27 June 2026 | The Gurkha Centre | Hayes | By Hari Bhandari
Honouring Armed Forces Day and Armed Forces Week
As we mark Armed Forces Day and celebrate the extraordinary contributions of our serving personnel, veterans, and military families, The Gurkha Centre wishes to reflect on the work delivered during the first quarter of 2026 and acknowledge the partners who have made this possible.
In particular, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Veterans’ Foundation for its continued support. Their investment has enabled us to retain a dedicated frontline staff member, ensuring that Gurkha veterans, widows, and their families continue to receive timely, culturally sensitive, and personalised support when they need it most.
Between April and June 2026, The Gurkha Centre responded to an unprecedented level of community need. Across the three months, we delivered more than 500 support interactions, assisting veterans and their families with healthcare access, welfare benefits, housing issues, immigration matters, employment support, language interpretation, and digital inclusion. Health and social care outreach and Universal Credit support remained the two most significant areas of need throughout the quarter.
Our work has continued to focus particularly on older members of the Gurkha community. In April alone, more than half of the individuals supported were aged 65 and above, reflecting the increasing challenges faced by elderly veterans and widows in navigating healthcare systems, pensions, digital services, and welfare support.
Beyond direct support, we have invested in education, research, and community development. We successfully completed a Community Group Placement with Imperial College London, facilitating learning opportunities for students and junior doctors while conducting focus groups exploring health outcomes and barriers to healthcare access among elderly Gurkha veterans and their families. The insights generated will inform future research and help shape more culturally responsive services.
We also delivered cancer awareness programmes in partnership with RM Partners and the NHS, increasing awareness of early diagnosis and preventative healthcare. These sessions were exceptionally well received, with many participants expressing greater confidence in recognising symptoms and engaging with health services.
The Centre continued to strengthen pathways into health and social care by providing placements for trainee social workers and internships for students from Uxbridge, Harrow, and Richmond Colleges, investing in the next generation of professionals committed to serving diverse communities.
Equally important has been our work to reduce social isolation. Through our Veterans’ Café, English language classes, cultural celebrations, and community events, we have created opportunities for veterans, widows, and families to connect, support one another, and maintain a strong sense of identity and belonging.
Armed Forces Day is not only a time to remember military service but also an opportunity to recognise the resilience, contributions, and ongoing needs of veterans and their families. The achievements of this quarter are a testament to the strength of our community, the dedication of our volunteers and staff, and the invaluable support of organisations such as the Veterans’ Foundation.
Together, we continue to honour service through meaningful action—ensuring that those who served our country, and the families who stood beside them, receive the dignity, support, and opportunities they deserve.
