The earliest Nepali settlement goes back to around 2003 when the Nepalese families started to live here. With time pass by the Basingstoke Nepalese Community (BNC) was established in 2006 to help and support Nepalese and their culture in the UK from the dedicated volunteer founders in a challenging time. Since then the BNC has grown continuously and has now approximately 700 active paid members who have been voluntarily contributing to our collective mission. Our vision is making BNC inclusive, diversify and sustainable community to help and support community members.

The membership in The BNC offers exclusive benefits and opportunities to engage with like-minded individuals. BNC has been established as a charity not-for-profit organisation to maintain the community responsibility. Indeed, Nepal established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom in 1816. The Gurkhas’ service in the British army officially started on April 24, 1815 after a treaty between Nepal and the British India in 1814. British Gurkhas is a fully integrated part of the British Armed Forces. It constitutes an important element in Nepal-Britain relations. 

Over 160,000 Gurkhas were enlisted in the British-Gurkha Brigade and other units during the First and Second World Wars. The Brigade also suffered 43,000 casualties during the Wars. In recognition of their distinguished service, the British-Gurkha servicemen from Nepal have won 13 Victoria Crosses (VC), the highest British gallantry honour. About 150,000 Nepalese are living in the UK and many of them belong to the Ex-Gurkha and their families. The UK government, took a bold decision to allow Ex-Gurkha servicemen and their families to come and settled in the UK. This is indeed a great honour. Now our responsibility is to motivate, coordinate and support their settlement in line with British values and Nepalese culture.

Majority of the BNC members are also British-Gurkha army men who have been serving the United Kingdom, Britons and the monarch historically for a long. Considering the great history, the Nepalese people deserve to be heard so that they can feel they are in the diversified and inclusive society. The BNC is a multicultural and multilingual community organisation that organises and celebrates various events, help and support programs in Basingstoke and beyond. It has been facing many challenges despite having many opportunities.

As the largest among Nepalese communities in the UK, our objective is to foster a stronger sense of Inclusive community and cultural integration. 

United we stand, divided we fall.