In February 2005 a group of Sixth Formers from St Joan’s, along with two members of staff, travelled to Calcutta to visit Udayan and to offer their services to the home. Following the success of the first trip visit, another was made two years later. On both occasions the itineraries incorporated religious places of significance to the major Faiths in India, and the journeys which took on something of the nature of a pilgrimage were recorded on a daily basis. These diaries are available on this website in the Previous Trips section.

An eighth group, this time of eight sixth formers, visited India along with two members of staff in February 2019 and an ninth trip is planned for February 2024. They spent much of their time at Udayan with the children and Kolkata itself for a number of days. During this time they visited various people who are carrying out extraordinary work among the poor. A diary of the pilgrimage whilst they were in India was kept with daily postings including photographs. Readers will have the option and are encouraged to post messages each day.

Over the years, the students have managed to raise considerable amounts of money for this very special cause, including: