Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)
Charity number 1132691
Acompany limited by guarantee, number 069774489
Annual Report and Financial Statement
for the period 1 August 2024 to 31 July 2025
Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds) Trustees’ report for the year ended 31 July 2025
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:
John Halsal! Giles Watts Andrew Bickley Teresa Coldicott Nagakusala Dharmacharin Debra Keighley Kathy Jarvis
Charity number 1132691 Registered in England and Wales Company number 06977449 Registered in England and Wales
Registered and principaladdress
Beech House Troy Road Horsforth Leeds LS18 5NQ
Bankers
Charities Aid Foundation, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, Kent, ME19 4JQ Triodos Bank, Deanery Road, Bristol, BS1 5AS
independent examiner
Catherine Muller
Structure, governance and management
The charity is a company limited by guarantee and was formed on 30 July 2009. It is governed bya 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.
Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds) Trustees’ report for the year ended 31 July 2025
Objectives and activities
The charity's objects
The advancement of the Buddhist Religion; in particular:
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To encourage members to live in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha.
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To support ordained members of the Triratna Buddhist Order and duly ordained Buddhists, at the discretion of the Directors of Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds).
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To 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.
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To use applications of the Buddha's teaching to promote the health and well-being of all.
The charitv'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 around 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:
4. Encourage members and others to live in accordance with the Teachings of the Buddha.
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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. Our new premises have a ramp, providing access for most wheelchair users.
Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds) Trustees' report for the year ended 31 July 2025
- Support ordained members of the Triratna Buddhist Order and other duly ordained Buddhists, at the discretion of the council of Triratna (Leeds).
This year we provided financial support for three members of the Triratna Buddhist Order by paying for them to go on retreat; they support 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.
3. 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. Some years we mark Wesak (Buddha day) with a joint celebration. Our meditation classes are attended by people of different faiths and of none.
4. 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, most of whose members are part of our community 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 wellbeing 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, Harrogate, York and Huddersfield. 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.
Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds) Trustees’ report for the year ended 31 July 2025
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Achievements and performance
Our main community practice event continued to be our weekly Sangha Night meetings at our premises in Horsforth, Leeds. Members of our community joined our Sangha Night meetings inperson or online. We also continued our weekly drop-in guided meditation on Wednesday lunchtimes, which was open to everyone; people joined these meditations in-person or online. We have some regular attendees at our Sangha nights and Wednesday lunchtime meditations who join through Zoom who live some distance away, or are unable to attend the Buddhist Centre through illness.
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We offered three courses for newcomers starting in September, January and April; each course comprised of six classes on Tuesday evenings at the Buddhist Centre. In June we offered a followon course on six Tuesday evenings. During the year we also held three regular study classes, two of these were for mitras, people who have committed to practising in our community, and the other study group was for people new to our community who wanted to go deeper with their practice of Buddhism. One study group met online, and two met face-to-face. In November and March we held residential weekend retreats of our community at The Beamsley Project in a lovely part of Wharfedale. In autumn 2024, we offered Diving Deep in Meditation classes on four consecutive Tuesday evenings. And from May, we offered a Silent Sunday Sit each month at the Buddhist Centre on Sunday mornings.
Between September and July, we held twelve day retreats at our Buddhist Centre. These includeg two study days, three men's days, and festival days for Padmasambhava Day, Buddha Day and Dharma Day. In November we welcomed Subhadramati, a visiting teacher from the London Buddhist Centre, who led a day retreat for women Order members and women who are training for ordination.
Over the year we held an open study evening some months, and a puja evening most months. In addition our Centre hosted practice gatherings of Order members, including two Order days, and gatherings of people who are training for ordination. On New Year's Eve we held a new year ritual. And a new book club started meeting.
In July we were delighted to welcome Gunasakhi from being ordained during a long retreat at Akashavarna. Also in July we witnessed our friend Colin go forth to his ordination retreat.
Our Centre also hosted classes and day retreats run by the Leeds Mindfulness Cooperative, and monthly classes in Yoga Nidra led by our friend Vanessa.
Our Centre is run and sustained by volunteers. The gardening team has been looking after our garden where new benches have been installed, and some small trees removed. Our chair Nagakusala took part in meetings of the Triratna European Chairs’ Assembly, and our mitra coveners Akashadaya and Sarahadaya joined mitra conveners' retreats.
Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds) Trustees’ report for the year ended 31 July 2025
Financiai review
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The income for the year was £35,158 and the expenditure was £25,304, net income for the year was £9,854.
Trustees contributed £229 in in-kind donations in the year.
In 2023 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 tirst 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. Capital repayments began at £2500 per quarter in January 2025 and increase annually thereafter.
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 Charities reserves policy is to have 3 months expenditure, measured by the net current assets figure on the balance sheet, as it relates to 25% of the total expenditure as shown on the income and expenditure account. Currently reserves, as defined above, are are £14,342 and expected quarterly expenditure is £6,895 (allowing for a 10% increase in costs) so we are well above our target.
The charity's free reserves, excluding fixed assets, at the year end were in deficit by £68,532. This figure takes into account the long term creditor of £82,874 relating to the loan to purchase the property. This deficit figure is considerably lower than that in 2024 (£84,099) and 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 held 3 designated funds at the end of the year totalling £1,519, as follows: £767 for roof repairs, £615 for a new shed and £137 for a gift for our departing centre president.
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Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)
independent examiner's report to the trustees of Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds)
| report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charitable company for the year ended 31 July 2025.
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, | report in respect ofmy examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act (‘the 2011 Act'). In carrying out our examination | have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's statement
| have completed my examination. | 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
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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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
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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 theiraccounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].
| 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.
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Catherine Muller
A Commune in the North Ltd The Farmhouse, Jossey Lane Bentley DONCASTER DN5 OBS
Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds) Statement of Financial Activities summary income and expenditure account for the year ended 31 July 2025
| Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| Total | Total | ||
| Funds | Funds | ||
| Income From: | |||
| Grants and Donations | 2 | 34472 | 48139 |
| Bookshop Sales | 435 | 166 | |
| Fundraising | 0 | 699 | |
| Bank Interest | Zool | 99 | |
| Total Income | 35158 | 49103 | |
| Expenditure On: | |||
| Charitable Activities | 24970 | 30625 | |
| Governance Costs | 334 | 334 | |
| Cost of Book sales | 0 | 0 | |
| Total Expenditure | 25304 | 30959 | |
| Next Income / Expenditure | 9854 | 18144 | |
| Fund Balances Brought Forward | 190119 | 171641 | |
| FundbalancesCarriedForward | 199973 | 190119 |
All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities
Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds) _
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Statement of Financial Activities Balance Sheet for the year ended 31 July 2025
| for the year ended 31the year ended 31ended 3131 July 20252025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | |||
| FixedAssets | ||||
| Building | 4 | 268505 | 274218 | |
| Total Fixed Assets | 268505 | 274218 | ||
| CurrentAssets | ||||
| Debtors and Prepayments | 5 | 4974 | 4582 | |
| Cash atbank and athand | 6 | 20732 | 12169 | |
| Total CurrentAssets | 25706 | 16751 | ||
| Current Liabilities: | ||||
| amounts falling due inone year | ||||
| Creditors and Accruals | 7 | 11364 | 7900 | |
| TotalCurrent Liabilities | 11364 | 7900 | ||
| NetCurrentassets / (liabilities) | 14342 | 8851 | ||
| Totalassets less current liabilities | 282847 | 283069 | ||
| Creditors: amounts falling die afterone year | 8 | 82874 | 92950 | |
| NetAssets | 199973 | 190119 | ||
| Designated Fund (roofrepairs) | 167 | |||
| ‘ | Designated Fund (rijumitra gift) | 137 | ||
| Designated Fund (newshed) | 615 | |||
| General Fund | 199206 | |||
| TotalFunds | 199973 |
For the year ended 31v July 2025 the charitable company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Agi 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the yearin question in accordance with Section 476. The trustees (who are also the directors for the purposes of company law) acknowledge their responsibility 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 tom companies subject to the small companies regime and with FRS 102. The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on nD.2e].0.2) 2.02.6. Signed scope (Trustee)
Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds) Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 July 2025
{. Accounting Policies
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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) 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 asa 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.
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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. Imecoverable 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
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Fund Accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the generai 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.
Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds) Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 July 2025
| 2. Grantand Donations | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Retreats | 6642 | 7116 |
| Other events and classes | 5095 | 3940 |
| Otherdonations (including gift aid) | 22735 | 37083 |
| 34472 | 48139 |
3. Restricted funds
A Fund entitled “New Building Fund” was a restricted fund up to the end of the previous accounting year. The purpose of the restriction was to provide funds towards the purchase and refurbishment of a new building. This fund was closed and the balance of £22044 was transferred to general funds
| 4, Tangible Assets | 4, Tangible Assets | Land and | Totaj | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings | ||||
| £ | g | |||
| Cost | ||||
| At 1 August 2024 | 285644 | 285644 | ||
| Additions | 0 | 0 | ||
| At 31 July 2025 | 285644 | 285644 | ||
| Depreciation | ||||
| At 1 August 2024 | 11426 | 11426 | ||
| Charge for the year | 5713 | 5713 | ||
| At 31 July 2025 | 17139 | 17139 | ||
| Net book value | ||||
| At 1 August 2024 | 274218 | 274218 | ||
| At 31 July 2025 | - | 268505 | 268505 | |
| 5. Debtorsand | prepayments | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | t | |||
| Prepayments | 3374 | 2332 | ||
| Otherdebtors | 1600 | 2250 | ||
| 4974 | 4582 | |||
| 6. Cash at bank and athand | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | g | |||
| . | ||||
| Cash at bank | 20656 | 11839 | ||
| Cash at hand | 75 | 330 | ||
| 20731 | 12169 |
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Triratna Buddhist Community (Leeds) Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 July 2025
| for thethe year endedended 31 July 20252025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 7. CreditorsandAccruals | 2025 | 2024 |
| £ | £ | |
| Building Loan due within one year | 10076 | 7009 |
| Accruals | 1288 | 600 |
| 11364 | 760& | |
| 8. Creditors; Amountsfalling due afterone year | 2025 | 2024 |
| £ | § | |
| Building Loan | 82874 | 92950 |
| 82874 | 92950 |
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9. Related party transactions
Donations from trustees and related parties
The total value of unconditional donations to the charity from the trustees or related parties was £4240 (2023; £42024)
Trustee expenses
During the year two trustees were paid a total of £145 in respect of travel. (previous year; one trustee was paid £338)
Trustee remuneration and benefits
{ trustees received benefits totalling £690 in the year.
| Othertransactionswith trustees or related parties | Othertransactionswith trustees or related parties | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | g | ||
| Name ofTrustee | Item | ||
| Dharmachari Samanartha | Stipend | 0 | 5313 |
| 0 | bois | ||
| 10. Fundsheld asagent | 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | g | ||
| Gender Diverse Chapter ofTriratna | Triratna UK | ||
| Funds at 1 August | 901 | 280 | |
| Incoming Funds | 699 | 1316 | |
| Funds Expended | 1209 | 695 | |
| Fundsat31July | , | 391 | 901 |