KATHMANDU: In a world overflowing with information yet scattered across countless platforms, finding the right local services or community news can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack—especially for immigrant communities. For the Nepali diaspora in the United Kingdom, a new venture is quietly but determinedly solving this problem.

Belayat.uk, a classifieds platform built by and for Nepalis living in the UK, has emerged as a promising digital hub, connecting thousands of individuals to jobs, housing, businesses, and events, all within a few clicks. What started as a modest side project is now gradually evolving into a lifeline for a community that often finds itself navigating fragmented online spaces.

The Spark Behind Belayat.uk

The idea for Belayat.uk was born from a simple observation. “When I moved to the UK, I was struck by how big the Nepali community is here, but also how scattered and hard-to-find information was,” says Binit Pradhanang, co-founder and Product Manager of Belayat.uk. A tech enthusiast with a professional background in digital platforms like Gumtree, Binit always dreamed of contributing something meaningful to the Nepali diaspora.

“I’ve always loved building simple, useful websites. Seeing how active Nepalis were in Facebook groups, yet struggling to find essential things like rooms to rent or job listings without endless scrolling, made me think—there’s got to be a better way,” he adds.

Thus, Belayat.uk was conceptualized not as a competitor to existing platforms but as an organized, community-centric alternative designed specifically for Nepalis in the UK.

Identifying the Need: A Personal Lived Experience

Binit’s experiences mirror those of many in the diaspora. From students looking for affordable rooms to new arrivals seeking jobs or cultural events, most turned to Facebook groups as their primary resource. However, these groups, while vibrant, were chaotic. Posts would often get buried within minutes, and crucial information would be lost in long comment threads.

“Having worked on large classifieds platforms, I knew how a clean, community-focused site could make life easier,” Binit explains. The goal was not to replace existing networks but to structure them into a more accessible and user-friendly format.

Services Tailored for Nepalis

Launched softly in March 2024, Belayat.uk now offers a suite of core services carefully crafted around the community’s needs:

• Job Listings: Including posts from Nepali-run businesses and hospitality roles aggregated from wider job boards.
• Housing Rentals: Where Nepalis can post and find rooms, shared accommodations, and flatmate searches.
• Business Directory: Featuring Nepali restaurants, grocery stores, service providers like mortgage advisors, and more.
• Community Event Calendar: Centralizing cultural programs, religious events, and meetups.
• Nepali Associations Directory: Helping users connect with local community groups.

“We wanted to create a space where, whether you’re looking for a room in Aldershot or a Nepali restaurant in Manchester, it’s just a few clicks away,” Binit remarks.

What Sets Belayat.uk Apart?

Unlike sprawling Facebook groups or generic UK classifieds, Belayat.uk was designed to cut through the noise. The platform’s categorized listings, smart search filters, and location-based browsing aim to make the user experience seamless.

“Facebook groups are great for discussions but chaotic when it comes to finding specific information. Things get buried quickly. On Belayat.uk, users can filter results by location, topic, or urgency, making it much faster to find what you need,” says Kripa Joshi, co-founder and Operations Manager.

User-friendliness has been a key priority. Users can register in seconds using Google sign-in, post listings in under a minute, and browse through a clean, distraction-free interface optimized for mobile devices.

Organic Growth and Community Response

While the platform remains a passion project—managed by Binit on the technical front and Kripa overseeing content moderation and outreach—the response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive.

Since its launch, Belayat.uk has attracted around 100 weekly active users and between 300–500 unique monthly visitors. Importantly, this growth has been entirely organic, achieved without paid promotions.

“The feedback has been heartening. Small business owners have started listing their services, and we’ve seen a steady increase in rental and job listings. It’s rewarding when someone says, ‘Hey, I found a room through your site!’” Kripa shares.

Early users like Suman Gurung from Aldershot have testified to its efficiency: “Belayat helped me find a room within two days – it’s so much faster than scrolling through Facebook posts.” Similarly, event organizers like Shristi Tamang in Plumstead have noted tangible results, with “30 attendees showing up from a single event listing on Belayat.uk.”

Technology with Purpose

Belayat.uk is built using open-source tools, with a lightweight interface to ensure accessibility even on older smartphones. A simple AI system has been integrated to automate content sourcing, categorize listings, and enrich listings with geotags and filters.

“Our technology is designed to serve the community—not overwhelm them. It’s simple, intuitive, and respects user privacy,” Binit notes.

One of the platform’s standout features is its location-aware search with radial filters, allowing users to pinpoint listings within a chosen radius. Google login simplifies access, while the listing process itself is intentionally streamlined with optional details, so even first-time users aren’t intimidated.

The Road Ahead: New Features and Expansion Plans

The journey for Belayat.uk has just begun. Binit and Kripa have several upcoming features on their roadmap:

• “Bump Up” Visibility Tools: Allowing users to prioritize urgent listings.
• Community Roundups: AI-powered weekly summaries of local activities and posts.
• Expanded Business Directory: Plans are underway to scale this feature to Nepali communities in countries like the US and Australia.

“We’re not aiming to grow just for the sake of numbers. We want to stay true to our core: serving Nepalis who are often left sifting through irrelevant listings on other platforms,” says Binit.

Partnerships with Nepali businesses are also in the works. The team has already collaborated with Nepali-run security companies for job listings and envisions future collaborations with employers, travel agencies, and remittance services in both the UK and Nepal.

Passion-Driven Yet Challenging

Building and maintaining Belayat.uk hasn’t been without hurdles. The platform is run on a tight budget, developed during evenings and weekends while juggling day jobs and family responsibilities. “It’s challenging to keep up with everything, but every small message of encouragement makes it worthwhile,” Kripa reflects.

Freelancer developers are brought in as needed, but the core operation remains a two-person effort. Despite the limitations, the duo has successfully established a platform robust enough to handle growing user traffic.

A Message to the Global Nepali Diaspora

For Binit and Kripa, Belayat.uk is more than just a website—it’s a small yet significant contribution to community building. Their message to the global Nepali community is simple yet heartfelt: “Belayat.uk is still in its early days. We built it to help Nepalis living abroad stay informed, connected, and supported. If you’re in the UK, give it a try, post something, or share it with a friend. Every small step helps build something stronger for all of us.”

Their vision is not of a sprawling tech startup but of a community-driven platform that grows organically, driven by the needs and participation of Nepalis themselves. The belief is that when a community has structured, accessible information, it thrives—not just socially, but economically and culturally too.

A Modest Beginning with a Big Purpose

Belayat.uk’s journey is a testament to how small initiatives, when grounded in real community needs, can create meaningful impacts. While it may lack the scale of commercial classifieds giants, it makes up for it through focus, relevance, and a genuine commitment to the Nepali diaspora.

In an era where digital clutter often dilutes community engagement, Belayat.uk is a refreshing effort to declutter, organize, and empower. As the platform continues to evolve, it will undoubtedly play an essential role in weaving tighter connections among the 100,000+ Nepalis calling the UK their home.