Activity Report 2005
Profile
The Trust was established in the UK on 26 June 1997. It was created by Raj and Veena Loomba by charitable trust deed, and has a sister charity registered in India. The inspiration came from Raj’s late mother, Shrimati Pushpa Wati Loomba, who became a widow at the age of 37 and succeeded in educating her seven children single-handed. The Trust aims to educate the children of poor widows throughout India.
The Trust was officially launched in London on 25 March 1998 in the presence of the British Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon. Tony Blair MP and his wife, Cherie Booth QC. The Trust also received the support of the Prime Minister of India, The Honourable Atal Behari Vajpayee, who inaugurated the Trust in New Delhi on 31 March 1999 by lighting a lamp at his residence.
The Trust was honoured that Cherie Booth QC, who became the first Patron of the Trust in 1998, agreed to become the President of the Trust and officially inaugurated Loomba House in London on 8th September, 2004.
Objectives
The Trust’s objectives are to promote the welfare and education of children of poor widows, orphaned children, and also children who have lost their mothers, as a result of natural disaster and for other auxiliary purposes as the trustees may determine. The Trust aims to expand its education programmes nationwide to all of the 29 States in India, thus raising awareness of the plight of Indian widows and their children throughout the country. The Trust also aims to support the widows who have lost their husbands due to HIV/AIDS.
Educational State Programmes during the year
The Trust educated 1100 children of poor widows in 10 states in India: Delhi, Orissa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Uttaranchal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
All beneficiaries are selected irrespective of gender, religion or class and scholarships are guaranteed for a period of five years initially.
20th March, 2005 – Ragamuffin Man at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane took place on Sunday, 20th March 2005. All the money raised from this performance will go to the Loomba Trust to support the education of 500 unfortunate children who have lost their fathers or both parents in the Tsunami disaster in Nagapattinum in South India.
Amongst the audience of over 800 people, Cherie Booth QC, President of the Loomba Trust, Lord and Lady Dholakia, Dr. David Thomas and many other dignitaries attended the charity play, which tells the story of Dr Thomas Barnardo and the origins of his work helping destitute children in London in the 1800s. The Loomba Trust maintains strong links with the Barnardo’s charity of which Mr Raj Loomba is a Vice President.
The performance and its cast of 140 pupils aged 5-13 and staff from the Reigate St Mary’s Preparatory and Choir School re-enact the entire musical, written and composed by Jon Fielder. Ragamuffin Man, with its unforgettable message, happy and sad songs, combined with these very talented children touched even the hardest heart.
27th November, 2004 – The Loomba Trust held its first ever charity banquet at the Ashoka Hotel in New Delhi in India on 27th November 2004. It was a successful event in terms of raising the profile of the Trust in India and also in raising funds for the children of poor widows.
We were honoured that Cherie Booth QC, President of the Loomba Trust, and 40 other Dignitaries from the UK, including Lord Dholakia, Baroness Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Shirley Williams and Baroness Jay travelled from the United Kingdom to attend the Banquet. We were also honoured that the Honourable Home Minister Shri Shivraj Patil, Honourable Chief Minister of Delhi, Shrimati Sheila Dikshit, and many other Dignitaries graced the occasion with their presence.
Through the generosity of Sir Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Atlantic Airways, who also travelled to Delhi to attend the banquet, and many Indian Corporates including Birla Charitable Trust, Godfrey Phillips India, and Bharat Hotels Limited, we received pledges at the banquet, amounting to over £500K .The proceeds will enable the Trust to educate 1500 children of poor widows and support their mothers in India for a continuous period of 5 years.
13th October 2004 – Annual fund-raising event was co-hosted by the Loomba Trust, the Mayor of London and London First at the Dorchester Hotel. Over 460 people attended the Diwali celebrations, including Cherie Booth QC, President of the Loomba Trust, who was the Guest of Honour. Other distinguished guests included Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary, David Davies, Shadow Home Secretary and Charles Kennedy, Leader of the Liberal Democrat. Joanna Lumley, Patron of the Trust, made an appeal on behalf of the Loomba Trust. An amount of over £100,000 was raised on the night, which will support the education of children of poor widows in India. A donation of £5000 has been given to Barnardo’s in the UK.
8th September 2004 – The Trust was honoured that Cherie Booth QC, who became a Patron of the Trust in 1998, agreed to become the President and officially inaugurated Loomba House in the presence of His Excellency, Shri Kamalesh Sharma, High Commissioner for India, Mrs. Sharma, Lord Dholakia OBE DL, Sir Sigmund Sternberg and many other dignitaries.
29 April 2004 – The Trust hosted a lunch reception at the House of Lords in honour of Sir Rob Young GCMC and his wife, Lady Young for their continued support for the work of the Loomba Trust in India. Sir Rob served as a British High Commissioner in Delhi for six years. The event was presided over by Lord Dholakia OBE DL, a Trustee and attended by many distinguished guests including Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt MP, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
Overview
The Loomba Trust although young, has gone from strength to strength in the short period of six years. With the funds raised to date, the Trust will be able to educate over 2000 children of poor widows during the academic year 2005-6.
There will be 500 children benefiting from the Trust, who have lost their fathers or both parents in the Tsunami disaster in Nagapattinum in Tamil Nadu in South India.
Our ultimate aim is to educate at least 100 children of poor widows in each of the 29 states and support their mothers in India.
Fund Raising Events Planned during 2005-6
Date | Venue | Event |
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16th May | Portland Place | Jan Puffet – Painting Exhibition |
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5th October | The Dorchester | Diwali Dinner |
Your support is essential:
There are many ways in which you can help us.
Sponsor a child.
Attend our fund raising events.
Become a Partner with the Loomba Trust.
Buy Greeting Cards.
Buy Jan Puffet’s Prints
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