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Sheffield Buddhist Centre 2022
Outline report
:Brief Overview of the year
20th anniversary of SBC in this building
Increasing numbers of new people - and newcomers courses Increasing numbers of people at Sangha night ?Maybe increasing numbers of mitras
Ordinations
4
women requesting ordination 12
Strong hridaya/office team : Aryadasa leaving and Prajnahridaya joining
Major lawn renovation project
More events as Covid restrictions loosened
YUBs lively and successful
?Charity shop for 2023
Ethos and principles (1 To create a sangha of Buddhist practitioners in the theTriratna tradition, following the Dharma as elucidated by Sangharakshita
To follow the Samgravasthus to create this sangha
:By the following activities (2
To provide a pathway from newcomer through to commitment (mitra, perhaps ordination)
By a) Introductory courses to Buddhism and Meditation
In this time period there was an increase in demand for courses ( at times we had 400 people on a database who had expressed interest - currently over 300.)
. To meet this demand we ran extra courses
In January 2022 we ran the normal course and a course on a Monday led by a
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men’s mitra group plus some women
In the spring of 2022 we also ran a course on Thursday nights, led by Lilamati’s .mitra group and supported by Amalasiddhi and some other men In the autumn of 2022 , there is a course running for under 30 year olds, run by .the YUBS
:Estimates of numbers
On presenting teams 12 people, (more with YUBs and mitra groups)
On support teams around 80 people
Starting on the courses 350 people
Completing the courses 70 people (some still to complete)
b) Sangha night
,Sangha night has been well attended, often many newcomers The Sangha night team has recruited new members .Particular thanks to the new Order members attending
: c) Mitras
:Some numbers
Men
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36 mitras currently active around the Sangha
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• Plus an additional 22 mitras training for Ordination
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27 Mitras currently inactive
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8 active mitra groups, plus 1 post mitra group
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15 Dharmacharis leading Mitra groups
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51 men in Mitra study
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2 GFR groups
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Number of men's events between December 21 and November 22:
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• 3 Great Gatherings and 1 Open Retreat and 1 young mens retreat at Padmaloka that our men engaged with.
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4 local day retreats led by Jayagupta and a team of GFR men and new Dharmacharis.
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Plus our second ever Sheffield Mens Weekend at Lockerbrook.
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• Plus surfing and camping events organised by Edward, Nigel and Manikaya.
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For several years we have had a Mitra Convening Kula including the mitra convenor and local private preceptors (Achara, Amoghavamsa, Jayagupta and Vadanya). The main emphasis has been on supporting and discussing the men joining the Order.
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We have now added a second kula containing Bodhinaga, Jayagupta and several newer Dharmacharis (Manikaya, Dayaloka, Dayasingha, Mahaprasara, Vimaladasa, Prajnahriadaya) with a focus on befriending and organising events for newer men.
Women
• Women mitras - 111
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Of whom ..women who are TFO - 56
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Women who asked for ordination in the last year - 12
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Number of women's Dharma Training Course Groups - 5,
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one OM leading each one. 40 women (8 in each group)
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Post Mitra study groups 6 ( sizes vary 30 women)
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Number of order members leading the groups 7
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How many women in the Mitra convening kula. 4
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7 women’s events. Other mixed events run by OMs and mitras.
Support for non binary/gender diverse people from Dharmamayi - study group that ran for a while, now finished , maybe another one starting soon
Mitra ceremonies in April 2022
In November 2022 18 due to become mitras (largest ever..)
c) Ordinations
:Ordinations this year
Maitrikirina, Vimaladasa, Dayasingha, Manikaya
: Invited for Ordination in 2023
Edward Lawrence, Owen, Tim Sagrapanti
( Plus 2 women hopefully next year)
d) The Order
Approx 50 Order members active in Sheffield Amoghavamsa - rejoice and gratitude
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Festivals and retreats (2
Retreats
Mitra retreat at Adhisthana - 5 days Sangha Weeknd retreats - 3 weekends Men’s weekend retreat YUBs residential retreat
Festivals
Parinirvana Day Buddha Day Dharma Day Padmasambhava Day Sangha Day
Other Annual Events
Padmavajra’s Presidential visits Winter Mornings Puja for Bhante’s birthday Puja to mark Bhante’s Death Garden Party Sangha Works Days
Special Event
20th anniversary
:Plus many weekend events and other activities Monthly YUBs meetings Prajnas 5 Various one off events Gender Diverse event Etc etc
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To help build Sangha we support opportunities for sangha members (3 to live together, work together, contribute to the Centre
Communities
Vajramandala Men’s community
Right Livelihood
Dana Still Learning ? Charity shop
Sangha works days
Special Projects
Creating new lawns in the garden
:Teams that support the work of the Centre
Centre team - Aryadasa leaving July 2022 Prajnahridaya joining March 2021, Paranita and Sanghagita joined the team in January 2022 (Plus Satyajyoti, Bodhinaga, Maitrivasin)
Hridaya team ; Ad/Ph Edward, Emma Ward , recently Tee Volunteers : Hilary , Ellie, Paul Coupar and others
Maintenance team Caretaking team Gardening team YUBS facilitators Sangha night team Introductory course teams - over 20 etc Council
Finances
Generosity of the Sangha in response to the Standing Order ask in September .2022
Charity number 1024087
Sheffield Triratna Buddhist Community
Statement of accounts for the Year ended 5th April 2022
Contents
Statement of receipts and payments
Balance sheet
Notes to the Accounts
Accountant’s Report
Sheffield Triratna Buddhist Community Receipts and payments account for the year ended 5th April 2022
| Receipts and payments account or the year ended 5th April 2022 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 months | 12 months | ||
| Notes | to 05.04.22 | to 05.04.21 | |
| £ | £ | ||
| Receipts | |||
| Standing orders | 1 | 58,350 | 58,750 |
| Donations | 23,301 | 13,347 | |
| Gift Aid tax recovered | 14,948 | 15,398 | |
| Yoga & tai-chi income | 104 | 363 | |
| Men’s community rents | 22,510 | 24,480 | |
| Women’s community rents | 19,937 | 20,685 | |
| Other earned income | 3,462 | 1,250 | |
| Sangha fundraising | 1,756 | 1,693 | |
| ___ | ___ | ||
| 144,368 | 135,965 | ||
| ___ | ___ | ||
| Payments | |||
| Yoga and tai-chi costs | 74 | - | |
| Costs re. other earned income | 2,061 | 370 | |
| Sangha fundraising expenses | - | - | |
| Premises costs | 26,101 | 21,131 | |
| Men’s community expenses | - | 133 | |
| Women’s community expenses (including interest) | 6,792 |
7,853 | |
| Centre team support | 63,995 | 68,483 | |
| Retreats, courses, events & projects | 15,374 | 8,583 | |
| Charitable giving | 10,515 | 9,295 | |
| ___ | ___ | ||
| 124,912 | 115,848 | ||
| ___ | ___ | ||
| Surplus arising on ordinary activities | 19,456 | 20,117 | |
| ======== | ======== | ||
| Being | |||
| Designated women’s community fund | 2 | 13,145 | 12,832 |
| Undesignated fund | 6,311 | 7,285 | |
| ___ | ___ | ||
| 19,456 | 20,117 | ||
| ======== | ======== |
Sheffield Triratna Buddhist Community
Balance sheet at 5th April 2022
| Balance sheet at 5th April 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Fixed assets | ||
| Property at cost | 624,693 | 624,693 |
| ___ | ___ | |
| Stocks | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Bank and Building Society deposits | 80,013 | 106,408 |
| Gift Aid income accrued | 14,948 |
- |
| ___ | ___ | |
| 99,961 | 111,408 | |
| Current liabilities | ||
| Other creditors | 11,000 | 11,000 |
| ___ | ___ | |
| Net current assets | 88,961 | 100,408 |
| ___ | ___ | |
| Long term liabilities | ||
| Property loans | 284,910 | 315,813 |
| ___ | ___ | |
| Net assets | 428,744 | 409,288 |
| ======== | ======== | |
| Reconciliation of net assets | ||
| Net assets brought forward at start of year | 409,288 | 389,171 |
| Surplus for the year | 19,456 | 20,117 |
| ___ | ___ | |
| Net assets at end of year | 428,744 | 409,288 |
| ======== | ======== | |
| Being - | ||
| Women’s community designated fund | 86,384 | 73,239 |
| Undesignated fund | 342,360 | 336,049 |
| ___ | ___ | |
| 428,744 | 409,288 | |
| ======== | ======== |
Signed on behalf of the Trustees Date
Notes to the accounts
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Standing Orders income is ring-fenced to support the Team who run the Centre and its activities. With the associated Gift Aid, the standing orders income is currently sufficient for this purpose. We monitor this regularly and communicate with the Sangha about our financial situation at least once per year.
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The Womens’ Community House income and expenses are ring-fenced as a separate designated fund, with all profits from the community (rental income less expenses) being set aside for this purpose. When this is taken into account (ie. both income and expenses
of the Women’s Community House are removed from the receipts and payments for the year) the Charity made a surplus of £6,311.
Accountant’s Report
In accordance with instructions given to me by the Trustees I have prepared, without carrying out an audit, the annexed financial statements.
I confirm that these are consistent with the underlying accounting records, and with the information and explanations supplied to me.
Andrew Howson 17[th] November 2021
Chartered Accountant
Accountant’s Report
In accordance with instructions given to me by the Trustees I have prepared, without carrying out an audit, the annexed financial statements.
I confirm that these are consistent with the underlying accounting records, and with the information and explanations supplied to me.
Andrew Howson 17th November 2022 Chartered Accountant