About Tibet Relief Fund

There are currently around 150,000 Tibetans living in exile, since the first wave of refugees fled their homes in 1959 to escape China’s occupation. Tibetans still living inside Tibet are marginalised and denied fundamental rights, with their religious beliefs, cultural identity and ways of life under serious threat. Tibetan refugees living in settlements in India and Nepal have limited access to healthcare, education or work opportunities. This makes it difficult for them to build sustainable livelihoods and develop their communities, and leaves them vulnerable to crises.

Tibetans, like anybody else, should be able to live and work with equality and security, and celebrate their rich culture and traditions. That’s why we’re here.

Who is Tibet Relief Fund?

We support projects that others don’t. With the help of some amazing people like you, we’ve been working with Tibetans since 1959, making us the oldest UK-based charity working with Tibetans. Together, we operate and support practical grassroots initiatives. All of our work is informed by Tibetans and responsive to the needs of the communities we work with. Our size and structure means we can act quickly and with agility when necessary.

Thanks to you, we’ve supported tens of thousands of people to:

• gain an education
• access clean water and healthcare
• complete training courses and learn new skills
• grow more food and live healthier lives
• access jobs and build sustainable livelihoods
• understand and apply their rights
• recover from emergencies
• preserve their language and culture.

Over the years we have earned a deep trust and respect from the Tibetan community overseas and in the UK. We are also one of the few who have experience of working inside Tibet itself.

We’ve made amazing progress but won’t stop until we achieve our vision.

Meet the Team
Tibet Relief Fund is run by a dedicated team who work together and alongside Tibetans to build sustainable communities and better futures.

Patron
Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

Trustees
Tibet Relief Fund is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. It has a board of trustees who delegate the day-to-day running of the charity to its Charity Manager.

Registered Charity Number for England and Wales: 1061834
Company number 033331

Chair: Rebecca Chick
Treasurer: Nick Bulloch
Trustees: Greg Bruno, Nick Bulloch, Rebecca Chick, Lynda Lepcha, Keith Macintosh, Jonathan Moult, Chris Purnell

Staff
Currently there are eight members of staff in the UK; one full-time and four part-time. We also have two in-country Project Liaison Officers. The charity has a small and dynamic office in Camden, London, which operates a hybrid working policy, with most staff in the office at least one day a week.

Charity Manager: Ian Govendir; Head of Digital: Lindsay Butler; Programmes Manager: Thupten Thupten; Accounts Manager: Jampa Gyaltsen; Admin Officer: Rinchen Lodoe; Sponsorship coordinator: Harry Mear

Project Liaison Officers: India: Tenzin Nyima;

We know we could not do the work we do without you and we are so grateful for your support. If you have any questions at all, please get in touch at [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you.