SONP-UK Activities (2026–2028)

Community Walk for Nepal

Represented by: Dr Ramji Poudel (President), Dr Bidur Ghimire (Vice-President), Dr Shiksha Baral (Secretary), Gajendra Katuwal (immediate past President) and members

SONP-UK was one of the organisations behind a five-mile community walk in support of the people of Nepal, held together with Collective Hearts Foundation, Help Nepal Network UK and other community groups. Walkers gathered at the main gates of Danson Park in Welling and set off at 6.30pm, finishing on Blackheath Common around two hours later, carrying torches and electric candles as the light faded.

Families from across Bexley, Greenwich and Dartford took part, joined by Louie French, Member of Parliament for Old Bexley and Sidcup, the Mayors of Bexley and Greenwich, and the Leader of the London Borough of Bexley, Councillor David Leaf, together with local councillors. People of many nationalities, faiths and backgrounds walked side by side under a single message: many communities, one heart.

Website Redevelopment

Coordinated by: Shakti Ghimire, Executive Member

The Society of Nepalese Professionals–UK completed a full redevelopment of snpuk.org.uk. The site was rebuilt around a single, consistent design across every page, with a refreshed homepage, a new Executive Committees archive covering every committee since 2008, updated membership, donation and documents pages, and a rewritten set of frequently asked questions. A new contact form, with a simple anti-spam check, now routes enquiries directly to the executive committee.

The site will continue to be updated with the programmes, photographs and media coverage of the 2026–2028 term.

Candlelight Vigil for Nepal Flood Victims

Represented by: Dr Ramji Poudel, President; Dr Bidur Ghimire, Vice President; and Shakti Ghimire, Executive Member

SONP-UK joined the Nepalese community in Woolwich, London, for a candlelight vigil held in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the devastating floods in Nepal. The gathering brought together numerous Nepalese organisations and community members to express condolences to the bereaved families and to show solidarity with all those affected by the disaster.

The vigil was organised by Buddha Foundation UK, together with SONP-UK and other community organisations.

Strategic Planning and First Committee Meeting

The 10th Executive Committee held its first meeting on 28 August 2026, a strategic planning session and its first working meeting since taking office. Members set the agenda for the whole two-year term, agreed how the committee will operate and allocated responsibilities between them.

That agenda covers research-led work and UK–Nepal knowledge exchange, engaging young professionals, and growing and supporting the membership, along with the programme of events and activities SONP-UK will run over the next two years.

Nepal Flood Relief Fundraising Appeal

Initiated by: Dr Ramji Poudel, President, and Pushpa Raj Moktan, General Secretary

Following the devastating Bhotekoshi River flash flood in Nepal, the Society of Nepalese Professionals–UK (SONP-UK) launched an urgent fundraising appeal to support affected families with rescue, immediate relief and rehabilitation. In a statement signed by President Dr Ramji Poudel and General Secretary Pushpa Raj Moktan, SONP-UK expressed heartfelt condolences to bereaved families, wished the injured a speedy recovery and thanked the government agencies, security personnel, organisations and volunteers involved in the emergency response. The organisation appealed to Nepalese communities and well-wishers worldwide to contribute and confirmed that 100% of the funds collected would be transferred transparently, without administrative deductions, to the Government of Nepal’s designated central disaster-relief fund.

The Bhotekoshi flash floods have claimed hundreds of lives. Thousands of people remain missing, and many families have been left homeless, without food or clean water. The appeal is open over the coming weeks, and every contribution, however small, makes a difference. One hundred per cent of the money raised goes to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund (PMDRF) in Nepal.

Donations can be made by bank transfer. The account details are on our Donate page — please use “Nepal Flood” and your name as the payment reference.

Supporters so far

£1,874 donated and pledged by 22 supporters.

The list is updated as donations come in. If your contribution is missing, listed under the wrong person, or you would rather not be named here, please email info@snpuk.org.uk.

10th Executive Committee Begins Its Term

SONP-UK’s 10th Executive Committee started its two-year journey at the Annual General Meeting in Welling, London. Elected unopposed on 15 August, the new team formally took over from the 9th Executive Committee: founding member Engineer Shyam Thapa announced the results and presented the certificates, and founding member Dr Chandika Bhatt administered the oath of office. Outgoing President Gajendra Katuwal thanked members for their support over his two-year term.

Dr Ramji Poudel leads the committee as President — the full line-up is on the 10th Executive Committee page. Setting out its priorities, the new team pointed to research-led work, youth engagement, UK–Nepal knowledge exchange and registration as a charity.