Nepalese Southside Community Group celebrate Scottish New Year

They haven't celebrated their New Year yet, but a special group from Nepal were among our first footers of 2025.

This week, the Nepalese Southside Community Group visited our Glasgow centre to make their donations.

Nepali new year is not until April 14, but the group from Mount Everest's homeland scaled new heights of generosity.

We love Scotland and we will keep giving blood here. Padam Kharel

Organiser Padam Kharel said, 'Our community group has been running for around ten years and we have more than 300 members in the society.

'We run a community programme which involves a Nepalese school every Saturday where children get to know about our language and culture.

'Every year we do a group blood donation. We believe it's so important to give blood as it can save someone’s life.

'Back home I donated 11 times and I try to donate every three months now I’m here in Scotland.

'We have a mixture of people in our society - some run their own businesses, some work in Asda.

'Our calendar has a different year, but the Nepalese new year is in April. We will hire a hall for all our 300 people, and there will be cultural dancing, music and food.

'We love Scotland and we will keep giving blood here.'

• Interested in organising a group donation of your own? Contact us online or give us a ring on 0345 90 90 999 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)