 1 rising to £50-60k by Year 3
- The sources of funds will be split between: (a) regular donors; (b) events which become established as annual fundraisers; (c) legacies and (d) grants/donations from Government, Councils, companies
- This does not include raising funds specifically for the new Ashford Centre which will be dealt with as a separate exercise
In terms of what a Fundraising Plan could include:-
- Supporters/Regular Givers
- Small Group of Benefactors – who sign up to give an annual amount (say £500-£1000) for 3 to 5 years
- Larger Group of Regular Donors – who sign up to give a monthly amount (say £2-£5 per month)
Year 1 – Target £5k, Year 3 – Target £10k
Events
Focus on (a) a small number of well executed events (b) make these regular/annual events that people sign up for year after year and (c) have an element of scarcity value (for instance access to military bands, dinners in the mess appeal to people). From discussion to date the following would seem to fit that bill:-
- Gurkha Walk – currently a 13 mile walk raising c.£8k. Look at rebranding (Gurkha Challenge?) and expand to include a run. Based on Saltwood Boxing Day run and Folkestone 10 Miler this event should be capable of raising £10-15k
- Gurkha Band and Curry Evening Hawkindge – feels like this could be a 500 pax event netting £10 per head and raising £5k
- Gurkha Band Carol Concert at Hythe or Saltwood church
- Gala Dinner in the Sergeants’ Mess – based on other similar dinners,this would target 1-150 pax with Gurkha band, Kukri dance, Hill Boys music and an auction, targeting to raise £10-15k
Year 1 – Target £25k, Year 3 – Target £35k
Corporate Sponsors – should approach both local corporates and businesses (SAGA, P&O, Taylor Wimpey, KAP etc) and defence contractors (all of whom have CSR budgets)
Year 1 – Target Nil, Year 3 – Target £5k
- Government/Local Council Grants – as has been done by GPF in the past
Year 1 – Target Nil, Year 3 – Target £5k
Matched Funding – there are a couple of charity programmes that will match up to a certain amount £ for £ what the charity itself raises. The Big Give Christmas Challenge is one of these https://biggive.org/charities/#christmas-challenge-charity
Year 1 – Target Nil, Year 3 – Target £5k
- Matters for Consideration & Next Steps
- The most important items for the GPF Trustees/Leadership to agree at the outset are (a) what the focus of GPF is going to be for the next 3-5 years and (b) what ambition level they are comfortable with in terms of (i) what are the priorities in Kent and Nepal (ii) how much will these programmes cost and (iii) are the Trustees/Leadership confident in their ability to raise the required funds
- Once there is agreement on the items at 1. Above, this will then allow the Leadership (working with others) to:-
- Put together an updated and well thought through summary of GPF’s purpose, objectives, values, priorities, targets etc
- Put together a more detailed Fundraising Plan
- Identify what human and other resources are going to be required to deliver on its Programmes and Fundraising Plan
- With regard to people, GPF Leadership will need to identify whether it has people with the right expertise etc to deliver on its plans. In particular:-
- Does it have Trustees with all of the required skillsets, in the right geographical locations, right mix of Gurkhas and non Gurkhas etc
- GPF will need:-
- An individual with financial experience to serve as Treasurer
- Someone with Marketing/PR skills to upgrade and update content on GPF’s website, get publicity in local press etc
- A person with experience in fundraising and delivery of events
- One or more individuals who are well plugged into Folkestone & Hythe District Council and Ashford Borough Council
- Thought should also be given to who GPF can get on board as Ambassadors/Patrons to assist with raising GPF’s profile
- Whilst 1. & 2. Above are being worked through, steps need to be undertaken to getting the GPF website and domain back under GPF’s control
- This time can also be used to agree and start work on a calendar of events with detailed plans being made for each event