Chandra Budhathoki, a much-respected volunteer caseworker in Reading for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity has been awarded the Sir James Gildea Global Award.

SSAFA’s Sir James Gildea Awards were created to recognise the staff – voluntary and paid – for their exceptional contributions and commitment to SSAFA’s activities and values.

The awards were presented at SSAFA’s Annual Members’ Meeting in London at the Victory Services Club on July 11 by His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, SSAFA’s President.

Mr Chandra (71) was born in Nepal. He served in 1/2nd Gurkha Rifles, an infantry battalion of the Brigade of Gurkhas, from 1972 to 1985.

After his military career, he began volunteering to help vulnerable veterans, their families, widows, and those with disabilities in 2008.

Mr Chandra explained more, saying: “After 2009 when all the retired Gurkhas who served more than four years in the Brigade of Gurkhas, the British Army allowed them to permanently settle here in UK with their families.

“Since then, many elderly Gurkha veterans, their families, widows, and disabled people started coming to the UK to get their better medical care, better living conditions, and better education for their children. But it was big challenge because of the language barrier, culture, and even the weather.

“Many of them were very old and vulnerable, disabled, couldn't speak English or a combination of these. It was very difficult for them.”

Moved by their plight, and with his own experience of being supported by SSAFA, Mr Chandra decided to volunteer for the charity – he works out of Brock Barracks in Reading – to offer support to veterans and their families in their time of need.

He has now volunteered for SSAFA for 13 years, with tasks including home visits, helping people access grants for their basic needs and to settle properly, coordinating with local housing associations and the council.

Mr Chandra acts as an interpreter, helps organise medical appointments, liaises with the Gurkha Welfare Trust, acts a go-between on matters relating to DLA applications… The list goes on and on.

“I also help our veterans with their allotments, liaising with local charities and the borough council to keep them active, healthy and to avoid isolation and, most importantly, to help integration with local community. There is a lot of joy from everyone in the allotments; you could almost say the vegetables and plants grow in happiness.”

Adding, perhaps unnecessarily, that he is “… very committed..” to his volunteering, he says: “I’m with SSAFA to help make the lives of Gurkha veterans and their families comfortable and free from worries, living in dignity and with honour, and in harmony with everyone in their wider community.”

Of his award, Mr Chandra comments: “I feel very honoured and privileged to be given this very prestigious award, but I must say that it all happened because of teamwork, not just me."