2024-12-31-accounts - The Community Of Interbeing UK

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator. This document is also available as Markdown.

The Community of Interbeing UK

Annual Report and Financial Statements

Year Ended 31 December 2024

Registered Charity No 1096680

Company Registration No 04623280

2 The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024

About the Community of Interbeing UK

The Community of Interbeing UK is the network of people in the United Kingdom who practise Buddhism according to the teachings of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh ( Thây -pronounced 'tie' - as we call him, meaning teacher in Vietnamese). The UK Community of Interbeing is part of the wider international Sangha of many thousands of practitioners worldwide, all of whom follow Thây's mindfulness practice and teachings.

Mindfulness is the energy of being aware and awake to the present moment. It is the continuous practice of touching life deeply in every moment of daily life. To be mindful is to be truly alive, present and at one with those around us and with what we are doing. We bring our body and mind into harmony while we wash the dishes, drive the car or take our morning shower, learning to do them with mindfulness, with an awareness that we are doing them. We practise mindfulness throughout every moment of the day and not just during meditation.

Practising mindfulness cultivates understanding, love, compassion, and joy. This practice helps us to take care of and transform suffering in our lives and in our society.

In practising together as a group, our practice of mindfulness becomes more joyful, relaxed and steady. We support each other along the path of practice. With the support of the community, we can practise to cultivate peace and joy within and around us, as a gift for all of those whom we love and care for. We can cultivate our solidity and freedom - solid in our deepest aspiration and free from our fears, misunderstandings, and our suffering.

In addition to providing national retreats and training, the Community of Interbeing supports one hundred and sixteen registered Sangha groups around the UK, sells books and other media, and provides a weekly update for members called Dharmabites , plus a monthly e-News called Here & Now, as well as distributing the international Mindfulness Bell magazine. The Mindfulness Bell can also be accessed on-line and ordered via the website.

We plan to open our practice centre Being Peace in early 2026.

Through our programmes of education and practice the Community of Interbeing endeavours to encourage more people to practise mindful living.

The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024 3

2024 Annual Review

In this annual review we set out our charitable aims, and for each aspect of our activities, the actions taken to implement them in this year as well as our future plans.

Charitable aims

The Objectives of the Community of Interbeing UK are:

a) To advance, support and encourage the study and practice of Buddhism and mindful living in accordance with the teachings of meditation master Thich Nhat Hanh, in the UK and overseas, in keeping with the Five Mindfulness Trainings.
b) To assist and encourage the formation and activities of regional and local groups having this common purpose.

National practice and training

What we do

Organise retreats for adults, families and young people.
Provide an in-depth training programme on the core teachings
We run 3 interlinked courses for groups. Course 1 is The Art of Zen or Mindfulness for Neurodiversity, Course 2 is entitled Looking Deeply and course 3 Living Mindfully.
Offer and share our practice online in a variety of formats.

How what we do delivers public benefit

The principal benefit comprises the provision of opportunities for members of the public (including Buddhists and those interested in Buddhism) to learn more about mindfulness and Buddhism. We provide instruction from beginner to advanced levels, enabling people to deepen their knowledge and experience. We offer retreats for both individuals and groups, to enable them to develop their meditation experience and increase their understanding of the mindful way of life in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh.

Our events are advertised publicly on our website, social media channels (e.g. PlumVillageUK Facebook&Instagram page) as well as our weekly Dharmabites offerings for members and monthly newsletter (which anyone can sign up to). We offer a warm welcome to anyone who wishes to attend. We make a charge to recover the cost of running our retreats and training programmes with a lower rate applying to those in special circumstances. We also endeavour to raise funds to offer bursaries towards the cost of some of the events.

Action taken in 2024

Across the broad community in the UK, we supported a wide range of activities which included:

Regular Practice:

Sunday Evening Sangha (every Sunday, online): Our Sunday Sangha welcomes friends, newcomers and experienced practitioners alike, from 5pm to 6pm UK time every Sunday.
Engaged Practice for Peace (twice a month throughout the year, online). Many people are deeply affected by the wars and conflicts around the world, causing great suffering. We meet twice a month online for a guided meditation, a reading, and the precious opportunity to connect with the wider Sangha, to listen deeply to each other, to look deeply, and to collectively nourish our mindfulness.

4 The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024

Morning Meditations (every weekday throughout the year, online): A group of regular volunteers including Dharma Teachers and members of the Order of Interbeing, offer morning meditations every weekday. We practice with the Love Meditation twice each week, generating the energies of Love and Compassion in the world. We also practice regularly with other meditations drawn from the book, ‘The Blooming of a Lotus’.
Together In Peace (Monday - Sunday, throughout the year, online): Coming together to practice guided meditation in order to generate the energy of compassion; for ourselves, each other, and all those suffering from the effects of war and climate change.
Being Peace Practice Centre Sangha Meetings (bi-monthly from 11 February, online): The bi-monthly Being Peace Sangha meetings include a practice offered by UK Dharma Teachers, updates on how we are progressing with the project, and an opportunity to share questions and thoughts with the centre project team.
Being Peace Briefing Sessions (18, 21, 23 May, online): Sangha Briefing Sessions offer the opportunity for people in our community to have a direct conversation with the team working to manifest the new Plum Village practice centre here in the UK.
Earth Care Sangha (monthly, starting 16th September): The Earth Care Sangha is a supportive space for all people to come together to practise mindfulness in the midst of the climate and nature crises.
White Awareness Sangha (bi-monthly, online): An open and compassionate space for ‘white-bodied’ sangha practitioners to engage the practice of mindfulness to transform racism in ourselves and in the world.

Retreats:

Discourse on the Five Ways of Putting an End to Anger - Dharma Training Programme (9-11 February, Purley Chase) Led by UK Dharma Teachers Mhairi (Vari) McLuskie and Theresa Payne, retreat explored the wisdom and related teachings of the discourse on The 5 Ways of Putting an End to Anger, to understand how to cultivate true wisdom in our lives for ourselves, for others and for the earth.
Mindful Writing Retreat (26-28 April, Ilkley) A transformative weekend of self-discovery and creative exploration, facilitated by Lauri Bower and Teri West.
Discourse on the Better Way to Live Alone - Dharma Training Programme (24-27 May, Ilkley): The retreat will be led by UK Dharma teachers Murray Corke and Angie Searle, exploring the wisdom and related teachings of the discourse on The Better Way to Live Alone.
In Love with the Earth Retreat (24 - 27 May, Scotland): This long weekend retreat, led by Dharma Teacher Susanne Olbrich, was an opportunity to explore and deepen our connection with the Earth.
Peace is Every Step, Mindfulness Retreat with Dene Donalds (10-13 October, Wiston Lodge): Together we will be seeking positive ways of living in these times of political uncertainty, war and upheaval
Love is the Way, Dharma Training Programme in Scotland (17-20 October, Kilgraston, Scotland): Facilitated by UK Dharma teachers Mhairi (Vari) McLuskie and Susanne Olbrich, this retreat was an opportunity to deeply explore the teachings on love offered by Thich Nhat Hanh. What can be more important in this time of change than cultivating love and understanding for ourselves, our loved ones, the Earth and all beings?
The Diamond that Cuts through Illusion, Dharma Training Programme (24-28 October, Sidcot): An in depth retreat exploring the Diamond Sutra, led by UK Lay Dharma teachers Dene Donalds and Teri West, and aspirant Dharma teachers Rehena Harilall and Anthony Leete
Simply Singing (25-28 November, Purley Chase): A residential retreat combining mindfulness practice, singing with others and enjoying ourselves.

The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024 5

Events:

Mindful Morning (1st January, online): We celebrated being together as a national sangha, online, for a New Year’s Day mindful morning – the first of the new year. We offered guided meditation, a New Year’s Dharma Talk from Plum Village and the opportunity to share our individual hopes and aspirations for the year ahead.
My Life is My Teaching - Honouring our Ancestor Thich Nhat Hanh (21 January, online): January 2024 marked two years since our beloved Thay’s (Thich Nhat Hanh’s) passing. We were warmly invited to join Plum Village Monastery online for a special two-year anniversary memorial.
Peace is Every Step: Silent Walking Meditation for Peace (21 January, London): A Multi - Faith Peace Walk in London for non-violence, reconciliation and peace, in recognition of our common humanity. Organised together with Quakers in Britain.
Stories & Universal Teachings - Mindful Morning (5 February, online): This month we welcomed back Rev. Colin Hodgetts for an exploration of teaching stories within Christian/Jewish, Buddhist and Islamic traditions; their similarities and their differences, each having a universal appeal that can be shared across all cultural and societal boundaries.
Community - Mindful Morning (3 March, online): we hosted a panel including members of the Being Peace Practice Centre project steering group, on how restoring a sense of community in individuals and society is essential in developing mental and spiritual wellbeing and effecting change in the collective consciousness. The panel included Miles Dunmore, Tamsin Hong, Teri West and Nick Kenrick.
Creativity Curiosity and Self-Care - Mindful Morning (7 April, online): The Mindful Morning earlier this month aimed to open up a wider perception of ‘creativity’ to include how developing this quality of mind is essential in carrying out even mundane tasks successfully or when working in fields other than the ‘arts’. You may wish to watch the recording from session hosted by Lauri Bower and Clare Carlile speaking about embracing our creativity in a mindful way.
Reverence for Life: Multi-Faith Event with Meditation, Reflection and Music (28 April, online): We come together to reflect how the ethics of our faiths support our engaged action and dedication to nonviolence, reconciliation, justice and peace.This Multi-faith dialogue with luminaries from Islam, Judaism, Christianity and Buddhism offers us an opportunity to explore how our practices and scriptures provide us with clarity, courage and resolve to engage in compassionate action for ceasefire, justice and peace for Palestine, Sudan, Ukraine, Syria, Myanmar, Israel, Russia and the 30 more countries currently at war or in armed conflict.
Love in Relationships - Mindful Morning (5 May, online): this month’s Mindful Morning offered a panel of speakers made up of representatives from Wake Up, Rainbow Sangha and Family Sangha all speaking to what Love in Relationships mean to them.
Long Live Impermanence - Mindful Morning (2 June, online): The theme for the month of June was ‘Impermanence’ and the event included a short dharma talk by Thay, followed by ‘Death Cafes’ in small groups, following the principles of the Death Cafe organisation https://deathcafe.com.
Walk with Me: Silent Walking Meditation for Peace (23 June, London): We were joined by six Monastics coming from Plum Village France to walk with us in silence, for remembrance, nonviolence and a just peace. In the face of escalating violence and loss of life in over 100 wars and armed conflicts worldwide (e.g Palestine, Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar among many others) we held this event, organised by Plum Village UK and Quakers in Britain to reflect our shared commitment to non-violence, reconciliation and a just peace, representing the spiritual and ethical values of all spiritual communities.
What is the point of Monks and Nuns? - Mindful Morning with Br Phap Linh (7 July, online): In July we hosted a Mindful Morning with Br Phap Linh, who offered a Live Dharma talk and we are delighted to share a recording of the session, which you can see by clicking on the video above. Brother Pham Line offered us the following question to consider: Could it be that there is a uniquely British ambivalence towards the monastic tradition? In this talk, we are invited to take a deep look into our collective history; asking whether the

6 The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024

dissolution of the monasteries is a collective wound, and if so, can it still be healed? Could it be that we have damaged our relationship with the spiritual dimension, and if so, how can we restore it?

Sangha Sailing Holiday: Mindfulness and Sailing (6-13 July, Norfolk Broads): Sangha Sailing Holiday with Sangha Friends Murray and Thor from July 6th – 13th. Previous sailing holidays have been very enjoyable and a natural route into mindfulness.
Being Peace Sangha Special with Satish Kumar: Being Peace: Peace Within, Peace with people, Peace with nature (8 September, online): Satish Kumar gave a talk in support of a Plum Village Practice Centre in the UK.
Being Peace - The Nonviolent Response to War - Mindful Morning (1 September, online): This month, the Mindful Morning included a video compilation of Thay’s teachings on war. We began as usual with a short meditation, followed by the video, a break, and Dharma sharing in small groups.
The Heartfelt Path of Courage and Compassion, Mindful Morning with Ava Avolos (6 October, online) : This month we will welcome Dharma Teacher Ava Avolos, facilitator of the first Sangha in our tradition in Africa. Speaking live from Botswana, Ava will give a talk encouraging us towards a deeper sense of self-honesty and discovery, finding opportunities for practice in every moment of daily life.
Together in Joy fundraising event (13 October): An event to celebrate the end of our public fundraising campaign for Being Peace Centre. The event was a blend of pre-recorded and live content, including meditation, practice, updates about the project and creative expressions; creating what we hope will be a nourishing and inspiring experience, featuring: personal messages, stories, songs and sharings from our friends Joan Halifax, Martha Tilston, Krista Tippett, Lama Rod Owens, Jo Confino & Brother Phap Huu, Charles Eisenstein & Gabi Enache, Betsy Rose and Sibling Yonten, Plum Village UK Monastics, Kaira Jewel, Christiana Figueres, Larry & Peggy Ward, UK Dharma Teachers, Plum Village Inter-Hamlet Choir.
The Fruits of Our Practice, Mindful Morning (3 November, online): For our November Mindful Morning we welcome four practitioners from diverse backgrounds who will share their personal experiences in how their practice informs and supports their family relationships. The family can be viewed as our primary sangha, and one that perhaps offers more ‘perfect’ opportunities for practice than other aspects of daily life.
International Walking Meditation: Touching Simplicity (30 November, local): Many local Sanghas in the UK joined the international walking meditations, organised by sanghas and Wake Up groups in the tradition of Plum Village, the Order of Interbeing, and regional groups of the Network for Mindful Business.
Meeting Life with Compassionate and Engaged Presence, Mindful Morning (1 December): This month our mindful morning was led by Kirsten Kratz and Dene Donalds. For many, the multiple challenges of our times and the demands of our personal life can feel overwhelming. During our time together we wish to explore skillful ways of resourcing ourselves in the midst of uncertainty, so we can approach difficult aspects of life more wisely and compassionately.

Monastic Events

Monastic Retreat - Peace Begins Here (25-29th March, Stourbridge): a five day retreat, where we learn how to cultivate peace, clarity, joy, and resilience. As we generated calmness and insights we saw how we can act compassionately and courageously to protect and heal ourselves and our planet Earth.
The Way Out Is In: Live Podcast Recording (5 April, London): First Live Recording of popular Plum Village podcast The Way Out Is In. Zen monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach Jo Confino took us on a mindful journey into what it truly means to step into freedom.
Day of Mindfulness and Musical Evening (6 April, London): How can nourishing our sangha heal our society? Living in a society that can feel lonely and harsh, taking refuge in our sangha can replenish our joyful energy. The Plum Village monastics live and work in a strong community. Learning from them can inspire us to go out

The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024 7

into the world with a smile on our face.

Peace is the Way: Day of Mindfulness for Changemakers (7 April, London): How can mindfulness help us bring about a more peaceful, just world? Amidst the challenges of our times, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and discouraged in the work we do. This day will offer a profound exploration of mindfulness practices, inviting us to cultivate resilience, compassion, and clarity in our pursuit of social transformation.
Afternoon of Mindfulness with Family Sanha (7 April, London): How can mindfulness help families develop the skills to promote peace in themselves and in the world around them? The monastics have kindly offered this event specifically for families, learning through mindful games, singing and play.

Plans for 2025:

Continue offering our regular practice, retreats and events
We are looking forward to hosting a Monastic Retreat in Scotland with the theme ‘Peace is the Way’ in the Spring 2025, welcoming up to 200 retreatants to learn how to cultivate peace, joy and non-fear in ourselves, even in the heart of great difficulty.
Hosting Live Podcast Show with ‘The Way Out Is In’ brother Phap Huu and Jo Confino

Community Engagement and Volunteer Opportunities

We actively sought out volunteers to support our myriad offerings and boost our web and community engagement in 2024. This outreach was essential for us to help our community blossom and expand.

Mindfulness courses

Be Calm Be Happy (BCBH), now The Art of Zen
We continued with Be Calm Be Happy courses online and in person. The course is an introduction to Plum Village mindfulness, from our teacher Thich Nhat Hanh - suitable for beginners, as well as those wishing to gain an overview of the key teachings and how they support each other.
The Course was renamed The Art of Zen in November 2024
We offered 16 courses and 2 retreats in 2024
Looking Deeply
A follow-on course from BCBH, where we discover how to develop our mindfulness further into our experiences and life.
We offered 4 Looking Deeply Courses in 2024

 Living Mindfully

Also a follow-on course from BCBH, focusing on bringing the Five Mindfulness Trainings (5MTs) more fully into our lives, using them as practical guidance and spiritual friends on our intended path of living mindfully.
We offered 3 Living Mindfully Courses in 2024
Mindfulness for Neurodiversity
An adaptation of the Be Calm Be Happy (Art of Zen) course.
We offered 3 Mindfulness for Neurodiversity courses in 2024

8 The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024

When Be Calm Be Happy was first developed the original idea was to have 3 courses which become a pathway leading people from no/little experience of Plum Village practices into attending a Sangha and hopefully retreats on a regular basis. We feel these courses give a good grounding into PV practices and Thay’s teachings along with the Dharma Training Programme and retreats run by PVUK and PV itself.

In 2024 we offered additional seminars describing this pathway and giving information on all the courses. We support each of the courses through the facilitation team.

Future plans for 2025 and 2026

In 2025 we are planning to move back to offering more in-person courses, often as weekend residential or nonresidential retreats while continuing offering online courses.

In 2026 we are planning for some retreats to be held at the Being Peace Practice Centre as well as continuing to offer some regionally and on Zoom. We are also planning for some EDI training for Course Leaders in early 2026.

Being Peace Residential Practice Centre

Encouraged by the very welcome presence and involvement of Plum Village monastics on our journey in late 2023 and early 2024, we broadened our aims and we started looking for a property with the potential to accommodate 100 people plus camping, and with the capacity for development to include a permanent monastic presence in the future. We secured a significant level of donations in early 2024 and we launched a 6 month fundraising campaign in April 2024, together with a new website beingpeace.uk being launched.
At this time, we strengthened the Being Peace project team by appointing new Trustees and establishing a new Trustees' Being Peace sub-committee to guide the work of the project. We also appointed new project management to lead this more intensive phase of the project - Nick Kenrick was appointed as Project Director and Noah Walton as Project Manager.
The property search concluded when Abenhall, in the Forest of Dean, was identified as the most suitable available property, and was consulted on with the wider community. Almost 1,500 members of our community responded to a survey, giving Abenhall an average rating of 9.2 out of 10 with over 800 people giving it 10 out of 10 for overall suitability. This property would allow us to realise Thay’s vision and create a home for the whole of the UK Sangha.
Many individuals and local Sanghas organised fundraising events, coming together to practice, enjoy food together, share and raise funds for the Being Peace Practice Centre.
We also hosted a few special online events to support fundraising for the centre, which included: a Being Peace Sangha Special with Satish Kumar: Being Peace: Peace Within, Peace with people, Peace with nature on the 8th September, with Satish Kumar giving a talk in support of a Plum Village Practice Centre in the UK as well as a Together in Joy fundraising event on 13th October.
The major fundraising drive substantially increased funds available from donations, loans and legacies raised over the previous years. This was hugely successful.

The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024 9

Future plans for 2025 and 2026

The project delivery team, Trustees and the wider Community to work together to purchase and establish the Being Peace Practice Centre.
To open the Centre in Spring 2026
To work together to ensure the centre is a safe and welcoming space for all where we can practice together.

Local Sanghas – practice and training

What we do

Nationally we encourage and support the formation of local practice groups (Sanghas) by putting people in an area in touch with one another, offering public liability insurance to affiliated groups and by providing opportunities to benefit from the national Dharma teachers.
Local groups run a variety of regular practice evenings, days of mindfulness, study groups and retreats to provide opportunities to practise and learn about mindful living and Thây’s teachings.

How what we do provides public benefit

These activities provide the same public benefits as the National practice and training programme but on a local level making them as widely geographically accessible as possible.

Action taken in 2024

We maintained contact with Sanghas across the UK to understand how best to sustain their development.
We encouraged the development of new Sanghas drawing on the experience of members of established Sanghas to assist.
We supported and encouraged Sanghas to engage actively with fundraising efforts to make the vision for Being Peace Centre a reality

Future plans

Support Sangha facilitators with opportunities for development.
Continue to be open to opportunities to increase the number of Sanghas and to help them deepen the practice of people attending.
Continue to work to ensure that all our Sanghas and events are safe and inclusive spaces, including strengthening our approach to Safeguarding, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, by offering and signposting existing and new facilitators to relevant training.
Identify ways to attract more diverse Sangha members and ensure the Sanghas are a safe and welcoming space for all.
Working with regional OI Families, developing plans for supporting local sanghas in the regions - providing practical and facilitation support to newly established sanghas

10 The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024

Publications service

What we do

Provide a service selling books, CDs and DVDs of Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings and meditation bells.

How what we do provides public benefit

Our service is available from our website and at retreats and Dharma training events and is open to any member of the public. Profits from the service are used to fund the development of our national and local activities.

Action taken in 2024

We continued to provide the publications service. Feedback indicates how positively this service is viewed by members. We are able to recommend specific books based on people’s interests.
Our online shop flourished on the website and shared new book releases with members via our monthly newsletter. Almost all activity for the shop now takes place online, though opportunities to run a shop for participants at large retreats remains important.

Future plans for 2025-26

We plan to improve the way the online shop works on the website, developing our service and making it easier to find publications and to order them. We also intend to set up a shop at the Being Peace Centre.

Communications

What we do

Maintain a website and social media sites and feeds which provide information and inspiration about our practice and about opportunities to take part in retreats and training and to join like-minded people in local Sanghas.
Provide a facility for UK residents to subscribe to “Mindfulness Bell”, the international journal of the art of mindful living. “Mindfulness Bell” is an inspiration and teaching resource for those practising mindfulness in daily life. Each issue features a teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh.
Liaise with Plum Village, the monastery in France established by Thich Nhat Hanh.
Provide a monthly e-News (Here & Now). This is an email newsletter to the broadest subscribing list of friends and it provides updates from Plum Village, the UK community, and details of upcoming retreats and activity in the UK. It also includes short dharma teachings to inspire.
We aim to provide and share inspirational dharma teachings – this has been done in a regular way through our weekly e-News “Dharmabites” sent to our members and via social media.

How what we do benefits the public

Our communications programme supports and facilitates the achievement of our other activities and hence benefits the public as explained above.

The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024 11

Action taken in 2024

We continued to publish “Here and Now” to detail our programme of events each month.
We published weekly Dharmabites emails for subscribing members throughout 2024.
We launched, maintained and updated a dedicated website for the Being Peace Practice Centre: beingpeace.uk as well as social media channels
We established a dedicated mailing list for supporters of the Being Peace Practice Centre and published approx. 30 dedicated newsletters, including updates about the project progress, nourishing content and invitations to events.
We maintained membership using online direct debit, allowing us to build effective ad hoc communication with COI members. We regularly communicated with members about our events.
Grew communications Sangha with volunteers supporting with editing our online publications ‘Here&Now’ and ‘Dharmabites’
Developed a lively presence on the plumvillage.uk and beingpeace.uk blog and social media, promoting the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, our events, retreats and courses as well as updates from the projects.
Worked together with representatives from affinity groups and received feedback and comments on our content, in order to ensure that our communications are inclusive and accessible for diverse audiences

Future plans for 2025 and 2026

Grow the communications Sangha with additional volunteers who have a background in practice and specialist communication skills.
Understand how our community is reached and engaged online in ways that are most broadly and fully inclusive.
Continue to develop social media presences (including blog) and our newsletters to promote our charity and our major events in 2025/26.
Make it much easier for people to become members through the website.
Develop the website for the Being Peace Practice Centre to facilitate booking retreats and promoting events at the Centre.
Continue developing clear communication between Plum Village UK and the Being Peace Practice Centre websites
Launching a Plum Village UK podcast ‘Going as a River’
Continue to offer regional and local Sanghas the opportunity to affiliate to the COI through the website, ensuring they continue to benefit from being covered by our public liability insurance provision, support for Safeguarding and other charity policies, and benefit from being listed on the PVUK website which is resourced and maintained through our charity’s funds.

12 The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024

Technical systems

What we do

As our organisation grows we are using more IT systems, against a growing global background of hacking attempts. We manage all our systems, e.g. our web sites and their many components. We provide a secure workspace for many users and support them with any issues. We manage software licences for all our systems, e.g. Zoom. We manage other systems for event bookings and mailshots. We maintain up to date information for all Sanghas who wish to be listed on our website.

How what we do benefits the public

Our web site makes our offerings visible to the public who can engage with us in many ways:
book events in advance such as retreats
sign up for membership and newsletters
follow our major projects such as Being Peace
join in online practice such as Morning Meditations
order resources such as books, bells etc.
We are using a CRM system to be more aware of people's engagement with the charity.
By looking after data management and security, we protect the data of all members and donors

Actions taken in 2024

Supported many events both online and in-person, including transmission of the Five Mindfulness Trainings
Supported the monastic tour and the Stourbridge Retreat
Supported the multi-faith peace walk, several DTP retreats
Completed the transition from Eventbrite to Ticket Tailor
Added the search function to the inline shop
Improved the appearance of the events calender
Finished moving all Dharma Teachers to PVUK accounts
Made several improvements to website security
Improved secure access to membership list of OI
Moved financial data to shared Google workspace
We created a website for Being Peace
Supported an Art Auction and a Dharma dog show Project, via a contractor
We rationalised our Mailchimp audiences into one, via a contractor
Purchased a new Macbook for our Communications Manager
Subscriptions to MS Office and DocuSign for Being Peace Project
Found a new website contractor to replace previous one
Extended our free Google ads to cover beingpeace domain

Future plans for 2025 and 2026

Support of the Monastic Tour and Stirling Retreat
Assist with large London event on Friday 2 September 2025
Strengthen our interactions with OI families and Sangha Regions
Assist with setting up new systems for the Being Peace project
Create an IT training session for Trustees
Remove from the PVUK website: Donor records where the donor never donated Old recurring donations data after switch to Enthuse
Extend recent security improvements to all PVUK accounts
Automate some internal processes e.g. membership
Planned retirement of Philip Croton, replaced by Jake Hoban

The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024 13

Dana

What we do

The practice of dana or giving is a fundamental practice in Buddhism. The Community of Interbeing provides opportunities for people to give of their time and expertise and to give monetary donations. There are opportunities to support us in the UK and to contribute to international charities associated with Thich Nhat Hanh and Plum Village including the Thich Nhat Hanh UK Action Fund and the relief of poverty in Vietnam.

How what we do benefits the public

Our dana programme benefits the public both directly and indirectly. Direct benefits come through the alleviation of suffering and the teaching of programmes of mindful living. Indirect benefits come through the encouragement of responsible living and of the importance of charitable giving.

Action taken in 2024

Continued to offer a variety of opportunities for financial giving including joining the Community of Interbeing. We centred fundraising efforts on the creation of the Being Peace Practice Centre.
Enabled more use of the website to manage fundraising and payment across all our activities.
Continued to offer opportunities to volunteer to help the development of the Community of Interbeing. The Community directly benefits from the countless hours of selfless service provided by many members and supporters. Up to 100 people offer their time and skills lovingly to do many of the tasks needed in the organisation including looking after the cottage, organising retreats, managing our members, looking after our money and much more.

Future plans

Continue with our existing programmes and try to encourage more people to join and/or donate to and support the Community of Interbeing.
Develop our legacy programme to encourage members and supporters to provide us with funds for future project development.
Recruit more volunteers to help us mindfully support our initiatives including but not limited to:
Marketing support to help us get our message out there more clearly
The Art of Zen Course Leaders
Fundraising, financial and project support for the Residential Practice Centre
o Supporting our retreat organisation at all levels
Supporting Safeguarding
Supporting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

14 The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024

Engaged Action

What we do

Many of our community members are very active in offering mindfulness practice to others in an engaged way. Examples include activism in racial and social justice, climate action and Earth holding, prison chaplaincy, healthcare chaplaincy, and teaching in schools. Many community members are engaged in significant ways across many such areas.

How what we do benefits the public

The engaged action of our members benefits the public both directly and indirectly. Direct benefits come through the contact and support with chaplains, teachers, and activists, and the associated ability to live more mindfully and calmly. This indirectly benefits all around those who have benefited from this contact.

Action taken in 2024

Together with Quakers in Britain, a Multi-Faith Peace Walk in London was initiated and organised by Aspirant Dharma Teacher Rehena Harilall. The Silent Walking Meditation for Peace on 21 January 2024 was joined by more a thousand people. The event aimed at transcending religious and cultural boundaries and brought us together to call for peace amidst the rising challenges of hatred, anger, destruction, displacement, and suffering. The ‘Peace is Every Step’ Silent Walking Meditation was joined by representatives from eleven faiths who offered their prayers prior to starting the silent walk towards the Parliament Square.
Reverence for Life: Multi-Faith Event with Meditation, Reflection and Music (28 April): we come together to reflect how the ethics of our faiths support our engaged action and dedication to nonviolence, reconciliation, justice and peace.This Multi-faith dialogue with luminaries from Islam, Judaism, Christianity and Buddhism offers us an opportunity to explore how our practices and scriptures provide us with clarity, courage and resolve to engage in compassionate action for ceasefire, justice and peace for Palestine, Sudan, Ukraine, Syria, Myanmar, Israel, Russia and the 30 more countries currently at war or in armed conflict.
Walk with Me: Silent Walking Meditation for Peace (23 June, London): We were joined by six Monastics coming from Plum Village France to walk with us in silence, for remembrance, nonviolence and a just peace. In the face of escalating violence and loss of life in over 100 wars and armed conflicts worldwide (e.g Palestine, Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar among many others) we held this event, organised by Plum Village UK and Quakers in Britain to reflect our shared commitment to non-violence, reconciliation and a just peace, representing the spiritual and ethical values of all spiritual communities.
Together in Peace Meditations (Monday - Saturday, online) and Engaged Practice for Peace (bi-weekly) - we offer these regular practices online, coming together to practice guided meditation, deep looking and deep listening in order to generate the energy of compassion; for ourselves, each other, and all those suffering from the effects of war and climate change.
The outreach programme continued to be delivered in 2024 by Dharma teacher, Dene Donalds.
The programme reviewed the learnings and benefits of the Outreach programme to identify future possible initiatives.
We introduced the Earth Care Sangha (monthly gathering), Earth Care book club, blog posts articulating ways that we can act from a Buddhist perspective of being interwoven with the Earth to support and contribute to the response and transformation required by the increasing urgency of the climate crisis, and published a dedicated page on our website including resources for Caring for the Earth, in order to increase the presence and importance of responding to climate change and the environment in our community,

The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024 15

Charity Information

CURRENT TRUSTEES

Mr Philip Croton Dr Jonathan Edwards Dr Allison Fraser Mr Jake Hoban Ms Phuong Quach Mr Esteban Ruseler Ms Angela Searle

COMPANY SECRETARY

Ms Isabelle Wen

LEGAL STATUS

Registered Charity

No 1096680

Company Registration No 04623280

FURTHER INFORMATION

Website: www.plumvillage.uk

BANKERS

Bath Building Society, 15 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HN The Co-operative Bank, PO Box 250, Skelmersdale, WN8 6WT Ecology Building Society, 7 Belton Road, Keighley, West Yorkshire, BD20 0EE Monmouthshire Building Society, Monmouthshire House, John Frost Square, Newport, NP20 1PX Nationwide Building Society, Nationwide House, Pipers Way, Swindon, SN38 1NW Flagstone Group Ltd, 1st Floor, Clareville House, 26-27 Oxendon Street, London, SW1Y 4EL

AUDITOR

Alex Chandler ACA, Sygma Chartered Accountants, 1 Sopwith Crescent, Wickford, Essex, SS11 8YU

16 The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024

Annual Report of the Trustees of the Community of Interbeing UK for the year ended 31 December 2024

1 Factual Information

1.1 Structure

The Community of Interbeing UK is a company limited by guarantee (company number 04623280) and a registered charity (Charity number 1096680). The Charity also uses the working name “Plum Village UK”.

1.2 Objects

The Objects of the Community of Interbeing UK are:

a) To advance, support and encourage the study and practice of Buddhism and mindful living in accordance with the teachings of meditation master Thich Nhat Hanh, in the UK and overseas, in keeping with the Five Mindfulness Trainings.
b) To assist and encourage the formation and activities of regional and local groups having this common purpose.

1.3 Governance

The Charity is managed by a Committee of Trustees. The trustees are also the directors of the Charity for the purposes of the Companies Act. All trustees are required to be members of the Community of Interbeing UK who have taken the Five Mindfulness Trainings. Trustees are recruited on the basis of skills needs identified by the Board of Trustees. A variety of methods is used to identify suitable candidates. Trustees are elected by the members of the Charity at the Annual General Meeting. Each year one third of the Trustees retire by rotation. The Committee of Trustees has the power to co-opt members during the year but these members must stand for election at the next Annual General Meeting.

1.4 Management

The Committee of Trustees currently comprises 7 members and meets formally in person or via videoconference call several times a year. Members of the Committee individually or in small groups also act to take forward the Charity’s plans assisted by other volunteers. Trustee directors serving since the last annual report have been:

Ms Liz Beth (appointed 15 February 2020, elected 19 September 2020, resigned 6 December 2024) Mr Philip Croton (appointed 17 April 2020, elected 19 September 2020, re-elected 24 September 2022) Mr Miles Dunmore (appointed 10 May 2024, elected 5 October 2024, resigned 26 May 2025)

Dr Jonathan Edwards (Treasurer, appointed 6 January 2014, elected 24 May 2014, re-elected 23 September 2023) Dr Mary Allison Fraser (appointed 13 June 2025)

Ms Rehena Harilall (appointed 10 May 2024, elected 5 October 2024, resigned 1 November 2024) Ms Janet Hempsall (appointed 13 September 2024, elected 5 October 2024, resigned 16 May 2025) Mr Jachin Boaz Hoban (appointed 18 July 2025)

Mr Kevin Place (appointed 12 June 2020, elected 19 September 2020, resigned 26 April 2024) Ms Phuong Quach (appointed 10 May 2024, elected 5 October 2024)

Mr William Robinson (appointed 10 May 2024, elected 5 October 2024, resigned 24 May 2025) Mr Esteban Ruseler (appointed 10 May 2024, elected 5 October 2024)

Ms Angela Searle (appointed 30 August 2018, elected 29 September 2018, re-elected 5 October 2024)

The Company Secretary is Ms Isabelle Wen (appointed 5 April 2008).

2 Review of Activities

The review of activities is set out in the 2024 Annual Review of activities.

3 Financial Review

Total income for the year was £1,164,571 (2023 £314,405). 2024 was the first year in the history of the Charity where our income exceeded £1,000,000, so a full audit of the accounts and financial statements by a chartered accountant is required. Alex Chandler ACA of Sygma Chartered Accountants has been instructed by the Trustees to carry out the audit and his report appears on page 26 to 28.

Donations from members and supporters responding to our fundraising campaign to raise money for the purchase of a Practice Centre totalled more than £850,000 and account for the large increase in income over previous years.

The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024 17

Friendly loans received towards the purchase of a Practice Centre totalled just over £250,000 repayable over 5 or 10 years. These loans appear under “Creditors” on the Balance Sheet but are not included in the annual income. A significant number of donations for Plum Village France were also received during the year, and the Monastic Tour raised £25,656 for the Plum Village France construction fund and £19,694 for the Being Peace Practice Centre fund.

Total expenditure for the year was £385,946 (2023 £262,677). Fundraising, management, planning, legal and set up costs for the Practice Centre amounted to just over £136k, and donations totalling £55,656 were sent on to Plum Village France. Wages and Contractor costs accounted for 47.7% of the total expenditure; the Charity employed one member of staff during 2024 and purchased administrative and technical services from several contractors, see Note 12 for details. Much work is also undertaken for the Charity by volunteers who receive no payment other than reimbursement of expenses necessarily expended for their duties.

4 Risk Management

The major risks to which the Charity is exposed, as identified by the trustees, have been reviewed during the year and the trustees are satisfied that systems have been established to mitigate those risks. The trustees recognise their responsibility to maintain robust safeguarding arrangements across all activities. The charity’s child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures are regularly reviewed to ensure they remain appropriate and effective. During 2025, the trustees reported to the Charity Commission a safeguarding matter that arose in 2024 following further review. The matter remains under consideration, and the trustees have initiated additional training and policy reviews to strengthen governance and safeguarding practice going forward.

The Charity holds an insurance policy (“Buddhist Combined Charity Policy”) underwritten by Ecclesiastical Insurance. The policy includes public and employer's liability insurances, both up to £10M covering employees and volunteers, and accident cover for our volunteers. The insurance policy covers all of our events (including major retreats and walking events for example) and Trustee liability. Events organised by regional and local sanghas affiliated to the Community of Interbeing UK are covered by our Public Liability Insurance.

5 Format of Financial Statements

The report and accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

6 Trustees’ Responsibilities in relation to the Financial Statements

Legal regulations require the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the Charity’s financial activities for the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in business.

The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Approved by the Committee of Trustees and signed on their behalf by

Dr J Edwards Trustee and Director

28 October 2025

18 The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Notes From generated funds Donations 11 *Activities for generating funds* Merchandise sales Income from sale of Being Peace Co 6 Interest Educational events & publications 2 Other 12 Educational events & publications 3 Donations, bursaries and expenses 11 Administrative costs 4 Contractor costs 12 *Governance costs* 5 Net incoming/outgoing resources 11 Balance brought forward at 1 January Balance carried forward at 31 December INCOMING RESOURCES *Voluntary income:* Subscriptions *Investment income:* From charitable activities Total incoming resources EXPENDED RESOURCES *Costs of generating voluntary income* Net movement of funds RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Wages & associated costs Marketing & Communications *Cost of charitable activities* Total resources expended before transfers *Transfers*	Unrestricted Restricted Total Total funds funds 2024 2023 - - - 58,266 927,209 985,475 180,725 - - - - - - - - - 5,000 1,135 16,174 17,309 5,036 - - 116,437 45,350 161,787 123,644 - - - -
	175,838 988,733 1,164,571 314,405
	24,394 24,394 23,517 1,221 - 1,221 1,416 - - - - 71,443 - 71,443 90,840 24,006 75,061 99,067 131,558 29,275 - 29,275 14,852 42,419 117,265 159,684 862 - 862 493
	193,620 192,326 385,946 262,676
	(17,782) 796,407 778,625 51,728 - -
	(17,782) 796,407 778,625 51,728
	219,330 693,655 912,985 861,258
	201,548 £ 1,490,062 £ 1,691,610 £ 912,985 £

The Accounting Policies and the Notes on pages 20 to 25 form part of these Accounts.

The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024 19

BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER 2024

		Unrestricted	Restricted	Total	Total
	Notes	funds	funds
				2024	2023
TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS	6	-	-
CURRENT ASSETS
Stock of publications		3500	-	3,500 3,689	3,500 3,689
Debtors	7	25,542	101,710 127,252 106,386	101,710 127,252 106,386	101,710 127,252 106,386
Cash at bank and in hand		213,677 1,639,201 1,852,878 864,853	213,677 1,639,201 1,852,878 864,853	213,677 1,639,201 1,852,878 864,853	213,677 1,639,201 1,852,878 864,853
		242,719 1,740,911 1,983,630 974,928	242,719 1,740,911 1,983,630 974,928	242,719 1,740,911 1,983,630 974,928	242,719 1,740,911 1,983,630 974,928
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Amounts falling due within
one year	8a	41,171		41,171 61,943	41,171 61,943
NET CURRENT ASSETS		201,549 1,740,911 1,942,460 912,985	201,549 1,740,911 1,942,460 912,985	201,549 1,740,911 1,942,460 912,985	201,549 1,740,911 1,942,460 912,985
Creditors	8b		250,849 250,849	250,849 250,849
NET ASSETS		£201,549 £1,490,062 £1,691,611	£201,549 £1,490,062 £1,691,611	£201,549 £1,490,062 £1,691,611	£912,985
Represented by:
FUNDS
Unrestricted		£201,549 -	£201,549 -	£201,549	£219,330
Restricted	11	-1,490,062 1,490,062 693,655	1,490,062 1,490,062 693,655	1,490,062 1,490,062 693,655	1,490,062 1,490,062 693,655
TOTAL FUNDS		£201,549 £1,490,062 £1,691,611	£201,549 £1,490,062 £1,691,611	£201,549 £1,490,062 £1,691,611	£912,985

The Accounting Policies and the Notes on pages 20 to 25 form part of these Accounts

Approved by the trustees on 28 October 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

Dr J Edwards Trustee and Director The Community of Interbeing UK

20 The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024

1. Accounting Policies

(a) Basis of preparation

These financial statements have been drawn up under the historical cost convention. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) (as amended by Update Bulletin 2), applicable UK accounting standards, and the Companies Act 2006.

(b) Company status

The Charity is a company limited by guarantee. In the event of the Charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £10 per member.

(c) Fund accounting

The Charity has two types of funds, unrestricted, and restricted. The unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity. Restricted funds are funds that are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by the providers of the funds.

(d) Recognition of Income

Donations, and other forms of voluntary income are dealt with when the Charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Membership subscriptions are due on 1 January each year and are recognised as received. Sales of publications and income from retreats are dealt with on an accruals basis. Gift Aid receivable is included in the category of income to which it relates. No amounts are included in the financial statements for services donated by volunteers.

(e) Recognition of Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised when a liability is incurred. Expenditure on future retreats is deferred until the retreat takes place.

(f) Depreciation

No depreciation is provided on freehold premises since this would be immaterial having regard to the length of the useful economic life of the property. Depreciation of equipment is provided on cost at the rate of 25% per annum.

(g) Assets

Fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Stock of publications is stated at the lower of cost and realisable value. Debtors are stated at the amount expected to be recoverable.

2. Income from educational events and publications

2. Income from educational events and publications
Retreats, courses and Being Peace Cottage income Income from organising major retreat (i) Sale of publications & bells	2024 2023 90,138 72,407 54,029 38,820 17,068 12,417
	161,235 £ 123,644 £

(i) Reported as net income for 2023/4 and applied to restricted funds (2024 - £8679 unrestricted)

3. Expenditure on educational events and publications

Retreat, Courses (and Being Peace Cottage expenditure pre 24) Course leader fees, event coordinator, Dharma teacher dana & expenses Books, other publications & bells	2024 2023 55,270 79,569 42,419 16,173 11,271
	113,862 £ 90,840 £

Related distribution costs are included in the cost of books and other publications

The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024 21

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 (continued)

4. Admininstration costs

Bookkeeping and accountancy Insurance Website, Zoom and other IT costs IT Fees for processing donations (ii) Bank charges & other administrative costs Extraordinary costs (2024 Peace walk and film) Project cost salary (2024 PV UK IT support)	2024 2023 443 410 1,370 1,135 8,580 9,590 11,193 3,211 2,455 505 3,965 1,269 -
	29,275 £ 14,852 £

(ii) Donation income previously reported as net of fees. From 2023 reported as gross income and fees.

The Charity employed one member of staff during 2024, the employment costs are included under “Marketing and Communications” expenditure. Otherwise the work of the Charity is carried out by volunteers and by the purchase of services from a number of individuals. These expenses are included under expenditure on educational events and publications (Note 3) and administration costs (Note 4).

5. Governance

Room hire Independent examination and statutory costs Trustees' meeting travel expenses	2024 2023 - - 553 493 309 -
	862 £ 493 £

3 Trustees (2023: 0) received reimbursement of their travelling expenses totalling £309 (2023: £NIL) in relation to their role as Trustee Director.

6. Fixed assets As at 1 January Gain on Sale of Property (9th March 23) Disposals (sale of property) As at 31 December	2024 2023 Freehold Equipment Total Freehold Equipment Total premises premises £ £ £ £ £ £ - - - 300,000 - 300,000 - - - 5,000 - 5,000 - - - (305,000) - (305,000) - - - - - -

The freehold premises were occupied by the Charity as a retreat practice centre. During the year 2022 the property was put on the market for sale with an asking price of £300,000. An offer was accepted in July 2022 and the property was finally sold for the sum of £305,000 on 9[th] March 2023.

22 The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 (continued)

7. Debtors Gift Aid Other debtors Prepayments 8a. Liabilities: Amounts falling due within one year Loans Deposits received for Retreats Accruals 8b. Liabilites Friendly Loans Practice Centre (Abenhall) 5 year friendly loan 10 year friendly loan	2024 2023 118,960 104,664 8,292 1,722	2024 2023 118,960 104,664 8,292 1,722
	127,252 £ 106,386 £
		2024 2023 - - 14,539 56,677 26,631 5,266 41,170 £ 61,943 £ 60,000 190,849 250,849 £

9. Reserves adequacy

Much of the Unrestricted fund represents fixed and working assets required by the Charity to carry on its day to day work. The remainder of the Unrestricted fund comprises cash at bank. For the Charity to function successfully, it must maintain an adequate level of Unrestricted reserves that can be used to finance the Charity’s day to day operations and provide a precautionary reserve in case of fluctuations in the future level of income. The Trustees consider it appropriate that the level of precautionary reserve should be of the order of twelve months’ expected future expenditure plus an allowance for property maintenance. At 31 December 2024, the Charity’s bank balances were in excess of £50,000 above this level. The Trustees are satisfied that this situation is satisfactory having regard to the expected pattern of expenditure over the next few years especially the set up costs of future major events and the acquisition of new practice centres.

The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024 23

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 (continued)

10. Statutory and general information

This note contains information required to comply with statutory and technical accounting pronouncements:

(i) In relation to the statement of financial activities

None of the Charity’s activities was acquired or discontinued during the current or previous years. Accordingly all of the Charity’s results relate to continuing operations.

As the Charity is a company limited by guarantee, it is required to present an income and expenditure account in its financial statements. The Charity’s Statement of Financial Activities includes all matters that would require inclusion in an income and expenditure account and hence no separate income and expenditure account is presented.

Because the Charity has no gains and losses not disclosed in the Statement of Financial Activities, a statement of total recognised gains and losses for the year has not been presented as this would be the same as the Statement of Financial Activities.

No taxation is payable as the Society is a registered Charity and accordingly is entitled to exemption from taxation on its charitable activities.

(ii) Balance sheet

There are no pension or other contingencies at 31 December 2024 and 2023.

24 The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 (continued)

11. Donations and Subscriptions

Restricted Funds

Balance at 01 January 2024 Donations received 2024 Other income (Monastic Tour 2024) Interest Applied during the year Transfer Balance at 31 December 2024 Comprising Debtors (GiftAid) Creditors Cash	UK Action Fund for PV Vietnam Dana Practice Centre Fund Wake Up Fund Total £ £ £ £ £ 59,210 17,972 597,993 18,480 693,655 68,929 4,943 853,338 - 927,209 25,656 - 19,694 - 45,350 - - 16,174 - 16,174
	153,795 22,915 1,487,198 18,480 1,682,388 (55,656) (136,670) (192,326) - - - -
	£98,139 £22,915 £1,350,528 £18,480 £1,490,062
	37,870 3,940 59,900 - 101,710 - - - - - 60,269 18,975 1,290,628 18,480 1,388,352
	£98,139 £22,915 £1,350,528 £18,480 £1,490,062

During the year, the "Practice Centre" restricted fund drew down £250,849 of "friendly loans" at 0% to purchase a practice centre in 2025. These loans are shown on the balance sheet but not in "cash £60,000 of these loans (from 3 people) are to be repaid within 5 years (31/12/29) and £190,849 (fro 6 people) are to be repaid within 10 years (31/12/34). The loans are from members of the COI, are and will be repaid from the Practice Centre restricted funds income at the end of their term.

Prior year comparison:

Balance at 01 January 2023 Donations received 2023 Other income (Monastic Tour 2023) Interest Applied during the year Transfer Balance at 31 December 2023 Comprising Debtors (GiftAid) Creditors Cash	UK Action Fund for PV Vietnam Dana Practice Centre Fund Wake Up Fund Total £ £ £ £ £ 84,568 14,227 232,264 18,480 349,539 40,352 3,745 81,515 - 125,613 20,658 - 18,162 - 38,820 - - 3,582 - 3,582
	145,578 17,972 335,523 18,480 517,553 (86,368) (44,836) (131,204) - - 307,306 - 307,306
	£59,210 £17,972 £597,993 £18,480 £693,655
	37,800 3,064 47,900 - 88,764 - - - - - 21,410 14,908 550,093 18,480 604,891
	£59,210 £17,972 £597,993 £18,480 £693,655

The Community of Interbeing UK Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024 25

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 (continued)

The UK Action Fund for Plum Village (PV) comprises donations given to support the monastic community in Plum Village, France and the European Institute of Applied Buddhism (EIAB) in Germany.

The Vietnam Dana Fund comprises donations given to support Plum Village’s “Humanitarian Relief” programme which offers material and spiritual support to hundreds of communities in the poorest areas of Vietnam where education, development, social services and relief work are in great need to ensure healthy and happy lives for all.

The donations received are paid to Plum Village to be spent in Vietnam in the way Plum Village considers best to meet current needs.

The Practice Centre Fund collects donations to finance the acquisition of practice centres for the UK Sangha.

The Wake Up Fund is for donations to support Wake Up, which promotes Thây’s teachings for young people.

12. Wages and Contractor Costs

Reported separately from expenses starting from 2024

Restricted			2024
Contractor Costs
Being Peace Contractor Costs		£107,673.00
Abenhall appraisal contractors and associated expenses			£9,592.00
Total Restricted Contractor costs		£	117,265
Unrestricted			2024
Wages & Associated costs
Salary	£17,776.00
Pension	£995.00
NI	£2,473.00
Office	£2,718.00
Payroll admin	£432.00
Total Wages & Associated Costs			£24,394.00
Contractor Costs
Event Coordinator	£11,280.00
Dharma Teacher (and trainee) dana (gifts) and	expen £4,359.00
AOZ Course leader fees	£21,870.00
AOZ Course Coordinator	£4,256.00
Book Service Commission	£654.00
Total Contractor Costs			£42,419.00
Total Unrestricted Wages & Contractor Costs		£	66,813

Thè Community of lrterbeing UK Annual Repjrtand Finanoal Slalemenis 2024 Report of the Independent Audltors to the Trustees of The Communlty of Interbeing UK Opinion We have audited the financial statements of Thecommunity of Interbeing UK {the'charitable company,) for the year ended 31 December 2024 which comprise the Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Notes to the Financial Statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that ha5 been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Acwunting Standards, including Flnancial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, Iunwted Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). In our opinion the financial ststements- give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 December 2024 and of its profit for the year then ended; have been properly prepared in accordano with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. and have been prepared in accordan with the Chorities SORP {FRS 102), United Kingdom Generolly AcceptedAccounting Proctice. and the Compt7niesAct 2006 and the Chorities Act2011, Basls for opinion We conducted our audit in accordante with International Standards on Auditin8 IUKI {ISAs IUK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those Standards a further described in the Auditors, responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC'S Ethical Standard. and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basi5 for our opinion. Concluslons relatlng to going concern In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees. use of the going conrn basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may rd5t significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial Statements are authorlsed for issue. Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. Other Informatlon The Trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information in the Report of the Trustees, but does not include the financial statements and our Report of the Audrtors thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not coverthe other information and, exceptto the extent otherwise explicitty stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. In connection with our audlt of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we Identify such material inconsistencie5 or apparent material misstatements. we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a rnaterial misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there 15 a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

The Comrnunity of lrtetbeh¥J UK Anrtual Report and Financial Sta1ents 2x124 27 Oplnlons on other matters prescrlbed by the Companies Art 21X)6 and the Charltles Act 2011 In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: the information 8iven in the Report of the Trustees for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and the Report of the Trustees has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. Matters on which we are requlred to report by exception In the light of the knowledge and understanding ofthe charitable company and its enwronment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Report of the Trustees. We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Att 2006 and the Charities Act 2011 requires US to report to you if, in our opinion- adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branthes not visited by us: or the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or certain disclosures of Trustees. remuneration specified by law are not made.- or we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit,, or the Trustees were not entitled to prepare the finanaal statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage ofthe small companies, exemption from the requirement to prepare a Strategic Report or in preparing the Report of the Trustees. Responsibilities of Trustees A5 explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees, Responsibilities, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such Internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material mlsstatement. whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable companws ability to continue as a going contern. disclosin& as applicable, matters related to going concern and u5in8 the going concern basis of accounting unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation. Auditors, responsibilities for the audit of the finandal statements Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a Report of the Auditors that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a hi8h level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISA5 (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. The extent to which our pradureS are capable of detecting irregularities. includin8 fraud is detailed below: The extent to whlch our procedures are capable of detecting irregularitie5, including fraud Based on our understandin8 of the charitable company and its environment, we identified the principal laws and regulations that dirertly affect the preparation of the financial statements as those relating to the reporting framework (including the Charities SORP IFRS 102) and the Companies Act 2LN)6), the Charities Act 2011, taxation. and employment law. We assessed the extent of compliance with these laws and regulations as part of our audlt protedures.

28 The Community ol Int•being UK Annual Reand FiTrancBI Stat¢nwts 2024 We also considered those laws and regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial statements but compliance wlth which may be fundamental to the charitable CoMpanS ability to continue its artivities or to avoid material penalties. We assessed the su5ptIbl4ity of the charitable compan*s financial statements to material misstatement, Includlng how fraud might occur. and held discussions among the auditteam reEarding where fraud might arise. Audit procedures perfornied included inquiries of management and trustees, analytical revlew. and substantive testing of transactions and balance Our audit procedures were designed to respond to risks of material misstatement in the financial Statements, whether arisinE from fraud or error. However, our audit should not be relied upon to identify all irregularities that may exist. A further description of cur responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at wv.frc.org.Uk/3ud1torsreSponsIb1jItIe5. This description forms part of our Report of the Auditors. Use of our report This report is made solely to the charitable companrfstrustees, a5 a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Art 2(K16. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we rnight state to the charitable companvs trustees those matters we are required to State to them in an 3uditorfs report and for no other purpose, as a body. in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and the Charitie5 Act 2011. Ouraudit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in a Report of the Auditor5 and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law. we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company'5 members as a body, for our audit work for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. andler ACA Sy8ma Chartered Accountants I Sopwith Crescent Wickford Essex Ssll 8YU Date.. 28 October 2025