## Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)
Charity number 1132691
A company limited by guarantee number 06977449
Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 July 2022
Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2022
|**Contents**|**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' report|2 to 5|
|Examiner's report|6|
|Statement of financial activities|7|
|Balance sheet|8|
|Notes to the accounts|9 to 11|
## **Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO**
1
## Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)
## Trustees' report for the year ended 31 July 2022
## **Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors**
The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were: **Name**
John Halsall Dharmachari Samanartha Giles Watts Andrew Bickley Teresa Coldicott Nagakusala Dharmacharin Debra Keighley
**Charity number** 1132691 Registered in England and Wales **Company number** 06977449 Registered in England and Wales **Registered and principal address** 4 Grosvenor Park Gardens Grosvenor Park Gardens Leeds LS6 2PL **Bankers** Charities Aid Foundation Monmouthshire Building Society Triodos Bank 10 St. Bride Street Monmouthshire House Deanery Road London John Frost Square Bristol EC4A 4AD Newport, South Wales BS1 5AS NP20 1PX **Independent examiner** Elisabeth Beverley FCCA **West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO** Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
## **Structure, governance and management**
The charity is a company limited by guarantee and was formed on 30 July 2009. It is governed by a memorandum and articles of association as amended on 26 October 2009 and 7 August 2012. The liability of the members in the event of the company being wound up is limited to a sum not exceeding £10.
## **Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees**
The trustees of the charity are also the directors for the purposes of company law and are appointed by the members at the AGM.
2
## Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)
## Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 July 2022
## **Objectives and activities**
## **The charity's objects**
The advancement of the Buddhist Religion in particular:
1. To encourage members to live in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha.
2. To support ordained members of the Triratna Buddhist Order and duly ordained Buddhists, at the discretion of the Directors of Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds).
3. To maintain close communication with and work under the guidance of the Triratna Buddhist Order and in cooperation with other groups with the same objects.
4. To use applications of the Buddha's teaching to promote the health and well-being of all.
## **The charity's main activities**
Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds) runs Leeds Buddhist Centre and its activities. Through Leeds Buddhist Centre we have taught the practice of Buddhism and meditation since our foundation in 1983. The Centre is affiliated to the Triratna Buddhist Community, an international Buddhist movement with many Centres throughout the UK and the world. The Triratna Buddhist Community draws from different Buddhist traditions and aims to apply the principles of Buddhism to modern life.
The main objective of Triratna (Leeds) is the advancement of the Buddhist religion. In particular this means that we:
## **Encourage members and others to live in accordance with the Teachings of the Buddha**
We aim to support people who want to learn about and practice Buddhism. To do this, we provide courses in Buddhist teaching (Dharma), including basic meditation techniques, and further classes and courses for those who want a deeper understanding of Buddhist practice and how this can be explored in contemporary society.
We have a small bookshop and a library to provide access to Buddhist literature not easily available elsewhere.
Our work is done by sangha (our community) members on a voluntary basis. We raise money from donations at the classes and events we run at the Centre, from donations from the community, and from courses we run for external organisations.
We try and promote the Buddhist ethic of 'dana' or giving, so most of our activities are paid for by donation and people are free to attend even if they have no money.
We have a commitment to making our activities and premises accessible to all by providing access for disabled people. The centre has been adapted to provide access to most wheelchair users. And a hearing loop has been installed in the shrine room at the Centre.
## **Support ordained members of the Triratna Buddhist Order and other duly ordained Buddhists, at the discretion of the council of Triratna (Leeds)**
We provide financial support for one member of the Triratna Buddhist Order who supports other members of the sangha in their daily Buddhist practice. The contribution made by members of the Triratna Buddhist Order remains essential to provide the experience, depth of practice and understanding of Buddhism needed in a spiritual community, and to make this available to others.
## **Maintain close communication with and work under the guidance of the Triratna Buddhist Order and in co-operation with other groups, with the same objects.**
We work in co-operation with other Triratna Centres, retreat centres and with the Preceptors College (which oversees the ordination process). This allows us to maintain clarity with regard to our vision, to benefit from the experience of other groups with similar objectives, and so make the best use of the resources we have in Leeds.
There are a number of Buddhist groups in the Leeds area, supporting an estimated 2,900 Buddhists in the Leeds District (Census 2021). We feel we have a good relationship with other groups, marking Wesak (Buddha day) each year with a joint celebration. Our meditation classes are attended by people of different faiths and of none.
3
## Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)
## Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 July 2022
## **The charity's main activities continued**
## **Use the applications of the Buddha's teaching to promote the health and well-being of all**
Our practice as Buddhists means our concern for others’ well-being extends beyond our own sangha, and wherever possible we engage with and respond to the wider community. Leeds Mindfulness Co-operative, based at Leeds Buddhist Centre, runs Breathworks Mindfulness courses; these are non-religious courses which introduce mindfulness practices for people with chronic pain, ill health or stress.
We feel we are an active part of the Leeds community, contributing to people's lives and well-being in our sangha and beyond. We provide an accessible Buddhist Centre for Leeds, and West and North Yorkshire, but there are no restrictions based on where people live. People currently come to our classes and sangha activities from as far away as Hebden Bridge, Keighley, Skipton, Huddersfield, Harrogate and York. Our community is made up of members of the Triratna Buddhist Order, Mitras — people who have made a formal commitment to practice with the Triratna Buddhist Community, and a wider group of friends exploring Buddhism, meditation and mindfulness.
## **Public benefit statement**
In setting our objectives and planning our activities our Trustees have given serious consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and in particular the advancement of religion.
## **Achievements and performance**
In August 2021 we continued to meet online for our classes during this year of Covid restrictions: Sangha Nights each week, our main community practice event; and our weekly drop-in guided meditation on Wednesday lunchtimes, which was open to everyone.
In September we re-started in-person classes, holding our weekly Sangha Nights at the Meanwood Institute. Members of our community joined these Sangha Nights online, via Zoom. We continued to hold our Sangha Nights at the Meanwood Institute until the end of July.
We offered two courses for newcomers online in November and March: Exploring Buddhism and Buddhist Practice in our Everyday Lives.
We also held study classes online for people who have committed to practicing in our community (Mitras), and also some classes for people who’d been coming regularly, who wanted to go into more depth with their Buddhist practice.
In November and March we held residential weekend retreats at The Beamsley Project in Wharfedale.
In May we celebrated Buddha Day (Wesak) in the Great Hall at Woodhouse Community Centre. It was well attended, with three friends joining us from York Buddhist Centre. Those present meditated, did a puja, and then witnessed a theatrical show of scenes from the life of the Buddha, which finished with a song.
In November we were delighted to welcome Sarahadaya from his ordination retreat at Guhyaloka in Spain. Five of us met him at the airport!
In September we welcomed Vajradevi, from the Shrewsbury Buddhist Centre, who led our Sangha Night online with material from her book “Uncontrived Mindfulness”.
In May our president Rijumitra took part in the meeting of Centre Presidents at Adhisthana.
We continued to search for premises to buy for our Buddhist Centre. In November we launched a campaign to raise funds to buy premises, appealing for one-off donations, regular monthly donations, and increases in monthly donations.
In February the trustees made an offer to buy a property, but unfortunately our offer was not accepted. In May the trustees made an offer to buy another property, but again we were not successful. However, following the year end we have successfully purchased a building.
4
## Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)
## Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 July 2022
## **Financial review**
The net income for the year was £30,923,on unrestricted funds.
Our total income was £43,920, which includes £9,785 generously donated towards buying new premises. And we spent £12,997 during the year.
## **Reserves policy**
The charity's free reserves, excluding fixed assets, at the year end were £140,589.
The above amount includes Designated funds of £105,018 which when deducted leaves £35,571.
The trustees policy is to hold 3 months expenditure as reserves to enable the smooth running of the charity and to enable an orderly winding up if the charity had to close.
Free reserves are currently above this level but the trustees plan to purchase a building in the near future and any excess reserves will go towards this.
## **Statement of trustees' responsibilities**
The trustees (who are also the directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees report and the financial statements in accordance with the applicable law and UK Accounting Standards.
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for the year. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
prepare the accounts on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial accounts 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.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (Charities SORP (FRS102)), and in accordance with the special provisions of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
approved by the board of trustees on 13/03/2023
Andrew Bickley (Trustee)
5
## Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)
## Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charitable company for the year ended 31 July 2022, which are set out on pages 7 to 11.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity's trustees of the charitable company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the charitable company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
- 1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or 2 the accounts do not accord with those records; or
- 3 the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or
- 4 the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].
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.
Elisabeth Beverley FCCA
05/04/2023
## **West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO**
Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
6
## Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)
## Statement of Financial Activities
## (including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 July 2022
|Notes
**Income from:**
Grants and donations
(2)
Sales and fees
Fundraising
Bank interest
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Salaries and NIC
Stipends
Retreats
Centre costs
Bookshop purchases
Other admin costs
Premises costs
Independent examination
Collection for individuals
Equipment
**Total expenditure**
**Net income / (expenditure)**
**Fund balances brought forward**
**Fund balances carried forward**|2022
Total
funds
£
33,983
-
9,785
152
43,920
-
4,980
3,350
400
-
538
2,649
480
600
-
12,997
30,923
109,666
140,589|2021
Total
funds
£
22,811
8
-
178
22,997
4,269
4,813
200
680
134
694
905
480
435
554
13,164
9,833
99,833
109,666|
|---|---|---|
All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.
7
## Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)
## Balance sheet
## as at 31 July 2022
|as at 31 July 2022
**Current assets**
Debtors and prepayments
(3)
Cash at bank and in hand
(4)
**Total current assets**
**Current liabilities:**
**amounts falling due within one year**
Creditors and accruals
(5)
**Total current liabilities**
**Net current assets / (liabilities)**
**Net assets**
**Funds**
Unrestricted funds
General unrestricted funds
Designated funds
(6)
Unrestricted funds
**Total funds**|2022
Total
£
1,597
139,472
141,069
480
480
140,589
140,589
35,571
105,018
140,589
140,589|2021
Total
£
4,177
105,969
110,146
480
480
109,666
109,666
14,433
95,233
109,666
109,666|
|---|---|---|
For the year ending 31 July 2022 the charitable company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476. The trustees (who also the directors for the purposes of company law) acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime and with FRS 102 (effective January 2019).
The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on 13/03/2023
Andrew Bickley (Trustee)
8
## Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)
## Notes to the accounts
## for the year ended 31 July 2022
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Basis of accounting**
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) and with the Charities Act 2011.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
There has been no change to the accounting policies since last year. No changes have been made to the accounts for previous years.
## **Going concern**
The trustees are satisfied that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.
## **Incoming resources**
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the charity becomes entitled to the resources, it is more likely than not that the trustees will receive the resources and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
## **Grants and donations**
Grants and donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.
Where grants are related to performance and specific deliverables, they are accounted for as the charity earns the right to consideration by its performance.
## **Expenditure and liabilities**
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out the resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
## **Taxation**
As a charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.
9
## Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)
## Notes to the accounts continued
## for the year ended 31 July 2022
|**2 Grants and donations**
Meditations
Retreats
Other events and classes
Other donations (incl gift aid)
**3 Debtors and prepayments**
Prepayments
Other debtors
**4 Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash at bank
Cash in hand
**5 Creditors and accruals**
Accruals
**6 Designated funds**
Property reserve
New centre reserve
**Fund name**
Property reserve|2022
2021
Total
Total
funds
funds
£
£
-
20
3,750
(63)
800
1,670
29,433
21,184
33,983
22,811
2022
2021
£
£
705
-
892
4,177
1,597
4,177
2022
2021
£
£
139,396
105,968
76
1
139,472
105,969
2022
2021
£
£
480
480
480
480
Balance b/f
Incoming
Transfers
Balance c/f
£
£
£
£
92,233
12,785
105,018
3,000
(3,000)
-
95,233
-
9,785
105,018
**Reason for designation**
For a new building - £3,000 was transferred in from the New|
|---|---|
For a new building - £3,000 was transferred in from the New Centre reserve to combine the two designated funds, as well as £9,785 from fundraising activities during the year. For a new building - combined in year to the fund above.
New centre reserve
10
Notes to the accounts continued
## Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)
for the year ended 31 July 2022
## **7 Related party transactions**
## **Trustee expenses**
No trustee received any expenses during this year or the previous year.
## **Trustee remuneration and benefits**
|**Details of remuneration and benefits**
**Legal authority**
H Doherty (resigned Feb 2021)
Employment
Governing document|2022
£
-
-|2021
£
4,269
4,269|
|---|---|---|
No other trustees have received any other remuneration or benefit during this or the previous year.
## **Other transactions with trustees or related parties**
|**Other transactions with trustees or related pa**
Dharmachari Samanartha
**8 Funds held as agent**
Gender Diverse Chapter of Triratna UK
Trustee
**Name of trustee**
**or related party**
**Relationship to**
**charity**|**rties**
Balance b/f
Incoming
£
£
-
393
-
393
Stipend
**Description of transaction**|2022
£
4,980
4,980
Outgoing
£
-
-|2021
£
4,813
4,813
Balance c/f
£
393
393|
|---|---|---|---|
11