## **SATIPANYA BUDDHIST TRUST TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 December 2025**
The trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act, present their annual report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. The Trustees confirm that the annual report and financial statements of the Charity comply with current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charity's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) 2015 “Accounting and Reporting by Charities”.
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
## **Trustees**
James Edward Tibby (Chair) Richard Benjamin (Treasurer) Noirin Sheahan (Secretary), Michael Thomas Vincent Regan Gwen Sanderson
## **Trust Secretary**
Noirin Sheahan
## **Company Registered Number:** 05924965
## **Charity Registered Number:** 1116668
## **Registered Office**
Satipanya, White Gritt, Minsterley, Shropshire, SY5 0JN
## **Solicitors**
Wace Morgan , 2 Belmont , Shrewsbury , SY1 1TD
## **Bankers**
## **HSBC**
42 Courtenay Street , Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 2EB
## **Co-Operative Bank**
Delf House, Skelmersdale, MN8 6WT
## **Unity Trust Bank**
4 Brindley Pl, Birmingham , B1 2JB
**SATIPANYA BUDDHIST TRUST Trustees Report (Continued)**
## **STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE**
## **Constitution and Governing Document**
The charity is a charitable company limited by guarantee and was established on 5 September 2006, as a successor to an unincorporated trust of the same name. It is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. These have not been amended since incorporation. Legal responsibility for the management and stewardship of the Charity is vested in the board of trustees.
## **Organisational structure and decision making**
As set out in the Articles of Association, one-third of the directors/trustees are subject to retirement by rotation on an annual basis. The maximum number of trustees is 5 (of whom up to 2 may be co-opted) at any one point in time. There are currently 5 trustees.
The board of trustees, which meets at least once a year and also holds meetings by electronic communication _,_ administers the charity. Regular administrative and compliance matters are carried out by the Trust Secretary in consultation with the trustees.
## **Method of appointment or election of trustees**
Trustees are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Memorandum and Articles of Association.
## **Induction and training of new trustees**
As part of their induction programme, all new trustees are required to read and be familiar with a number of key documents, including: the company's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the financial statements for prior years, the minutes of board meetings and Annual General Meetings. They are also provided with information relating to their duties as trustees and encouraged to make full use of the relevant publications on the Charity Commission website.
## **Relationship with other organisations**
The charity is not closely associated with any other organisations. Occasionally it may liaise with similar organisations, for example in arranging venues for meditation classes.
## **Risk management**
The Trustees have established procedures to minimise risks in the areas including Fire Safety, Food Hygiene Safety, Water Safety, Electrical Safety, Financial Safety (including the establishment of a reserve fund) & Psychological Safety (including a policy on Safeguarding). As a small enterprise with no staff we are not legally obliged to have a written Health and Safety policy. However, in view of the Charites Commission recommendation that such a policy be written and formally adopted, we have developed a Health and Safety Policy statement along with detailed risk assessments, adopted at the 2023 AGM.
## **Related Party Transactions**
The Trust does not make any payments to Managers and thus has no related party transactions.
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Objectives of the Charity as set out in its Governing Document**
The principal objectives of the Charity are to advance Buddhism by:
- Teaching the practice of Insight Meditation (Vipassana Bhavana) as taught by the Mahasi Tradition of Burma and the Buddhadhamma (the teachings of Buddha);
- Providing teacher training in Insight Meditation within the Mahasi Tradition; and
- Furthering the Buddhadhamma and Insight Meditation.
## **Review of activities**
## _**Residential Courses:**_
Summer and autumn retreats (April – December) were all offered as residential courses, and also the wintertime course in January.
## _**On-Line Teachings and Support:**_
In parallel with the residential courses, Noirin’s Daily Life Study-Practice courses were offered in Spring and Autumn while the On-line Meditation Hall, the Satipanya Spiritual Companions and the London and South-East Satipanya Sangha all continued, thereby offering meditation and teaching / Sangha support for people in their ordinary daily lives. All programs continued to be well supported.
Bhante Bodhidhamma continued to offer the Wintertime “Practice in Ordinary Daily Life” (PODL) course which runs during January, February and March. Each month starts with a Day Retreat which includes a discussion in the late afternoon on how to take the practice into ordinary daily life. Retreatants then email Bhante with their commitments. The following Sunday there is a meeting for meditation practice which follows with an opportunity to share experiences.
Gwen Sanderson continued facilitating monthly on-line Zoom meetings “Satipanya Climate and Crisis Conversations” to provide meditative discussion on climate-change and how this is impacting on people’s lives.
Nóirín continued supporting the on-line forum based around the ‘Six Maxims’ – practices that have been suggested as ethical training to prepare for the challenges that will be presented if and when social structures collapse under pressure from climate change.
Nóirín continued with her twice yearly teaching programme, where participants study Dhamma notes and follow the suggested practices for meditation and daily life before reporting their reflections and observations to a Forum on the Satipanya website.
Following from the above, Nóirín had collected the notes and exercises from courses over the past several years, and these have been collated for publication online and in paperback as a new Satipanya Publication. The book, published in March 2025, is titled: “Sharing the Path” and addresses the first three sections of the Satipatthana Sutta which explore mindfulness of body, feelings, and mind. As well as Nóirín’s notes, the book includes reflections from students who participated in the courses and posted comments on the Forum. The notes and reflections pertaining to the final section of the Satipatthana Sutta, Mindfulness of Dhamma, are now being prepared for publication as Part 2 of this series.
The Trust has a website, www.satipanya.org, which sets out full details of the Trust's work. The website also provides the public with access to Buddhist teachings, including essays, recommended further reading and audio files that can be downloaded free of charge.
A monthly newsletter is also published. This is sent to the Trust's supporters and is also available on the website.
## **Public Benefit**
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.
The spiritual and psychological benefits of meditation are well-established. Regular meditation is recommended to help manage conditions such as depression, bereavement and relationship difficulties as well as illnesses such as chronic pain. Meditation adds joy to life and helps prevent burn-out and other psychological problems. All our retreats (both residential and on-line) are open to all adult members of the public. Thus Satipanya provides much benefit to the public.
For residential retreats, a small deposit of £20 a day to cover daily running costs is taken, and participants are given the opportunity to offer donations ( _dana_ ) at the end of the retreat. Online courses are given entirely on a donation basis.
The Trust's website includes video and audio files, which are available for free downloading, and printed essays on a range of Buddhist related subjects.
## **Volunteers**
The charity is very grateful for the contribution made by its volunteers, who assist in a wide variety of areas including office and administrative work, maintaining and updating the Satipanya website, together with maintenance work, gardening, and cooking at Satipanya Buddhist Retreat.
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE**
## **Review of Performance against Objectives**
In last year’s Trustee Report the Trustees identified the main objectives for 2025
**Objective:** _**Progress to date:**_ • To look for a property in Shrewsbury to allow Bhante to retire _31 Tilbrook Drive was_ from his very active leadership of Satipanya, and to act as a p _urchased on Full Moon Day_ Vihara for a local group. Legal and other costs borne by Bhante. _Thurs 10 July 2025. Subsequent plumbing, electrical and building works undertaken._ • To continue furnishing / preparation of 44 Corporation St, so _Shower, water heater installed._ as to make it available as for personal retreats _. Personal retreat bookings opened in June 2025. House named “Sativasa”. Application for non-domestic rate valuation made to Council._ • To continue to explore the appointment of managers to ensure _Tomas Remiarz acted as_ Satipanya will continue to function as Noirin plans to follow _Property Manager, and_ Bhante into retirement in 2028 _. job description developed for a Household Manager._ • To complete the upgrade of the Internet. _Carl installed a state of the art Network system, including wiring upgrade from to 10mps._ • To expand our ‘Visiting Teacher’ program as we move _Hui Hui Ng taught for_ closer towards Bhante Bodhidhamma’s and Noirin’s 8 _weeks, Ven Vajiranani, ,_ retirements. _Ven Obhassa and Pierre Gallaz taught for a fortnight each, while Mark Arthur taught his first week-long course._ • To approach potential new teachers regarding future teaching _Bhante secured commitments_ at Satipanya. _to teach from Hannes Huber and Tisara, while Guus agreed to teach a second fortnight._ • To add a week to the 24-week spring / summer course and _Courses commenced_ continue the 8-week autumn program as well as the weekend _end March and ran till_ course. _early December._ • To continue the fortnight course in winter to facilitate _The course was offered_ gardeners etc who have little work at this time of year. _by Bhante Bodhidhamma in January._ • To publish Noirin’s book: “Sharing the Path, Part 1”. _Book published in March 2025._
• To continue to develop the grounds and garden for beauty _The pond hosted_ n _ewts, frogs,_ and biodiversity. _moorhen_ s _& reed warblers, while meadow hosted 100s of red tail bees including autumn queen._
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
## **Review of financial position**
The Trust is well supported in its tasks by the generosity of its many friends and supporters, with total income from donations (together with Gift Aid claimed) deposits and grants for the year ended 31 December 2025 of £122,579
The generosity of friends and supporters has enabled the Trust’s provision, enhancement and maintenance of the facilities at Satipanya Buddhist Retreat. There has a been a growing number of people making regular donations mainly on PayPal.
## **Reserves Policy**
As stated in previous years, a formal reserves policy has been established by the trustees. This is reviewed annually (and more often should significant changes in circumstances arise). In accordance with the reserves policy, contingency funds not committed to tangible fixed assets should be sufficient to cover ongoing expenditure for a period of six months together with an estimate of the legal and professional fees that would be incurred should the need to sell the Trust's property ever arise. At the 2021 AGM our accountant advised that this be increased from £15,000 to to £30,000, which was agreed by all Trustees. As at 31 December 2024, contingency reserves (i.e. excluding those funds designated or committed to fixed assets) stood at £30,000. Full details of the charity's reserves are provided in note 5 to the financial statements.
## **Investment policy**
Under the Memorandum and Articles of Association the charity has the power to make any investments which the trustees see fit. In 2024, the trustees considered the most appropriate use of our savings was to purchase a house in Bishop’s Castle as accommodation for a manager when Noirin retires and to facilitate local group meetings. In the interim the house is being used for personal retreats. In 2025 a small bungalow was purchased in Shrewsbury, to facilitate Bhante Bodhidhamma’s retirement as well as provide a vihara for local group meditation meetings. Remaining savings are presently invested in short term cash deposits.
## **PLANS FOR THE FUTURE**
The trustees have identified the following objective for the year to come:
- To appoint, house and start training a Manager to replace Noirin.
- To sell Sativasa (44 Corporation St, Bishops Castle) in order to finance the purchase of Poplar Cottage adjacent to Satipanya, where the new Manager will take up residence.
- To continue to develop 31 Tilbrook Drive to facilitate Bhante Bodhidhamma’s retirement as well as provide a meeting place for a local group.
- To continue to expand our ‘Visiting Teacher’ program as we move closer towards Bhante Bodhidhamma’s and Noirin’s retirements.
- To continue with the residential retreat program: 25-week spring / summer, 8-week +weekend autumn. These provide participants with the opportunity to deepen their meditation practice, to develop calmness and to improve their well-being in a peaceful rural setting.
- To continue the on-line support for practice: Wintertime PODL course, bi-annual Daily Life courses, Climate Conversation Meetings, Six Maxim Forum, On-line Meditation Hall, Monthly Spiritual Companions meetings, Online Study Program and Full Moon Celebrations.
- To commence work towards publishing “Sharing the Path Part 2” the collection of notes and exercises from for final section of Noirin’s online courses on the Satipatthana Sutta.
## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES**
Company and Charity law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial period which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of its financial activities for that period. 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 have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts; and
- Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis, unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees have overall responsibility for ensuring that the company has appropriate systems of control - financial or otherwise. They are also responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose, with reasonable accuracy at any time, the financial position of the Charity and which enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 1985. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud or other irregularities.
Audit Exemption
The company qu8Jifies as a small company as defined in S477 Companies Act 2006. The directors
have taken advantage of the total exemption from an audit provisions in S477 (1) of the Act (as it
applies to registered charities).
Approval and Signature
This report was approved by the Satipanya Buddhist Tnt Board of Directors and Trustees and signed
on their behalf by James Edward Tibby (Chair)
Signed:
James Edward Thbby
Chair of the Satipanya Buddhist Trust
Date". J*o3-2026
**SATIPANYA BUDDHIST TRUST**
**Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Satipanya Buddhist Trust**
**The Satipanya Buddhist Trust Satipanya, White Grit Minsterley Shrewsbury Shropshire SY5 0JN**
**Company No. 05924965 Charity 1116668**
**Accounts for the year ended 31st December 2025**
The Satlpanrd auddhtst Tn
DIRECTORS REPORT
Y••r Ended 31st Detember2025
UL
NWnSh•4h•n IS•crmi.
221312
S*lpanya Buddhlst Tnist
at 3tst Dttember 2025
3$721
4177
150279
5gU4
1551%
IX7799
I794
122B799
Tot•llw
1315255
1251795
## **The Satipanya Buddhist Trust**
## **Notes to the accounts Year Ended 31st December 2025**
## **1 Accounting Policies**
## **Basis of the preparation of the accounts**
These financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities, Statement of Rceommended Practice(SORP revised 2005), and applicable accounting standards.
## **Incoming resources**
All incoming resources are recognised when the charity is legally entiltled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
Income is deferred only when the charity has to fulfil conditions before becoming entitled to it or where the donor has specified that income is to be expended in a future period.
## **Resources expended**
These have been analysed using both activity and natural classifications.
## **Depreciation**
Depreciation is calculated to write down the cost or valuation, less estimated residual value of all tangible fixed assets over their expected useful lives on a straight line basis.
The rates applicable are:
Land and buildings 1% Fixtures, Fittings & Equipment 20% Bishop's Castle House 0%
## **2 Tangible Fixed Assets**
|Cost
At 1st January 2025
Additions/disposals
At 31st December 2025
Depreciation
At 1st January 2025
Charge for the year
At 31st December 2025
Net Book Value
At 1st January 2025
At 31st December 2025|**Total**
861142
290000
220000
80172
1451314
**Land &**
**Buildings**
**Bishop's**
**Castle House**
**Shrewsbury**
**House**
**Fixtures,**
**Fittings &**
**Equipment**|
|---|---|
||861142
290000
220000
80172
1451314
117420
80172
197592
8611
8611|
||126031
80172
206203
743722
290000
1033722|
||735111
290000
220000
1245111|
**3 Net incoming/outgoing resources for the year** This is stated after charging: Depreciation
**2025 2024 Total Total** 8611 5606
## **The Satipanya Buddhist Trust**
## **Notes to the accounts Year Ended 31st December 2025**
## **4 Taxation**
The Charity is exempt from Corporation Tax on its charitable activities.
## **5 Movements in funds**
|Unrestricted Funds
General Fund
Reserve Fund
Restricted Funds|**Balance**
**Transfers**
**Balance**
**01.01.2025**
**Incoming**
**Outgoing**
**31.12.2025**
1228799
121246
(56373)
(8416)
1285255
30000
30000
**Movements in year**|
|---|---|
||1258799
121246
(56373)
(8416)
1315255
0
1333
(9749)
8416
0|
|||
||1258799
121246
(46624)
1315255|
## **The Satipanya Buddhist Trust Statement of Financial Activities(incorporating an Income and Expenditure Account) Natural Classification Year Ended 31st December 2025**
|**Receipts**
**Deposits for courses**
**Donations - Gift Aid**
**Donations Non Gift Aid**
**Gift Aid Income from HMRC**
**Grants**
**Interest Earned**
**Other Income and RHI**
**Total Receipts**
**Expenditure**
**Accountancy**
**Bank Charges**
**Electricity**
**Expenses**
**Food**
**Food delivery cost**
**Garden Maintenance**
**Improvements**
**Insurance**
**Maintenance - building**
**Maintenance - interior**
**Maintenance - interior:Furniture**
**Office costs**
**Paypal Fees**
**Professional Fees**
**Visiting Teacher Donations/Expenses**
**Rates**
**Sewage**
**Subscriptions**
**Sundry**
**Telephone and internet**
**Travel and fuel**
**Vehicle**
**Depreciation**
**Total Expenditure**
**Net Income**
**Transfers to/from**
**Brought Forward**
**Carried Forward**|**Unrestricted**|**Town Viharas**|**Town Viharas**|**Total Funds**|**Total Funds**
**2024**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**Sativasa**|**Shrewsbury**|||
||**£**
35720
31890
43470
3430
2500
2548
1688|**£**|**£**|**£**
35720
31890
43470
3430
2500
2548
3021|**£**
32430
31094
54781
9324
8035
906|
|||||||
||||1333|||
||**121246**
216
12626
871
9444
96
2407
2475
1034
1983
471
1603
1601
1396
5998
1471
312
125
578
931
275
1849
8611|442
171
2492
4
3889|**1333**
335
1422
182
812|**122579**
216
13069
871
9444
96
2407
171
2810
3526
3406
471
1603
1601
1582
5998
6172
312
125
578
931
275
1849
8611|**136571**
1080
241
12265
452
7476
96
2125
159
1921
2568
1858
4117
62
2034
4499
2252
823
230
125
1532
841
235
1342
5606|
||**56373**
64873
(8416)
1258799|**6998**
(6998)
3921|**2751**
(1418)
4495
0|**66122**
56457
1258799|**53941**
82631
1176168|
||**1315257**||**3077**|**1315255**|**1258799**|
Independent examinerfs report to the tntstees of Satlpanya Buddhist Trust
Charity Number 1116668
I report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 December 2025
Respertlve responsibifrties of trtee5 aThl examlner
The trustees (who are also the dirertors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible
for the preparation of the accwnts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under
section Charities Act 2011 and that an independent examination is needed.
Having satisfied melf that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for
independent examination. it is my responsibility to:
examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
to follow the prOdureS laid down in the general Directi$ given by the Charity CIKnmission
under section 145{51{bl of the 2011 Act: and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attentlon.
Basis of independent examlnerfs report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission.
An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a compari50n of the
accounts presented with those records. It also indudes consideration of any unusual items or disdosures in
the accounts. and seeking explanations from you as trustees concernin8 any suth matters. The procedures
undertaken do not provide all the eviden that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion
is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair Vie and the report is limited to those matters
set out in the statement below.
Independent examlnerfs statement
In connettion with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(11 which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
to keep accounting record5 in accordan with section 386 of the Companies Act 21x16: and
to prepare accounts whith accord with the accounting reCd$, comply with the accountin8
requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 21x16 and with the methods and principles
of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities
have not been met: or
{2) to whid), in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understsnding of the
accounts to be reached.
John Higson BSC
Oak Ridge. Edgton
Craven Arms
Shropshire
SY7 8HW
Date: