We are registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Our registration number is 1217380. You can go to their website to see details about us including our governing document.

At present we have 3 Trustees. Pradip Patel (Chair); Divaykant Patel (Treasurer) and Dr Bhavisha Patel (Secretary). Their Bios are in the Meet the Trustees FAQ.

Bio for Pradip Patel Pradip Patel is an accomplished board-level leader recognized for driving transformational change in complex, regulated organizations. With a career spanning senior roles in healthcare and retail, Pradip has demonstrated exceptional communication, influencing, and change management skills, underpinned by a strong ethical mindset. Pradip served as Chairman of Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, leading the board to deliver a number of key strategic initiatives, digital transformation, and pandemic response efforts. Pradip has also held executive positions at Alliance Boots and Boots Opticians, where his leadership fostered innovation and high employee engagement. In recognition of his service to the NHS and healthcare, Pradip was awarded an M.B.E. in June 2024. With a proven track record of ethical leadership and a heartfelt dedication to making a positive impact, Pradip is honoured to serve as Chair of Trustees, guiding the charity’s mission to make a real difference in its three causes. Bio for Divaykant Patel Divaykant Patel brings thirty plus years of compassionate leadership in business and community service, including two decades as a local area chairman. His proven expertise spans stakeholder engagement, financial management, relationships building, transparency, and driving positive impact. As Treasurer, Divaykant is dedicated to ensuring the charity operates efficiently, always putting the needs of the charity first. His caring approach and genuine dedication will make him an asset for the charity. Bio for Dr Bhavisha Patel Dr. Bhavisha Patel is a qualified veterinarian and Veterinary Adviser within the UK Government, specialising in international trade and animal health. She brings strong expertise in ruminant health control, particularly cattle, alongside experience in international collaboration and working with global partners. With additional qualifications in auditing and currently undertaking a master’s degree in Systems Thinking, Bhavisha contributes a thoughtful, analytical approach to governance. As Secretary of the Charity, she is committed to supporting strong oversight and helping the organisation deliver lasting impact across its causes.

We currently do not need more Trustees, but our governing document allows us to add other trustees. As we grow, we may need more Trustees, so if you are interested, please let us know and we will get in touch with you when the time is right.

Stray Cows • Cows hold a special place in Hinduism they are deeply rooted in religious texts and cows are especially associated with Lord Krishna, who is often depicted as a cowherd (Govinda) playing his flute, symbolizing divine love for cows. • Sadly, due to the excessive cost of looking after cows, once the cows stop giving milk and the bullocks are not needed in the fields, they are set loose in the streets. Due to the huge development in India, there are very few green spaces. This means that at any given time these cows just roam the streets looking for food. Sadly, they often eat out of rubbish bins and drink water from the gutters. • We want to do our absolute best to feed these cow’s grass, hay and/or appropriate silage and give them clean water to drink. • The local council in Gokul has created a compound for stray cows and anything from 150 to 200 cows use the compound. Sadly, whilst the council have provided the land, there is no money to buy the grass to feed the cows. • We want to provide funds so that cattle feed, including grass can be bought and fed to the cows and there is clean drinking water for them. Bethaks • There are 84 Bethaks of Shri Vallabhacharya. Gokul is an incredibly special place in the Pushtimarg tradition, as it is birthplace of the religion. Gokul hosts three important Bethaks of Shri Vallabhacharya. The Three Bethaks in Gokul are: o Govindghat Bethak (First Bethak). This is the site where Shri Vallabhacharya performed the sacred ritual of “Brahma Sambandh,” initiating the tradition of offering oneself to Lord Krishna. It marks a foundational moment for Pushtimarg devotees. o Badi Bethak (Second Bethak). Known as the “big seat,” this Bethak is where Shri Vallabhacharya gave many spiritual discourses and teachings. It is revered for its association with his deep scriptural recitations and guidance to followers. o Shaiya Mandir Bethak (Third Bethak). This is located within the Shri Dwarkadhish Temple. This Bethak is unique because it is said to be the place where Shri Vallabhacharya used to rest and sleep, hence the name “Shaiya Mandir” (Bed Temple). • Today, these holy sites need our help. With your support, we can restore and preserve these sanctuaries, ensuring they remain sources of inspiration, learning, and devotion for generations to come. Education • Pushtimarg is a spiritual path that emphasises devotion and selfless service to Shri Krishna. Supporting religious education is vital for preserving its teachings and values for future generations. With just £600 we can cover the cost to support up to fifteen students annually, to teach them Sanskrit. One of the resident Guru’s in Gokul can run the classes for free, but we need to meet the travel, accommodation, and meals costs for the students. • Sadly, as most of the families in India are extremely poor and the cost of education is extremely high, it means that most children cannot get educated and this condemns them to lifelong poverty. We want to make a difference for the Niskanchan Vaishnav families by helping their children get educated.

Gokul is very special for two main reasons: • It is the childhood home of Lord Krishna, making it a deeply sacred location for Vaishnavas and Pushtimarg followers. • It is also the heart of Pushtimarg—a place where the path of grace was born and where sacred memories live on. The ritual of Brahma Sambandh at Govindghat is considered the spiritual foundation of the entire Pushtimarg tradition. Gokul also has Pilgrimage Importance. Devotees from all over the world visit Gokul, in particular the temples and Bethaks to perform prayers, seek blessings, and connect with the roots of their faith. By focusing on one location, we can make the biggest difference.

• You can help by donating. The donation can be whatever you want to give. This can be one off or on monthly/quarterly/annual basis. With your permission we can also claim Gift Aid from HMRC, which would add 25% to your donation without it costing you anymore. • You can donate by direct bank transfer or through your credit/debit card. Please see our website for details. We would also accept cheques, made payable to Pushtimarg Seva UK. You can send these to the following address – 17 Craven Close, Hayes, Middlesex, UB4 0SB. We will send you a receipt for your donation to the address you give us. • You can also help us by passing on our details to friends and family who may also be interested in supporting us. • Please share any ideas on how we can raise funds. If you would like to do things to raise funds, we would really welcome this. Once you have raised any funds, you can send them to us.

Yes, we will publish an annual report which will be posted on the Charity Commission web site. This will detail how much money we have raised and how it has been used. Our aim is to minimise our costs so that the maximum amount of money raised can be devoted to the 3 causes we want to support. If you need further information, then you can always contact us. Details for how to do this can be found on our website.

We will put systems and procedures in place to ensure that all the donations are used for the purposes we identify. Wherever possible we will send the money directly to bank accounts in India to ensure that it reaches the right people. As Trustees, at least one of us will visit Gokul every year, to see and satisfy ourselves that the money is being used correctly.

We would like to keep the Admin and Accounting as simple as we can, so that we minimise our costs. This way every £ you donate can be spent on the good causes. This means we will pool all the donations and support the 3 causes in the following priority order depending on how much money we raise – stray cows, restoring bethaks and finally education.

We will only use your name and address to claim Gift Aid from HMRC if you have given us permission to do this. If you have given us permission to use your email address, we will use this to send you Newsletters and updates on the Charity.