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2023-07-30-accounts

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 2023

Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)

Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2023

Contents Page
Trustees' report 2 to 6
Examiner's report 7
Statement of financial activities 8
Balance sheet 9
Notes to the accounts 10 to 13

Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO

1

Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)

Trustees' report for the year ended 31 July 2023

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 Beech House Troy Road Horsforth Leeds LS18 5NQ 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 E J 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 2023

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.

3

Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 July 2023

The charity's main activities continued

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.

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

This year we have continued to meet in-person and online.

Our main community practice event continued to be our weekly Sangha Night meetings. From August 2022 we held our Sangha Night meetings at Roundhay Quaker Meeting House on Street Lane. From late December we held our weekly Sangha Nights at our new premises Beech House in Horsforth. Members of our community joined our Sangha Night meetings in-person or online.

Also throughout the year we continued our weekly drop-in guided meditation on Wednesday lunchtimes, which was open to everyone. These were held online.

We offered two courses for newcomers, in October and May: The Three Jewels – Exploring Buddhist Practice in our everyday lives. Both courses were in-person, each comprising five classes on Tuesday evenings.

We also held two regular study classes for people who have committed to practicing in our community (Mitras), and also some regular classes for a third group of people who’d been coming regularly, who wanted to go into more depth with their Buddhist practice. Some study was held online, and some face-to-face.

In November and March we held residential weekend retreats of our community at The Beamsley Project in Wharfedale.

Between February and July, we held eight day retreats at our new premises. These included a women’s day, an Order day, two study days, a Wesak (Buddha day) festival, a day for newcomers, and a men’s day. In May we welcomed Arthabandhu to our Buddhist Centre: he led a day on the art of dreaming.

In July, Jules and Billy led a wonderful music evening at our Centre which drew people from far and near.

On 4th August 2022, Max and Eli became mitras at a ceremony witnessed by friends family and members of our community.

In the autumn we rejoiced in Nagakusala’s merits as they became our new chairperson. Subsequently we rejoiced in Sarahadaya’s and Akashadaya’s merits as they became our mitra convenors.

On 25th May, Marcella, Paula and Sarah became mitras witnessed by friends, family and members of our community; it was the first mitra ceremony at our new Buddhist Centre. In July we were delighted to welcome Silaphala following his ordination retreat at Padmaloka.

4

Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds) Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 July 2023

Achievements and performance continued

From July we continued to search for premises to buy for our Buddhist Centre. In October the trustees made an offer to buy a property, which was accepted. On 13th December we completed the purchase of Beech House, Troy Road, Horsforth, a small office building with a garden. Members of our community made generous donations towards the purchase and renovation. The purchase was made possible by a loan from The Windhorse Trust.

Many volunteers and some contractors contributed to renovating and refurbishing the building, which included removing asbestos, installing insulation, a wheelchair-accessible toilet, and building partition walls for a shrine room and office. Volunteers laid a fine wooden floor in the shrine room. Leeds City Council granted planning permission for change of use.

Our Centre is run and sustained by volunteers. This year Heart Kula practice mornings for our volunteers resumed, to support each other and keep in communication. A new gardening gang is looking after the garden.

In April our president Rijumitra visited and led a day for Order Members at the Buddhist Centre.

Financial review

The net income for the year on unrestricted funds after transfers was £31,052.

£22,044 was generously donated towards buying new premises and refurbishment, this was treated as restricted income, however is transferred to fixed assets, to recognise the cost of the fixed asset addition.

Trustees also donated materials and personally settled contractors invoices for work to the value of £28,686, this amount is included in donations.

The Windhorse Trust made secured loan of £150,000 for the purchase of our premises, repayable after 10 years. The terms of this loan were generous, with interest capped at 3% for the first two years of the term. Interest thereafter would be variable at 2% above base rate. There are no capital repayments due for the first 2 years, then capital repayments begin at £3,000 in year 3 of the term and increase annually thereafter.

There are uncertainties in that our monthly income fluctuated slightly and showed no significant tendency towards growth, but having reviewed our forecasts and reserves we have concluded that the organisation can continue and be treated as a going concern for the next 12 months and beyond.

Reserves policy

The charity's free reserves, excluding fixed assets, at the year end were in deficit by £108,290. This figure takes into account the long term creditor of £116,793 relating to the loan to purchase the property.

The trustees are confident that the loan will be able to be repaid out of income in the year the repayments are due and that excluding the long term creditor figure gives a realistic free reserves figure.

The charity's unrestricted net current assets figure (the working capital) was £8,503.

The charity held no designated funds at the end of the year. The funds previously designated were used for their intended purpose during 2022: to buy premises for our Buddhist Centre.

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.

The trustees are aware the reserves are slightly below the target level, however we are focussing on ways of increasing fundraising activities in the coming year. Should the target not be achieved, voluntary capital repayments of the loan will be reduced accordingly. The trustees review this every quarter.

5

Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds) Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 July 2023

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 11/03/2024

Andrew Bickley (Trustee)

6

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 2023, which are set out on pages 8 to 13.

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:

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.

E J Beverley FCCA

20/03/2024

West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO

Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW

7

Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)

Statement of Financial Activities

(including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 July 2023

Notes
2023
Unrestricted
funds
£
Income from:
Grants and donations
(2)
36,356
Sales and fees
124
Fundraising
2,500
Bank interest
96
Total income
39,076
Expenditure on:
Stipends
5,313
Retreats
4,002
Centre costs
2,677
Other admin costs
39
Premises costs
5,193
Independent examination
1,020
Collection for individuals
700
Loan interest
2,904
Legal and professional fees
2,507
Depreciation
5,713
Total expenditure
30,068
Net income / (expenditure)
9,008
Transfers between funds
22,044
Net movement in funds
31,052
Fund balances brought forward
140,589
Fund balances carried forward
(3)
171,641		 2023
Restricted
funds
£
50,730
-
-
-
50,730
-
-
-
-
28,686
-
-
-
-
-
28,686
22,044
(22,044)
-
-
-		 2023
Total
funds
£
87,086
124
2,500
96
89,806
5,313
4,002
2,677
39
33,879
1,020
700
2,904
2,507
5,713
58,754
31,052
-
31,052
140,589
171,641		 2022
Total
funds
£
33,983
-
9,785
152
43,920
4,980
3,350
400
538
2,649
480
600
-
-
-
12,997
30,923
-
30,923
109,666
140,589

All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.

8

Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)

Balance sheet

as at 31 July 2023
2023
Unrestricted
£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
(4)
279,931
Total fixed assets
279,931
Current assets
Debtors and prepayments
(5)
7,082
Cash at bank and in hand
(6)
19,502
Total current assets
26,584
Current liabilities:
amounts falling due within one year
Creditors and accruals
(7)
18,081
Total current liabilities
18,081
Net current assets / (liabilities)
8,503
Total assets less current liabilities
288,434
Creditors: amounts falling due after one year
(8)
116,793
Net assets
171,641
Funds
Unrestricted funds
General unrestricted funds
171,641
Designated funds
(9)
-
Unrestricted funds
171,641
Restricted funds
-
Total funds
171,641		 2023
Restricted
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 2023
Total
£
279,931
279,931
7,082
19,502
26,584
18,081
18,081
8,503
288,434
116,793
171,641
171,641
-
171,641
-
171,641		 2022
Total
£
-
-
1,597
139,472
141,069
480
480
140,589
140,589
-
140,589
35,571
105,018
140,589
-
140,589

For the year ending 31 July 2023 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 are 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 11/03/2024

Andrew Bickley (Trustee)

9

Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)

Notes to the accounts

for the year ended 31 July 2023

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, if 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.

Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets costing more than £1000 are capitalised and included at cost including any incidental expenses of acquisition. Gifted assets are shown at the value to the charity on receipt. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost on a straight line basis over their expected useful economic lives as follows:

Freehold land and buildings: over 50 years

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.

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.

10

Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)

Notes to the accounts continued

for the year ended 31 July 2023

2
3
4
5
**6 **		 Grants and donations
Retreats
Other events and classes
Other donations (incl gift aid)
Restricted funds
New building
Fund name
New building
Tangible assets
Cost
At 1 August 2022
Additions
At 31 July 2023
Depreciation
At 1 August 2022
Charge for year
At 31 July 2023
Net book value
At 31 July 2023
At 31 July 2022
Debtors and prepayments
Prepayments
Other debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank
Cash in hand		 2023
2023
2023
2022
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
funds
funds
funds
funds
£
£
£
£
5,528
-
5,528
3,750
1,082
-
1,082
800
29,746
50,730
80,476
29,433
36,356
50,730
87,086
33,983
Balance b/f
Incoming
Outgoing
Transfers
Balance c/f
£
£
£
£
£
-
50,730
28,686
(22,044)
-
-
50,730
28,686
(22,044)
-
Purpose of restriction
Total
£
£
-
-
285,644
285,644
285,644
285,644
-
-
5,713
5,713
5,713
5,713
279,931
279,931
-
-
2023
2022
£
£
1,177
705
5,905
892
7,082
1,597
2023
2022
£
£
19,727
139,396
55
76
19,782
139,472
Land and
buildings
Donations towards the costs and refurbishment of new building - the
transfer relates to the purchase of the building as a fixed asset.

11

Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)

Notes to the accounts continued

for the year ended 31 July 2023

7 Creditors and accruals
Bank loans and overdrafts
Accruals
8 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year
Bank loans		 2023
£
14,157
3,924
18,081
2023
£
116,793
116,793		 2022
£
-
480
480
2022
£
-
-

Security over assets

The Windhorse Trust who has made the loan to Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds) has a charge over the property Beech House, Troy Road, Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 5NQ.

9 Designated funds
Property reserve
Fund name
Property reserve		 Balance b/f
Incoming
£
£
105,018
-
105,018
-
Reason for designation
For a new building - which was		 Outgoing
Transfers
Balance c/f
£
£
£
105,018
-
-
105,018
-
-
purchased during the financial year.

10 Related party transactions

Donations from trustees and related parties

The total aggregate value of unconditional donations to the charity from the trustees or related parties was £42,024 (2022: £1,010).

Trustee expenses

During the year 1 trustee was paid a total of £338 in respect of travel (previous year: nil).

Trustee remuneration and benefits

No trustee received any remuneration or benefit during this or the previous year.

Other transactions with trustees or related parties

Other transactions with trustees or related p
Dharmachari Samanartha
11 Funds held as agent
Gender Diverse Chapter of Triratna UK
Trustee
Name of trustee
or related party
Relationship to
charity		 arties
Balance b/f
Incoming
£
£
393
1,101
393
1,101
Stipend
Description of transaction		 2023
£
5,313
5,313
Outgoing
£
1,214
1,214		 2022
£
4,980
4,980
Balance c/f
£
280
280

12

Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)

Statement of Financial Activities including comparatives for all funds (including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 July 2023

2023
2022
Unrestricted Unrestricted
funds
funds
£
£
Income
Grants and donations
36,356
33,983
Sales and fees
124
-
Fundraising
2,500
9,785
Bank interest
96
152
Total income
39,076
43,920
Expenditure
Stipends
5,313
4,980
Retreats
4,002
3,350
Centre costs
2,677
400
Other admin costs
39
538
Premises costs
5,193
2,649
Independent examination
1,020
480
Collection for individuals
700
600
Loan interest
2,904
-
Legal and professional fees
2,507
-
Depreciation
5,713
-
Total expenditure
30,068
12,997
Net income / (expenditure)
9,008
30,923
Transfers between funds
22,044
-
Net movement in funds
31,052
30,923
Fund balances brought forward
140,589
109,666
Fund balances carried forward
171,641
140,589		 2023
Restricted
funds
£
50,730
-
-
-
50,730
-
-
-
-
28,686
-
-
-
-
-
28,686
22,044
(22,044)
-
-
-		 2022
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 2023
Total
funds
£
87,086
124
2,500
96
89,806
5,313
4,002
2,677
39
33,879
1,020
700
2,904
2,507
5,713
58,754
31,052
-
31,052
140,589
171,641		 2022
Total
funds
£
33,983
-
9,785
152
43,920
4,980
3,350
400
538
2,649
480
600
-
-
-
12,997
30,923
-
30,923
109,666
140,589

13