## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From 1 August 2023 Period start date To 31 July 2024 Period end date** ## **Charity name:Santi Vanaram Buddhist association.** ## **Charity registration number:1125174** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|**1.**
**To foster and support the**
**observance of the Buddhist Faith**
**within the community**
**contributing to the spiritual**
**wellbeing through daily services,**
**Public celebration of religious**
**festivals, and providing**
**educational presentations and**
**lecture.**
**2.**
**To encourage and embrace the**
**values of our diverse society by**
**raising awareness and**
**understanding through interfaith**
**group membership and**
**involvement to promote**
**harmonious relationships**
**between different racial and**
**ethnic groups within our**
**community.**
**3.**
**To foster and maintain links with**
**Buddhist organisations nationally**
**and internationally.**| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|**The monks have provided daily morning**
**and the evening services that are open**
**to all.**
**Attendees whilst predominantly from the**
**Thai communities from Kent and East**
**Sussex and London include people from**
**Bangladesh India, Lao, Burma and the**
**UK. The monks led by the Abbot Phra**
**Boonsee kongjok have been available**
**outside of the daily services to receive**
**visitors for spiritual guidance, teaching**
**the Dhamma and visiting people’s**
**homes for blessings.**
**The temple is a member of the IPAG**
**Focus Group which is a Kent Police**| **Force advisory group for diversity and inclusion. The temple was asked to deliver a presentation at Park Way Primary schools on Buddhism as part of the school curriculum on different faiths. As always, the Buddhist calendar was adhered to with Vassa in August, a period of retreat and reflection for the monks during the rainy season, This lasts for a three – month period. The amazing Thailand festival, was celebrating in August held in Maidstone, supported by the lockmedow Entertainment Centre, Thai orchid restaurants Maidstone, and Maidstone Borough Council. At the end of the Vassa, a kathina ceremony was held to offer the monks new robes and another personal items, and it a change of the monks and Buddhism to make merit, the kathina only celebrated one a year. I November the Loykratong festival of Light was held at the temple and support the festival by Thai orchid r maid and on the Medway River. December 31[st] New year eve. the temple held a new year blessings prayer and the member of the temple observed the precepts and practice Dhamma. April is the Thai new year, another name was Songkran. The Songkran festival is celebrated at the temple where water is important, and respect is paid for the monks and to the elders by pouring water over their hands. Songkran was further celebrated with the community. The year ended in July with a candle ceremony and a river festival, the candle represents the light of wisdom and illuminating the darkness of the ignorance, the river festival celebrated in Maidstone Town, held by the Maidstone Borough Council. Opportunity is taken at all these ceremonies and festivals to raise money for the temple and its day to day running** |||**expenses.**
**There is no access to public monies, all**
**money is entirely from voluntary**
**donations.**
**The temple exists by the hard work and**
**dedication from its members and**
**supporters and the volunteers who work**
**tirelessly to support it for which we are**
**forever grateful.**
**After the monks have been offered their**
**food each day, any remaining food is**
**eaten by the members and volunteers,**
**some of whom take it home to feed their**
**families, without which they would**
**struggle in these challenges times.**
**Outside of the Vassa three – months**
**period, Monk are allowed to travel and**
**have at other temples and supported**
**them during the year and necessary.**
**This is a reciprocal act.**| |---|---|---| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|**We confirm that the Trustees have had**
**regard to the guidance issued by the**
**Charity Commission on public benefits.**| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: ||
SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|**There is no specific policy in place**
**regarding access to grants.**
**No application has been made to date.**| |Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|**No policy on social involvement.**| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|**None of the year’s programme would be**
**at all times po without the volunteers**
**support. The monks rely entirely on**
**volunteers to offer food to them daily**
**and to provide any transport where**
**necessary.**
**The temple only exists in the hard work**
**and dedication from its members and**
**supporters and the volunteers who work**
**tirelessly to support it for which we are**
**forever grateful.**| Other ## **Achievements and Performance** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|**The year was entirely successful with**
**more people attending the temple and**
**the various events.**
**There appears to be a growing interest**
**in Buddhism and its way of life amongst**
**the general public.**
**The Abbot Phra Boonsee kongjok and**
**another monks have been available**
**outside of the daily services to receive**
**visitors for spiritual guidance, teaching**
**the Dhamma and visiting people’s**
**homes for blessings.**
**It is difficult to quantify inner peace but**
**the sheer joy on people face says it all.**
**The temple achieves both peace and**
**calm and laughter where necessary.**
**Peoplewho come to the temple enjoy**
**the opportunity to meditate with the**
**monks guidance.**| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Achievements against
objectives set|
Para 1.41|
**Objectives are not set and measured**
**specifically.**| |---|---|---| |Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|**All funds are raised entirely by the**
**endeavours of the hard-working volunteers**
**both at the temple and at festivals held**
**elsewhere. All money raised goes straight to**
**the day-to-day operation of the temple and**
**its events**| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|| |Other||| ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**||| |---|---|---| |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|**The year ended with a surplus of £29,743,**
**which was an increase over last year (2023**
**£6,223). Donations were significantly higher**
**and there was an exceptional £20,000 loan**
**taken for renovation work to be carried out**
**on the temple.**| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|**A policy is in place to retain six months**
**expenditures.**
**As the charity relies entirely on the**
**voluntary donations the trustees felt it**
**prudent to retain this in case of worst**
**case scenarios.**| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|**£20,000**| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|**N/A**| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|**N/A**| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|**If the current building was uninhabitable**
**alternatives ones would be secured via**
**the insurance held.**| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|**All funds are raised entirely by the**
**endeavours of the hard- working**
**volunteers both at the temple and at the**
**festival held elsewhere.**
**All money raised goes straight to the**
**day-to-day operation of the temple and**
**its events.**| |---|---|---| |Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|**N/A**| |A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|**It would be difficult without the current**
**enigmatic Abbot but the charity would**
**continue.**| |Other||| ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|**Constitution.**| |How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|**Unincorporated Association.**| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|**Appointed by members at the Annual**
**General Meeting each year.**| ## **Additional information (optional)** ## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: Policies and procedures adopted for the induction Para 1.51 and training of trustees The charity’s organisational structure and any wider Para 1.51 network with which the charity works Relationship with any related Para 1.51 parties Other ## **Reference and Administrative details** Charity name Santi Vanaram Buddhist Association. Other name the charity uses Wat Santivanaram. Registered charity number 1125174 Charity’s principal address 108 Deanwood drive Parkwood Gillignham Kent ME8 8BL 9LL ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
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20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Phra Boonsee
kongjok|Chairman|15 April 2023|Members at AGM| ||Miss Thongsuk
wannawong|Secretary|15 April 2023|Members at AGM| ||MRS Benjapan
Sage|Treasure|14 April 2024|Members at AGM| ||Miss Kullapreeya
Anupa|Trustee|15 April 2023|Members at AGM| ||MRS ketvadee
Thomson|Trustee|15 April 2023|Members at AGM| ||MRS Wirairuk Burt|Trustee|15 April 2023|Members at AGM| ||Miss Lampai
Sanmeng|Trustee|14 April 2024|Members at AGM| ||Miss Ponsawan
Malaisri|Trustee|14 April 2024|Members at AGM| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| ## – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name** Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity **Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year** ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets ## **Additional information (optional)** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** **Type of Name Address adviser** ## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details ## **Other optional information** ## **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** **Signature(s)** K Boonsee Twannawong **Full name(s)** Phra Boonsee Kongjok Miss Thongsuk Wannawong **Position (eg Secretary,** Chairman Secretary **Chair, etc) Date** 05-12-2024 Recelpts Iln¢omel and payments lexpendlturel account yearendlng 31st luly2024 Settlon ARecelpts and Payments Unrestricietj Funds Last Year tOlh• ne•re£ iothp neaFest£ Al Recelpts Donations Received- Cash Donations ReceiveO- Direci Deblt Girt Aid Receipt Medway Council Tax Rebate Bank Interest Received 53,344 8.417 767 36.560 3.077 400 6,087 306 Sub total (Gross InctsmeARI A2Asset and Investment Loan Received from external lunder 20.000 Subtotal TotalRe¢elpt$ A3 Payments Telephone I broadband Councll Tax Ga5 and Elecirie Waier Rates Insurance Bank Charges Accouniancy Fees Postage and Siatlonery General Expenses Repairs ano Malnlenance 971 428 2,439 525 490 807 2,355 2,022 334 610 180 264 5,201 28,161 2.553 Sub total A4Assetand Investment purchases Mongage Repayment5 Property Improvements 31.220 5,000 Subtotal Total Pgymenls Net of recelpt5 Ilpaymentsl A6Ca$h lunds iastyear end 21.857 15.634 Cash lundsthls y•aiend Soctl BStst•ment o141Mts•nd It•blUtl•i•tth• •ndolth•p•rfod Caiegories Details Unrestricted funds lo nearesi E 61 Cash lund$ HSBC Bank Account Co-op BankAccount Co-op Savlngs Account Total cash fund$ 5.244 28,030 20,326 21.857 84Assets retalned foi the charbty's own use Freeholij propeny Cost 217,500 370.000 Current Value BS Uabllltles Triodos Bank Uk Ltd- Mongage Loan from Exiernal Funijer 59.651 20,000 79.651 Propeny at 108 Deanwood Drive, Parthooe, Gillingham, ME8 9LL. subject to mortgage. Current market valuation iaken from sale 01106 Deanwood Drive ISaleApril 20181 Signe(J tr&yone or trustees on behalf ol all ol the irustees Signature Prlnt Name Dare ol approval M ISS TH OtJQJLJ< hlllNNthJttJ& 2CIl,,/irt CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the trustees Santi Vanaram Buddist Association On accounts for the year ended Charity no (if any) 31st July 2024 1125174 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trust") for the year ended 3110712024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act"). I report In respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act. or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records., or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: 2911112024 Name: Paul Baker Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: FAIA, FFA, FIPA, FTA Applied Accountancy Ltd, 50A Clifford Way. Maidstone, Kent ME16 8GD IER Oct 2018