The FNC has undertakes several projects to enhance the quality of life and well-being of its members and the local community.
Mar 2025
Apr 2025
Projects & Collaborators
FNC Meetings & Social Events
Past projects & events
Mar 2025
Mar 2025
| Date | Collaborators | Project/Activity | Schedule | Additional Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03 Mar 2025, Monday | Equator Festival/Shiva Nova | Garden Workshope for School | 9:45 am – 2:30 pm at the Pent Farm | Kanchan & Chandra |
| 08 Mar 2025, Saturday | ShivaNova | International Women’s Day | 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm at the South Kent Community Church, CT20 2QR | Open to all the Public. Kanchan & Volunteer |
| 09 Mar 2025, Sunday | FHDC | Community Litter Picking | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at the FNC Centre | All FNC Members |
| 11 Mar 2025, Tuesday | Channel Health Alliance | Cancer Awareness & Prevention Session | 11:00 am – 1:00 pm at the FNC Centre | All FNC Members |
| 12 Mar 2025, Wednesday | Equator Festival/Shiva Nova | Garden Workshope for School | 9:45 am – 2:30 pm at the Pent Farm | Kanchan & Chandra Shai |
| 13 Mar 2025, Thursday | FHDC, SSAFA, DWP, RBL and other services | Veterans Drop-In | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at the FNC Centre | All FNC Members & all the Veterans in surrounding area |
| 13 Mar 2025, Thursday | University of Surrey – Dr Andrea Martinez | The PAPER Study, Presentation | 11:00 am – 12:00 pm at the FNC Centre | All FNC Member |
| 16 Mar 2025, Sunday | Equator / ShivaNova | Nepalese Holi Celebration | 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm at the FNC Centre | All FNC Members Free Entry For Members of the Public – Please Click Here to Book for the Event |
| 20 Mar 2025, Thursday | University of Surrey – Dr Andrea Martinez | The PAPER Study, Screening | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm at the FNC Centre | Invited FNC Members |
| 22 Mar 2025, Saturday | Mayor of Folkestone | Women Together: Business | Wellbeing | Art | Networking – Click here for detail | 5pm – 8 pm, The Grand, The Green Room, The Leas, Folkestone, CT20 2XL | £25 pp – open to all public subject to tickets availability |
| 25 Mar 2025, Tuesday | TB Team Visit | Public Health and Prevention Directorate Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at the FNC Centre | All FNC Members |
| 27 Mar 2025, Thursday | Leaslift.co.uk | Leas Lift – Presentation | 10:30 am – 12:00 pm at the FNC Centre | All FNC Members |
| 27 Mar 2025, Thursday | Gurkha Welfare Trust (GWT) | GWT Folkestone Surgery – Note: List to be summitted two weeks in advance | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at the FNC Centre | All FNC Members – Veterans / Serving and Families |
| 30 Mar 2025, Sunday | FNC Committee | Annual General Meeting | 10:00 – 15:00 at the FNC Centre | All FNC Members |
Apr 2025
Apr 2025
| Date | Collaborators | Project/Activity | Schedule | Additional Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04 Apr 2025, Friday | Leas Lift | Community Engagement | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at the FNC Centre | Yaz & Kanchan Brainstorming the workshop |
| 09 Apr 2025, Wednesday | Airmark | Volunteering Deep Cleaning the FNC Centre | 09:00 am – 3:00 pm | Volunteers from Airmark |
| 10 Apr 2025, Thursday | FHDC, SSAFA, DWP, RBL and other services | Veterans Drop-In | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at the FNC Centre | All FNC Members & all the Veterans in surrounding area |
| 11 Apr 2025, Friday | Leas Lift | Community Engagement – Heritage Walks, Trails, Lift Visit | 11:00 am – 1:00 pm | Walk & Trails at the Lease – Kanchan & Volunteers |
| 12 Apr 2025, Saturday | FNC Committee | FNC Nepalese New Year Celebration | 4:40 pm – 11:00 pm at the Hawkinge Committee Centre | All FNC Members & Invited Guests |
| 13 Apr 2025, Sunday | FHDC | Community Litter Picking | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at the FNC Centre | All FNC Members |
| 24 Apr 2025, Thursday | Kent Association for the Blind | KAB’s Mobile Sight Centre | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm at the FNC Centre | All FNC Members |
| 24 Apr 2025, Thursday | Gurkha Welfare Trust (GWT) | GWT Folkestone Surgery – Note: List to be summitted two weeks in advance | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at the FNC Centre | All FNC Members – Veterans / Serving and Families |
Projects & Collaborators
Major Projects
| Collaborators | Project/Activity | Schedule | Additional Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Education England | Community Participatory Action Research Cohort 3 Community Participatory Action Research Cohort 2 – click here for detail | 01 Oct 2024 – Sep 2025 22 May 2023 – Jun 2024 | Training and Mentoring from NHS England, University of Reading & Scottish Community Development Centre |
| University of Surrey | The PAPER Study – please click here for detail | 13 Mar 2025 – Ongoing | As part of this study, wants to speak to people who may show signs of depression but have either not tried to seek help or advice from NHS services, or who did attempt it but did not carry on (for example, they did not find the first consultation helpful) and which can help us improve support and services in the future. |
| King’s College London | The HEAR study – Research for Gurkha and Fijian veterans of the UK military | 08 Jun 23 – Oct 2025 | King’s Centre for Military Health Research |
| Leas Lift | Community Engagement Project | 27 Mar 25 – Mar 2026 | HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED? * WHAT WOULD MAKE THE LIFT A PLACE FOR YOU? COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS? *HAVE YOU GOT A STORY TO SHARE? *EASTER FAMILY HERITAGE TRAIL. *LEAS LIFT REMINISCE. *COMMUNITY EXHIBITIONS (NOW + WHEN OPERATIONAL). *HERITAGE WALKS, TALKS, TRAILS, LIFT VISITS. *JOBS – OPERATIONS. |
| Folkestone & Hythe District Counsel | UKSPF COST OF LIVING AND WARM SPACE PROJECTS | 29 Aug 2024 – 31 Mar 2025 | FNC Centre Warm Space Hub |
| Kent Adult Education | ESOL: Beginners, Intermediate & Advance Courses and IT Courses: Beginners & Advance (Developing phase). | Sep 2022 – Sep 2025 | Response Course |
| NUYU Academy | Multiply Course, NCFE Entry Level 3 – Mathematics, & Level 3 Award in Education & Training and Skills for Life | Sep 2023 – Mar 2025 | Multiply Course – Wednesday NCFE Entry Level 3 – Saturday Education & Training at various dates |
| Armed Forces Covenant Fund | Digital & Language Inclusion | 01 Dec 2023 – 30 Nov 2024 | Forces For Change |
| NHS Kent & Medway ICB | Adult Community Health Service Engagement & Child Community Health Service Engagement Kent and Medway Integrated Care Strategy engagement | 31 May – 08 Jul 2024 05 – 31 Jul 2023 | Community Research Report by 08 Jul 2024 & 15 Jul 2024 |
| Kent County Council / Folkestone & Hythe District Council | Household Support Fund – Government Scheme for Cost of Living Crisis | FHDC: Mar 2022, Sep 2022, Apr 2023 & Sep 2024 KCC: Mar 2023, Aug 2023 & Jun 2024 | Support FNC Members/Beneficiaries to apply for food & fuel Vouchers |
| Southern Gas Network plc (SGN) & Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) | SGN Safe and Warm Communities Scheme | 01 Mar 2024 – Feb 2025 | Support in energy crisis in response to the current cost of living crisis |
| Social Enterprise Kent & Kent County Council | Community Wellbeing: Tai Chi & Food Champion – Healthy Eating | 04 Apr 2024 – Mar 2025 | Continuation of Tai Chi and new Activity Healthy Eating session will be introduce at the Centre |
| BBC, South Shore Production | Andi Oliver’s Big Bash: Food, Music & Culture | June 2023 – releasing in 24 April 2024 | Click here for detail of the program |
| Channel 5, BriteSparks Flims | Norfolk & Suffolk: Community Farm | Sep 2023 – releasing in 2024 | Country & Coast – Narrated by Bill Nighy Click here for detail |
| University of Kent | Engaging underserved communities in Kent Walking with Ghost click here for detail | Feb 2024 – May 2024 | Engaging young people from Kent’s ethnic minority communities with mental health research |
| Turner Schools | Diversity Week & Folkestone Talks Events | Mar, Apr, May, June 2024 | Outreaching Schools with Nepalese Indigenous Culture & Folkestone Nepalese Community and Centre Projects & Activities |
| The White House Surgery | Local GP: Support Service | 2023 – ongoing | Support GP Practice by translating, arranging an appointment and volunteering to help on large vaccination day |
| Gurkha Welfare Trust :Gurkha Welfare Advice Centre (Salisbury) | Coordination with DWP for Pension Credit and other Gurkha Welfare Matters in Nepal | 2022 – ongoing | Assist Gurkha veterans and their families, particularly those who have recently arrived from Nepal and are residing in the Folkestone area. |
| Kent Downs AONB: Pent Farm & Equatorial Festival | Farming in Protected Landscapes: Detail of the project click here | Jan/Feb 2023 – 2024 | Community Garden |
| Pro-Force | Recruitment & Training: Supporting Jobseekers around Kent | 01 Jan 2024 | Pro-Force is recruiting service – visits the Centre once a month for recruiting & training |
| Jobcentre Folkestone | Assistance and Translation Mon – Fri from 10am-4pm. | Jun 2024 | FNC Centre to coordinate with Jobcentre for the appointment for FNC members |
| Kent & Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust | Community Partners The Art of Mental Health KMPT Community Research Champions | 22 Feb 2024 – Feb 2025 | Details here |
| HiP Photography | Women of Faith Exhibition – Women International Day | Feb 2024 – Mar 2024 | Portrait Exhibition of Nepalese Indigenous |
| East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust | Patient Voice and Involvement | Feb 2024 – Dec 2024 | TBC |
| Folkestone & Hythe District Council | Veteran Hub & Monthly Community Litter Pick & Networking | Jan 2024 – Dec 2024 | 2nd week Thursday and 2nd week of Sunday of every month |
| Kent Art & Wellbeing & Young Animator Club | Animating the 200 years of Gurkha History | Jan 2023 – Mar 2024 | Animation Almost Ready & possible continuation of project for extra 6 months. |
| EK360 | Hypertension Hero | Dec 2023 – Mar 2024, Continuation Sep 2024 | Additonal outreach Program |
| Equator Festival | Multicultural Festivals | Mar 2021 – ongoing | Nepalese Holi Celebration In March & World in a Tent Music Festival in July |
FNC Meetings & Social Events
2024-2025
- FNC Forecast of Meetings & Social Events – updated 30 Jan 2025 – please click here
- FNC Forecast of Meetings & Social Events – updated 18 Nov 2024 – please click here
- FNC Forecast of Meetings & Social Events – updated 22 Sep 2024 – please click here
- FNC Notice for the 04 July 2024 General Election
- FNC Forecast of Meetings & Social Events – updated 10 May 2024 please click here
2024
- FNC Quarterly Meeting – Sunday, 14 Jan 2024, 4pm at the FNC Centre.
- FNC Annual General Meeting / Convention – Sunday, 24 March 2024 at FNC Centre.
- FNC Executive Committee Meeting – Thursday, 28 March 2024 at the FNC Centre.
- FNC Charity Integration Night at Nepalese New Year 2081 BS – Saturday, 13 April 2024 at the Hawkinge Community Centre.
- FNC Post Nepalese New Year Celebration Meeting – Friday, 10 May 2024, 6:00pm at the FNC Centre.
- FNC Quarterly Meeting/Trustees Board Meeting (1st Meeting of 9th Committee) – Sunday, 23 June 2024 at the FNC Centre.
- FNC Quarterly Meeting/Trustees Board Meeting (2nd Meeting of 9th Committee) – Sunday, 02 Sep 2024 at the FNC Centre.
- FNC Dashain Get-Together Celebration – Sunday, 29 September 2024 at the Leas Cliff Hall.
- FNC Purkha Diwas & Remembrance Sunday – Sunday, 10 November 2024.
- FNC Quarterly Meeting/Trustees Board Meeting (3rd Meeting of 9th Committee) – Sunday, 08 Dec 2024 at the FNC Centre.
2023
- FNC & KCV Partnership Board Meeting – 19 Jan 2023, 11:00 – 14:00.
- FNC General Meeting (3rd Quarterly) – 01 Jan 2023, 11:00 – 2:00 pm at the FNCC.
- FNC Annual General Meeting (AGM) – Sunday, 26 March 2023 at the FNCC.
- FNC Nepalese New Year Celebration – Friday, 14 April 2023.
- FNC and British Royal Legion Cheriton & Morehall Branch – ceremony of unveiling of Portrait of HM The King Charles at FNC Centre, 1st June 2023.
- FNC Charity Event – Saturday, 17 June 2023 – postponed due to unforeseen circumstances & venue issues, new dates will be announcing soon.
- ARMED FORCES & COMMUNITY FUN DAY – Sunday 25th June 2023 – unfortunately missed this year.
- FNC 1st Quarterly Meeting (after the AGM) – Sunday, 24 June 2023, 7:00pm at the FNCC & Zoom.
- FNC 2nd Quarterly Meeting – Sunday, 3rd September 2023, 3pm-7pm at the FNCC.
- FNC Final Coordination Meeting for 15 Oct’s event: Sunday, 08 Oct 2023, 4pm at the FNCC.
- FNC & KCV Partnership Meeting, 12 October 2023 at the FNCC.
- FNC Dashain Get-Together Celebration – Sunday, 15 October 2023 at the Leas Cliff Hall.
- FNC Post Meeting for the Dashain Get-Together Annual Gathering – 26 Oct 2023, 5:15pm at the FNCC.
- FNC Purkha Diwas & Remembrance Sunday Service & Parade – 12 November 2023, 11:00am, Town and at the FNCC.
- Board of Trustees Meeting, Thursday, 16 Nov 2023, 5:30pm at the FNCC.
Past projects & events
Contact Personnel
| Project & Centre Manager: Maha Rai, PhD Senior Activity & Centre Coordinator: Kanchan Roka Digital Activity Coordinator: Sarita Rana Activity Coordinator: Man Kumari Gurung Digital & Language Inclusion Instructor: Abesh Rai Digital & Language Inclusion Instructor: Kumar Rai SGN Project Officer: Lingja Rai and Norbu Lama Community Researchers 2024 – 2025: Abesh Rai & Swechchha Rai. Community Researcher 2023-2024: Kanchan Roka, Bijendra Singh & Norbu Lama ESOL Teacher Michele Brailsford, Kent Adult Education (Mar 2023 – Sep 2023) ESOL Teacher: Steve Green, Kent Adult Education Multiply Teacher: Martin Carnall, Nuyu Academy English Level 1 Teacher: Polly Segal, Kent Adult Education Math Level 3 Teacher: Rasoul Fazileh, Kent Adult Education Tai chi Instructor: Kath Jones, Mei Quan Academy of Taiji Kent Cost Volunteering (KCV) Liaison: Mark Connorton (mark.connorton@kcv.org.uk) |
| Volunteers Lead FNC Senior Citizen Executive Lead: Capt. (Red) Bishnu Singh FNC Membership Lead: Advisor Harka Prasad Rai FNC Senior Citizen Volunteers Lead Coordinator: Major (Retd) Deb Pun FNC Senior Citizen Volunteers Assistant Lead: Mr Shivadhan Rai (Oct2021 – Aug 2024) English & Maths Volunteer: Swechchha Rai & Numa Limbu Water Colour Painting & Craft Instructor: Capt. (Retd) Gyan Limbu (2021 – 2023) Nepalese Handicraft Volunteers Led: Padma Bega Limbu Stich & Chat Volunteers Led: Janet Johnson, Jenny Rivers & Wendy Lodge FNC Centre Housekeeping Volunteers: Padma Bega Limbu, Nagendra Rai & Narmaya Limbu |
| FNC Project & Centre Trustee Chair Trustee Capt. (Retd) Ram Pun |
| FNC Centre Out of Office Contact: FNC Trustee Chandra Gurung – 07525 629958 FNC Trustee Jhapindra Thapa – 07912 433102 |