Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the India Gardens project.
Can’t find your answer? Contact us directly.
Our Vision
Why do we need a new centre?
The Centre in its present condition does not meet our communities’ requirements. It requires a lot of work to be done to provide better and modern facilities for our Sports and Community events, including upgrading our facilities for better traffic management to make it easier for vehicles to enter and exit the centre, better security and allowing better pedestrian’s access to our centre.
Every year we spend thousands of pounds to organise our functions in a large marquee with associated sound systems, stage, decorations, carpeted flooring, etc. Not to mention the time spent by hundreds of our dedicated volunteers to set up and manage it. At the same time, the cost of hiring external services for our functions is increasing yearly, as with everything else in life. The new centre will address many of these issues with the new and modern facilities for all community members. It will be environmentally friendly and cost-effective to run.
What are the objectives of the project?
The SKLPC (UK) India Gardens project is to develop and rejuvenate the facilities enabling our community to play a variety of sports as well as stay healthy and active. We believe the new state-of-the-art centre will encourage people of all ages to participate actively in sports, fitness and other community activities with new energy and enthusiasm.
Our regenerated centre will be a state of the Art Sports & Community Centre complying with current rules, regulations and modern standards of construction and Sports Facilities so that the users of the centre can enjoy and excel in their chosen activities and can make the most of their visit during their stay at the centre.
Beyond events and social events what can I expect of the Samaj?
We already extend our reach beyond Mela and Navratri. We have a well-established Saturday School which teaches our children Gujarati, music, etc. Furthermore we bring together community members with sport including cricket, football, badminton and volleyball.
In the near future we shall be introducing various seminars for our members to attend including new social events throughout the year.
What are the values of the Samaj, how do these align with temples and the wiser society? Currently very inconsistent, most don’t know!
Our Objects are as set out in our Constitution.
‘The advancement of Hindu religion, tradition and culture in particular among the Hindu community in the United Kingdom usually referred to as Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community which originates from the Kutch Gujarat State in India;
The relief of poverty, sickness, and distress among the Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community;
The advancement of education among children and adults of Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community; and
The provision of assistance in providing facilities for the recreation and other leisure time occupation and in particular of the Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community who have a need for such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, poverty and economic circumstances in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving their conditions of life.’
Was the consultation carried out?
Yes. The consultation was carried out with our community members during our annual mela and with our sports clubs and Gaams on our current and future needs. Local planning authorities are also required to undertake a formal period of public consultation prior to deciding a planning application. Therefore, Ealing Council carried out the statutory local consultation before deciding on our planning application.
What will the profits of the Samaj be used for in 2030 / 2050. What is the long term purpose? How will the impact and success be measured?
Profits of the Samaj will be used to further our objects, these are as follows:-
Our Objects are as set out in our Constitution.
‘The advancement of Hindu religion, tradition and culture in particular among the Hindu community in the United Kingdom usually referred to as Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community which originates from the Kutch Gujarat State in India;
The relief of poverty, sickness, and distress among the Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community;
The advancement of education among children and adults of Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community; and
The provision of assistance in providing facilities for the recreation and other leisure time occupation and in particular of the Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community who have a need for such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, poverty and economic circumstances in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving their conditions of life.’
We will seek to use our profits (through the use of grants and provision of infrastructure) to help our affiliated gaam organisations to keep their doors open. We are aware that while some gaams continue to grow from strength to strength others struggle to hold even 1 event every few years.
As has been the case with many other Hindu institutions, having established a strong base from which to operate, they now look to provide satellite hubs which serve as local community centres for their members, maybe we might consider the same. At present our short and medium term focus is on building the centre and then it will be to ensure that it is running as efficiently as possible.
Facilities
What facilities will be available?
a) Two indoor halls with two separate dining facilities and two separate kitchen facilities in different flexible combinations for weddings and other functions
b) A large modern outdoor children’s play area, green rooftop garden and meditation area
c) Multi-purpose rooms for meetings, parties, mehndi nights, dhol classes, cultural classes, training classes, bereavement prayers, seminars, conferences, member’s lounge and facilities for senior citizens.
d) Walking track that goes around the perimeter of our grounds
What sports facilities will be available?
a) Two external cricket pitches and a separate cricket pavilion, viewing terrace, changing and shower facilities
b) One external football pitch with changing and shower facilities
c) Multi-Purpose sports hall comprising eight badminton courts, 5-a-side football pitch, netball courts, volleyball courts and indoor cricket nets.
d) Studios/multi-purpose rooms available for a gym, aerobics, dance classes, spin classes, Zumba, self-defence, yoga, etc.
Benefits
How will the centre benefit life members?
a) Grants towards use of sports facilities
b) Grants for keep fit activities such as yoga, gym, Zumba classes
d) Grants towards hall hire
e) Discounted Tuition fees at Saturday School
f) Discounted fees for our Cricket Club
g) Discounted tickets for our Navratri and other events
(All discounts are subject to availability and new Terms and Conditions (TBC). T&C to be finalised before the Centre opens)
How will the centre benefit children?
a) A safe, secure and modern playing ground with a range of playing equipment
b) Sports activities
c) Educational seminars such as careers advise
d) Possibilities of running summer, half terms camps, revision classes etc.
e) Crèche facilities
f) Gaming room facility
g) Children’s birthday party facilities
How will the centre benefit young adults?
a) Sports activities, including Cricket and football
b) Educational seminars such as careers advise
c) Possibilities of running summer and half terms camps in the future
d) Business, professional and social seminars and networking facilities
e) Gym facilities
f) Possibilities of ladies’ netball, ladies cricket and volleyball team
How will the centre benefit parents?
a) Utilising sports facilities including Cricket and football
b) Utilising keep fit activities such as yoga, walking track, gym, Zumba classes, meditation area etc.
c) Social café area
d) Attending seminars
e) Utilising the hall facilities
f) Crèche facilities for your children
g) Discounted fees for your children for the Cricket Club
How will the centre benefit senior citizens?
a) Walking facilities
b) Meditation area
c) Library and weekly movies facilities
d) Social activities
e) Keep fit & yoga activities
f) Relaxation in the rooftop garden
g) Traditional benches for sitting
h) Flower / Vegetable gardens
i) Possibility of transport from the local area to Northolt
How will the centre benefit businesses?
a) Meeting / Seminar rooms
b) Away day sports facilities
c) Advertising and Marketing of your businesses
d) Company social events
e) Company award evenings
f) Team Building Days
How will the centre benefit professionals?
a) Sports activities
b) Running seminars and giving careers advice
c) Professional networking events
d) Gym facilities
How will the centre benefit affiliated organisations / gaams / temples?
How will the centre benefit sports organisations?
a) Grants to use our sports facilities
b) Grants for keep fit activities such as yoga, gym, Zumba classes
c) Secure facilities with parking, café, shower facilities and changing rooms
d) Grants for hall hire for sports functions
How will the centre benefit the local community?
Funding The Build
What is SKLPC’s strategy for fundraising?
a) Ongoing fundraising with members and affiliated gaams
b) As a community member, you can contact at least two or three of your family members or friends to encourage them to donate. This can be done every week, if possible, on an ongoing basis during the project’s lifetime.
c) Children of any age are encouraged and welcome to gift any amount they wish to contribute. No amount is too small for this project.
d) Approaching prominent businesses within our community
e) Various fundraising events have been planned, and some events are completed successfully.
f) Awareness of our project through various social media channels and personal contacts
How are we going to collect the funds for this project?
The funds/donations will be collected by:
Personal contact within our Community Members, businesses, professionals and online; donation in kind (contribution of building materials, equipment & other accessories, e.g. electrical, mechanical, kitchen & bathrooms etc..) and organising fundraising events.
Are there opportunities for Naming (Namkaran) Rights and Sponsor’s Plaque?
Yes. Opportunities are available to donors on naming rights and sponsors’ plaques. Please contact: Mavjibhai Dhanji Jadva Vekaria on 07831430812
What are other SKLPC assets we hold that we can use towards the project if required?
We own Hendon Hall, which can be sold to help raise funds for this project.
Are grants being sought to help fund the development?
Applications will be made for all available grants, but we have not included these amounts in our calculation since we have no control over how much we can apply for and, more importantly, what will be awarded in what timeframe.
Are we accepting loans?
Not at this point. We are focusing all our efforts on donations spread over the project’s duration. If a need arises, these options will also be considered if required.
Are we getting help from our overseas community members and sister organisations?
We have good positive support from our sister organisations and overseas community members. The current priority, however, is to collect the majority of the donations/pledges required for the new centre from our community members who live in the UK and will be the primary beneficiaries of the new centre.
Can support for India Gardens be provided in the form of a loan?
At present we are not considering funding the project through the issue of debt, this may be something we explore later depending on our financial position.
Are there any investment opportunities regarding the funding of India Gardens?
At present we are not considering funding the project through the issue of debt, this may be something we explore later depending on our financial position.
This building will serve the whole community including non-samaj members. What actions are being taken to raise funds from the wider community?
We want to give our own community the opportunity to be part of the IG Project before reaching out to members of other communities that might benefit from the centre. Other communities will no doubt be seeking something in return for their donations and that is something we are not prepared to give at this stage.
We are looking at opportunities to raise funds from government and NGOs.
Does the current fund figure include the sale of Hendon?
We envisage selling the previous Hendon Samaj Hall in order to fund the project. The previous committee had obtained the member’s authority to do so at the EGM in 2018.
How are we going to save money in terms of community labour?
During the course of construction, a number of specialist trades and skilled labour will be require. Examples being carpentry, plumbing, electrical and plastering plus many more. We will seek support from our community memebers via our website, social platforms and network to gain sewaks.
Please confirm that full and total disclosure will be made to HMRC for the VAT Clearance including: Centre activities and festivities, Gaam benefits / discounts, Member benefits / discounts
As at October 2022 we have obtained HMRC Clearance in respect of the VAT status of the building. HMRC have confirmed that the build cost will be zero rated.
HMRC Clearance was based on the form of the Community Use Agreement which was agreed with Ealing Council by the previous committee the form of the Community Use Agreement was set out in the S106 Agreement signed on 21 July 2021.
The proposed use of the centre has not changed, we do not propose to grant any discounts that may give rise to an adverse VAT charge.
The committee will need to demonstrate the true build cost end to end has been independently verified by a Quantity Surveyor. Trustees should formally propose this to members.
The trustees and members of the committee are aware of the need for transparency. Procedures will be in place to ensure that conflicts of interest are identified and overall the community receives value for money.
A number of professionals are advising Samaj in respect of the build and their assistance will be sought on an ongoing basis to ensure that we adopt best practice and obtain best value for money on behalf of our members.
Financial Sustainability
Can we have substantiation of figures presented?
The figures presented throughout the course of the India Gardens project has always been on best estimate, until the centre is in operation it is impossible to measure with any degree of accuracy what the income and expenditure of the centre will be.
The information used to produce the estimates has been discussed by the committee and is felt to be as accurate as we can be based on the information available. We will however seek to produce a list of assumptions that have been used to arrive at our figures.
What are the objectives of the project?
We are in the process of reviewing the information obtained by the committee that was leading the Samaj at the time that works first commenced to plan the centre (pre planning permission). Financial models were created for the purposes of obtaining planning permission, we have reviewed some of this work and updated some of the figures based on information available to us. We shall continue to review this work and strengthen the assumptions made with comparable data where possible.
Environmental Sustainability
Is India Gardens going to be Net Zero on CO² emissions?
Based on the plans drawn up at this time, the building is not carbon neutral but will meet the latest building regulations which include high levels of energy efficiency. Where feasible we will seek to go beyond the requirements.
Exactly how will the building be carbon neutral?
Based on the plans drawn up at this time, the building is not carbon neutral but will meet the latest building regulations which include high levels of energy efficiency. Where feasible we will seek to go beyond the requirements.
Your Financial Support ( Past And Current )
How can I donate?
You can donate by pledging online (top right button), direct via the below link: https://secure.blinkpayment.co.uk/sklpc or contact mavji.vekaria@sklpc.com
Can I/we do fundraising events to support this project?
Yes. You can. Some community members have already approached us to do IG project awareness and fundraising events. Some events have been completed recently, and some are in progress. Please contact
I/we cannot afford to donate now due to family, university/educational commitments
Don’t worry. That’s OK. We understand the situation some community members may have, and to address this, we have a monthly/annual payment facility, and you can donate the amount you are comfortable with. This can be spread over one, two or three years or more.
The fundraising will continue during the construction phase till the centre opens & will continue after that. We want you and your family to be part of this exciting once-in-a-lifetime community project in the UK. We want you to be happy and comfortable with the donation you wish to make or any method you want to use.
Do I have to complete a donation/pledge form?
Yes. You have to fill in the donation/pledge form, which has a unique number, so we can identify any payments you make into the SKLPC India Gardens project bank account.
If you need help in filling out the form or any other information on the project, please get in touch with Mavjibhai Dhanji Jadva Vekaria on 07831430812
Will I get a receipt for the donation?
Yes. After completing the donation/pledge form and making a payment, you will get a donation receipt and a copy of your original donation/pledge form. It will have the name of the person paying the donation.
I/we have a business. How can I/we contribute to the project?
Business Donations/Material donations are welcome.
You can donate in the following ways
a) Make a corporate donation to SKLPC, which is a registered charity
b) You can pledge materials as donations such as joinery, floor tiles, professional services etc.
c) You can pledge voluntary labour supply if you have a skilled workforce and team
Please contact IG@sklpc.com or speak to Mavjibhai Dhanji Jadva Vekaria on 07831430812
How will donors be recognised?
All donations of £2,000 or more will be listed on our donors’ plaque in the new centre ‘sila lekh’, the location and format of the donors’ plaque will be further considered and agreed once the works have advanced and prior to the centre being opened. Once the detail has been agreed by the committee all impacted donors shall be contacted in order that the names of donors to be entered on the plaque are agreed and confirmed by the donor.
All donations of £1,000 or more automatically qualify for free lifetime membership if the donor is not already a member. If the donation relates to multiple donors please make this clear to us at the time of making the donation, the quantity of free lifetime memberships available will be determined by the multiples of £1,000 that are donated. Please note, to obtain free lifetime membership and ‘sila lekh’ the donor amount must be £2,000 or greater.
How will Hendon Hall and Northolt Centre’s historical donors be recognised?
The sponsor’s Name will be placed in the designated area..
New benefit during the life of IG Project to community members who are not life members?
Any India Gardens donations received more than £1,000 from non-life members will be given the FREE option to become a life member of SKLPC (UK) on the project commencement.
Use Of The Centre
Will alcohol be allowed on the premises?
No. The objectives of our Samaj, in line with our constitution, are to promote the advancement of Hindu religion, tradition, culture and community, providing a place where families and people of all ages can come together and enjoy the various events and cultural programmes.
Will the facilities be open to the general public? If so, which ones?
All facilities will be available to the general public and can be booked based on the standard SKLPC terms and conditions.
The operating hours restrict the centre’s opening times and therefore the centre must close at 11pm, how with these restrictions will the centre compete with other facilities?
The centre will primarily be used as a sports and community centre, along with some casual use. Most other facilities located within residential areas will be operating with similar restrictions therefore we do not feel this will have a major negative impact on the hiring and use of the centre.
What Discounts will be available for Gaam hires and will this be long term?
As discussed it is a condition of our planning permission (community use agreement) and our VAT zero rated position that we do not provide discounts. That being said our Constitution does provide for us to support other organisations to deliver our Objects, therefore we intend to offer grants to Gaams that wish to use our facilities for Object 3.1(b) i.e. leisure activities.
It is our intention that such grants will be made available so long as we can financially support the same, as a charity if the gaams are also seeking to achieve the Objects it is in our interest to support them to do so.
Will our community receive priority when booking sports activities?
As a condition of our community use agreement (which is part of the planning permission), and as a condition for zero VAT being charged for the build, we cannot give priority to any persons, the centre must be operated on a first come first served basis.
Equally the centre will not be financially viable if we were to keep the centre empty waiting for one of our members to book an activity, therefore a balance will be found.
What benefit will our kids have in the future as these facilities are readily available at a local sports centre?
India Gardens will provide new state of the art facilities. With the financial pressure placed on local councils who regularly sub-contract their centres to external firms either those centres lack investment or at some point may close due to no longer being financially viable. By having India Gardens our community will have a centre of their own and will be involved in the decisions made about the running of the centre.
Will the venue be free for the Leva Patel community or have some concessions? If so how will the centre be financially viable?
There will be adverse VAT consequences of providing members who are donors for the IG Project with concessionary rates.
We plan on keeping the hiring of the centre competitive and the use of the centre must go towards ensuring that it continues to be financially viable.
You mentioned that our community sports groups are happy to move to India Gardens. Can you please obtain this in writing? i.e. NYW / Baladia Sports/ KKYW
We can approach each of these organisations to express their interest in writing, however although doing so is informative to SKLPC in its budgeting, until the centre is operational we hope that they will all move to India Gardens before a written contract can be entered into.
How will the gym work? I can’t see why this would add any value.
A gym would be complimentary to all the other activities that India Gardens is able to offer i.e. crèche, café, sports facilities, fitness studio, cricket, walking route. While some family members may opt for use of the gym, others might choose one of the other activities on offer.
The IG Project build area is 9,000m² and the parking facilities on the ground are 150 cars, how do you justify renting the hall this big?
The question that is more relevant is how many car users do we expect to have on site on an average day and how many do we expect on ‘event’ days?
We are engaging with Ealing Council planners to discuss how we might accommodate more cars on site
Our Vision
Why do we need a new centre?
The Centre in its present condition does not meet our communities’ requirements. It requires a lot of work to be done to provide better and modern facilities for our Sports and Community events, including upgrading our facilities for better traffic management to make it easier for vehicles to enter and exit the centre, better security and allowing better pedestrian’s access to our centre.
Every year we spend thousands of pounds to organise our functions in a large marquee with associated sound systems, stage, decorations, carpeted flooring, etc. Not to mention the time spent by hundreds of our dedicated volunteers to set up and manage it. At the same time, the cost of hiring external services for our functions is increasing yearly, as with everything else in life. The new centre will address many of these issues with the new and modern facilities for all community members. It will be environmentally friendly and cost-effective to run.
What are the objectives of the project?
The SKLPC (UK) India Gardens project is to develop and rejuvenate the facilities enabling our community to play a variety of sports as well as stay healthy and active. We believe the new state-of-the-art centre will encourage people of all ages to participate actively in sports, fitness and other community activities with new energy and enthusiasm.
Our regenerated centre will be a state of the Art Sports & Community Centre complying with current rules, regulations and modern standards of construction and Sports Facilities so that the users of the centre can enjoy and excel in their chosen activities and can make the most of their visit during their stay at the centre.
Beyond events and social events what can I expect of the Samaj?
We already extend our reach beyond Mela and Navratri. We have a well-established Saturday School which teaches our children Gujarati, music, etc. Furthermore we bring together community members with sport including cricket, football, badminton and volleyball.
In the near future we shall be introducing various seminars for our members to attend including new social events throughout the year.
What are the values of the Samaj, how do these align with temples and the wiser society? Currently very inconsistent, most don’t know!
Our Objects are as set out in our Constitution.
‘The advancement of Hindu religion, tradition and culture in particular among the Hindu community in the United Kingdom usually referred to as Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community which originates from the Kutch Gujarat State in India;
The relief of poverty, sickness, and distress among the Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community;
The advancement of education among children and adults of Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community; and
The provision of assistance in providing facilities for the recreation and other leisure time occupation and in particular of the Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community who have a need for such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, poverty and economic circumstances in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving their conditions of life.’
Was the consultation carried out?
Yes. The consultation was carried out with our community members during our annual mela and with our sports clubs and Gaams on our current and future needs. Local planning authorities are also required to undertake a formal period of public consultation prior to deciding a planning application. Therefore, Ealing Council carried out the statutory local consultation before deciding on our planning application.
What will the profits of the Samaj be used for in 2030 / 2050. What is the long term purpose? How will the impact and success be measured?
Profits of the Samaj will be used to further our objects, these are as follows:-
Our Objects are as set out in our Constitution.
‘The advancement of Hindu religion, tradition and culture in particular among the Hindu community in the United Kingdom usually referred to as Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community which originates from the Kutch Gujarat State in India;
The relief of poverty, sickness, and distress among the Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community;
The advancement of education among children and adults of Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community; and
The provision of assistance in providing facilities for the recreation and other leisure time occupation and in particular of the Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community who have a need for such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, poverty and economic circumstances in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving their conditions of life.’
We will seek to use our profits (through the use of grants and provision of infrastructure) to help our affiliated gaam organisations to keep their doors open. We are aware that while some gaams continue to grow from strength to strength others struggle to hold even 1 event every few years.
As has been the case with many other Hindu institutions, having established a strong base from which to operate, they now look to provide satellite hubs which serve as local community centres for their members, maybe we might consider the same. At present our short and medium term focus is on building the centre and then it will be to ensure that it is running as efficiently as possible.
Facilities
What facilities will be available?
a) Two indoor halls with two separate dining facilities and two separate kitchen facilities in different flexible combinations for weddings and other functions
b) A large modern outdoor children’s play area, green rooftop garden and meditation area
c) Multi-purpose rooms for meetings, parties, mehndi nights, dhol classes, cultural classes, training classes, bereavement prayers, seminars, conferences, member’s lounge and facilities for senior citizens.
d) Walking track that goes around the perimeter of our grounds
What sports facilities will be available?
a) Two external cricket pitches and a separate cricket pavilion, viewing terrace, changing and shower facilities
b) One external football pitch with changing and shower facilities
c) Multi-Purpose sports hall comprising eight badminton courts, 5-a-side football pitch, netball courts, volleyball courts and indoor cricket nets.
d) Studios/multi-purpose rooms available for a gym, aerobics, dance classes, spin classes, Zumba, self-defence, yoga, etc.
Benefits
How will the centre benefit life members?
The Centre in its present condition does not meet our communities’ requirements. It requires a lot of work to be done to provide better and modern facilities for our Sports and Community events, including upgrading our facilities for better traffic management to make it easier for vehicles to enter and exit the centre, better security and allowing better pedestrian’s access to our centre.
Every year we spend thousands of pounds to organise our functions in a large marquee with associated sound systems, stage, decorations, carpeted flooring, etc. Not to mention the time spent by hundreds of our dedicated volunteers to set up and manage it. At the same time, the cost of hiring external services for our functions is increasing yearly, as with everything else in life. The new centre will address many of these issues with the new and modern facilities for all community members. It will be environmentally friendly and cost-effective to run.
How will the centre benefit children?
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How will the centre benefit young adults?
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How will the centre benefit parents?
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How will the centre benefit senior citizens?
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How will the centre benefit businesses?
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How will the centre benefit professionals?
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How will the centre benefit affiliated organisations / gaams / temples?
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How will the centre benefit sports organisations?
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How will the centre benefit the local community?
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Funding The Build
What is SKLPC’s strategy for fundraising?
a) Ongoing fundraising with members and affiliated gaams
b) As a community member, you can contact at least two or three of your family members or friends to encourage them to donate. This can be done every week, if possible, on an ongoing basis during the project’s lifetime.
c) Children of any age are encouraged and welcome to gift any amount they wish to contribute. No amount is too small for this project.
d) Approaching prominent businesses within our community
e) Various fundraising events have been planned, and some events are completed successfully.
f) Awareness of our project through various social media channels and personal contacts
How are we going to collect the funds for this project?
The funds/donations will be collected by:
Personal contact within our Community Members, businesses, professionals and online; donation in kind (contribution of building materials, equipment & other accessories, e.g. electrical, mechanical, kitchen & bathrooms etc..) and organising fundraising events.
Are there opportunities for Naming (Namkaran) Rights and Sponsor’s Plaque?
Yes. Opportunities are available to donors on naming rights and sponsors’ plaques. Please contact: Mavjibhai Dhanji Jadva Vekaria on 07831430812
What are other SKLPC assets we hold that we can use towards the project if required?
We own Hendon Hall, which can be sold to help raise funds for this project.
Are grants being sought to help fund the development?
Applications will be made for all available grants, but we have not included these amounts in our calculation since we have no control over how much we can apply for and, more importantly, what will be awarded in what timeframe.
Are we accepting loans?
Not at this point. We are focusing all our efforts on donations spread over the project’s duration. If a need arises, these options will also be considered if required.
Are we getting help from our overseas community members and sister organisations?
We have good positive support from our sister organisations and overseas community members. The current priority, however, is to collect the majority of the donations/pledges required for the new centre from our community members who live in the UK and will be the primary beneficiaries of the new centre.
Can support for India Gardens be provided in the form of a loan?
At present we are not considering funding the project through the issue of debt, this may be something we explore later depending on our financial position.
Are there any investment opportunities regarding the funding of India Gardens?
At present we are not considering funding the project through the issue of debt, this may be something we explore later depending on our financial position.
This building will serve the whole community including non-samaj members. What actions are being taken to raise funds from the wider community?
We want to give our own community the opportunity to be part of the IG Project before reaching out to members of other communities that might benefit from the centre. Other communities will no doubt be seeking something in return for their donations and that is something we are not prepared to give at this stage.
We are looking at opportunities to raise funds from government and NGOs.
Does the current fund figure include the sale of Hendon?
We envisage selling the previous Hendon Samaj Hall in order to fund the project. The previous committee had obtained the member’s authority to do so at the EGM in 2018.
How are we going to save money in terms of community labour?
During the course of construction, a number of specialist trades and skilled labour will be require. Examples being carpentry, plumbing, electrical and plastering plus many more. We will seek support from our community memebers via our website, social platforms and network to gain sewaks.
Please confirm that full and total disclosure will be made to HMRC for the VAT Clearance including: Centre activities and festivities, Gaam benefits / discounts, Member benefits / discounts
As at October 2022 we have obtained HMRC Clearance in respect of the VAT status of the building. HMRC have confirmed that the build cost will be zero rated.
HMRC Clearance was based on the form of the Community Use Agreement which was agreed with Ealing Council by the previous committee the form of the Community Use Agreement was set out in the S106 Agreement signed on 21 July 2021.
The proposed use of the centre has not changed, we do not propose to grant any discounts that may give rise to an adverse VAT charge.
The committee will need to demonstrate the true build cost end to end has been independently verified by a Quantity Surveyor. Trustees should formally propose this to members.
The trustees and members of the committee are aware of the need for transparency. Procedures will be in place to ensure that conflicts of interest are identified and overall the community receives value for money.
A number of professionals are advising Samaj in respect of the build and their assistance will be sought on an ongoing basis to ensure that we adopt best practice and obtain best value for money on behalf of our members.
Financial Sustainability
Can we have substantiation of figures presented?
The figures presented throughout the course of the India Gardens project has always been on best estimate, until the centre is in operation it is impossible to measure with any degree of accuracy what the income and expenditure of the centre will be.
The information used to produce the estimates has been discussed by the committee and is felt to be as accurate as we can be based on the information available. We will however seek to produce a list of assumptions that have been used to arrive at our figures.
What are the objectives of the project?
We are in the process of reviewing the information obtained by the committee that was leading the Samaj at the time that works first commenced to plan the centre (pre planning permission). Financial models were created for the purposes of obtaining planning permission, we have reviewed some of this work and updated some of the figures based on information available to us. We shall continue to review this work and strengthen the assumptions made with comparable data where possible.
Environmental Sustainability
Is India Gardens going to be Net Zero on CO² emissions?
Based on the plans drawn up at this time, the building is not carbon neutral but will meet the latest building regulations which include high levels of energy efficiency. Where feasible we will seek to go beyond the requirements.
Exactly how will the building be carbon neutral?
Based on the plans drawn up at this time, the building is not carbon neutral but will meet the latest building regulations which include high levels of energy efficiency. Where feasible we will seek to go beyond the requirements.
Your Financial Support ( Past And Current )
How can I donate?
You can donate by pledging online (top right button), direct via the below link: https://secure.blinkpayment.co.uk/sklpc or contact mavji.vekaria@sklpc.com
Can I/we do fundraising events to support this project?
Yes. You can. Some community members have already approached us to do IG project awareness and fundraising events. Some events have been completed recently, and some are in progress. Please contact
I/we cannot afford to donate now due to family, university/educational commitments
Don’t worry. That’s OK. We understand the situation some community members may have, and to address this, we have a monthly/annual payment facility, and you can donate the amount you are comfortable with. This can be spread over one, two or three years or more.
The fundraising will continue during the construction phase till the centre opens & will continue after that. We want you and your family to be part of this exciting once-in-a-lifetime community project in the UK. We want you to be happy and comfortable with the donation you wish to make or any method you want to use.
Do I have to complete a donation/pledge form?
Yes. You have to fill in the donation/pledge form, which has a unique number, so we can identify any payments you make into the SKLPC India Gardens project bank account.
If you need help in filling out the form or any other information on the project, please get in touch with Mavjibhai Dhanji Jadva Vekaria on 07831430812
Will I get a receipt for the donation?
Yes. After completing the donation/pledge form and making a payment, you will get a donation receipt and a copy of your original donation/pledge form. It will have the name of the person paying the donation.
I/we have a business. How can I/we contribute to the project?
Business Donations/Material donations are welcome.
You can donate in the following ways
a) Make a corporate donation to SKLPC, which is a registered charity
b) You can pledge materials as donations such as joinery, floor tiles, professional services etc.
c) You can pledge voluntary labour supply if you have a skilled workforce and team
Please contact IG@sklpc.com or speak to Mavjibhai Dhanji Jadva Vekaria on 07831430812
How will donors be recognised?
All donations of £2,000 or more will be listed on our donors’ plaque in the new centre ‘sila lekh’, the location and format of the donors’ plaque will be further considered and agreed once the works have advanced and prior to the centre being opened. Once the detail has been agreed by the committee all impacted donors shall be contacted in order that the names of donors to be entered on the plaque are agreed and confirmed by the donor.
All donations of £1,000 or more automatically qualify for free lifetime membership if the donor is not already a member. If the donation relates to multiple donors please make this clear to us at the time of making the donation, the quantity of free lifetime memberships available will be determined by the multiples of £1,000 that are donated. Please note, to obtain free lifetime membership and ‘sila lekh’ the donor amount must be £2,000 or greater.
How will Hendon Hall and Northolt Centre’s historical donors be recognised?
The sponsor’s Name will be placed in the designated area..
New benefit during the life of IG Project to community members who are not life members?
Any India Gardens donations received more than £1,000 from non-life members will be given the FREE option to become a life member of SKLPC (UK) on the project commencement.
Use Of The Centre
Will alcohol be allowed on the premises?
No. The objectives of our Samaj, in line with our constitution, are to promote the advancement of Hindu religion, tradition, culture and community, providing a place where families and people of all ages can come together and enjoy the various events and cultural programmes.
Will the facilities be open to the general public? If so, which ones?
All facilities will be available to the general public and can be booked based on the standard SKLPC terms and conditions.
The operating hours restrict the centre’s opening times and therefore the centre must close at 11pm, how with these restrictions will the centre compete with other facilities?
The centre will primarily be used as a sports and community centre, along with some casual use. Most other facilities located within residential areas will be operating with similar restrictions therefore we do not feel this will have a major negative impact on the hiring and use of the centre.
What Discounts will be available for Gaam hires and will this be long term?
As discussed it is a condition of our planning permission (community use agreement) and our VAT zero rated position that we do not provide discounts. That being said our Constitution does provide for us to support other organisations to deliver our Objects, therefore we intend to offer grants to Gaams that wish to use our facilities for Object 3.1(b) i.e. leisure activities.
It is our intention that such grants will be made available so long as we can financially support the same, as a charity if the gaams are also seeking to achieve the Objects it is in our interest to support them to do so.
Will our community receive priority when booking sports activities?
As a condition of our community use agreement (which is part of the planning permission), and as a condition for zero VAT being charged for the build, we cannot give priority to any persons, the centre must be operated on a first come first served basis.
Equally the centre will not be financially viable if we were to keep the centre empty waiting for one of our members to book an activity, therefore a balance will be found.
What benefit will our kids have in the future as these facilities are readily available at a local sports centre?
India Gardens will provide new state of the art facilities. With the financial pressure placed on local councils who regularly sub-contract their centres to external firms either those centres lack investment or at some point may close due to no longer being financially viable. By having India Gardens our community will have a centre of their own and will be involved in the decisions made about the running of the centre.
Will the venue be free for the Leva Patel community or have some concessions? If so how will the centre be financially viable?
There will be adverse VAT consequences of providing members who are donors for the IG Project with concessionary rates.
We plan on keeping the hiring of the centre competitive and the use of the centre must go towards ensuring that it continues to be financially viable.
You mentioned that our community sports groups are happy to move to India Gardens. Can you please obtain this in writing? i.e. NYW / Baladia Sports/ KKYW
We can approach each of these organisations to express their interest in writing, however although doing so is informative to SKLPC in its budgeting, until the centre is operational we hope that they will all move to India Gardens before a written contract can be entered into.
How will the gym work? I can’t see why this would add any value.
A gym would be complimentary to all the other activities that India Gardens is able to offer i.e. crèche, café, sports facilities, fitness studio, cricket, walking route. While some family members may opt for use of the gym, others might choose one of the other activities on offer.
The IG Project build area is 9,000m² and the parking facilities on the ground are 150 cars, how do you justify renting the hall this big?
The question that is more relevant is how many car users do we expect to have on site on an average day and how many do we expect on ‘event’ days?
We are engaging with Ealing Council planners to discuss how we might accommodate more cars on site
