Trustees’ Annual Report for the Triratna Buddhist Community (Shrewsbury) (charity number 1157987) for the 2022-23 financial year
Registered address
86 Canon Street, Shrewsbury SY2 5HF
Organisational structure and appointment of trustees
The charity is a CIO. Its trustees are appointed by the board of trustees.
Trustees in the year under review
Zoe Saravantu Stephenson (chair until 13.11.2022)
Tim Abhayanara Crosskey
Richard Nagamani Dawson (treasurer)
Simon Vajrapriya Moss (secretary)
Jonathan Akasharaja Bruton (chair from 13.11.2022)
Harvey Jayaratna Mason
Gillian Jyotidana Davies (from 09.04.2022)
Purpose of the charity
The charity was originally set up in 2014 with the aim of bringing the benefits of Buddhist practice to the local community in Shrewsbury and the surrounding area. All adults in Shrewsbury and the local area are welcome to participate in our activities. Children are welcome to some of our activities under the supervision of a parent or guardian.
Our activities and performance in line with our charitable aims
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During the financial year in question, the Triratna Buddhist Community (Shrewsbury) continued to provide opportunities for the local and wider community to learn Buddhist meditation practices and study the Buddhist religion.
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We offered six-week courses in both meditation and Buddhism during the period.
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We also initiated a new weekly class in January 2023 which allowed members of the local and wider community to attend the centre on a regular, drop-in basis to learn about meditation and Buddhism.
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As well as providing services of this sort to newcomers to Buddhism, the charity continued to provide a context for Triratna Buddhists to meet, study Buddhism and practise together.
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We also put on weekend meditation retreats for both experienced members of the community and newcomers to deepen their experience and practice of the Buddhist religion.
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• We continued to provide a context for committed regulars to train for ordination in the Triratna Buddhist Order.
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We continued to foster and practise a healthy culture of volunteering, with many members of the community freely giving their time and energy to allow the community to continue to share the benefits of the Buddhist religion in the local and wider community.
Our income and expenditure
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Our activities in the year under review were, as before, funded by a combination of planned giving from regular supporters and donations given for classes and courses. We claimed Gift Aid in the amount of £5818 on income in the previous year (21/22)
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Our income amounted to £35289, an increase of £2345 on the previous year. Our expenditure amounted to £14472, an increase of £4117, mainly accounted for by expenditure on a garden project. This left us with a surplus of £20817.
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• We continued with a policy of prudent and far-sighted use of our financial resources, enabling us to repay to the tune of £25411 capital from the loans we originally took out in 2014 to buy our centre. This left us with a remaining liability of £15000. We anticipate paying off the remaining loans in the 2023-24 financial year, which will free us up to provide further benefits in line with our charitable object without financial stress.
Triratna Shrewsbury Receipts and payments account for years ended 5 April
| 2022 | |
|---|---|
| Receipts | |
| Donations from regular activities | 2587.61 |
| Donations from intro courses, etc. | 2207.12 |
| Planned giving | 13239.00 |
| Gift aid reclaim | 3442.77 |
| Bookshop sales | 742.97 |
| Flat rental | 6360.00 |
| Room hire | 395.00 |
| Fundraising | 2538.58 |
| One-of gifts | 100.00 |
| Retreats | 1300.00 |
| Sundry | 31.00 |
| Total | 32944.05 |
| Payments | |
| Loan interest | 575.59 |
| Maintenance | 1350.56 |
| Utilities | 1813.79 |
| Insurance | 1189.98 |
| Printing and social media | 169.56 |
| Teaching Support | 0.00 |
| Bookshop and library | 686.53 |
| Accountancy fees | 445.20 |
| Cleaning, kitchen, shrine expenses | 241.59 |
| CCPAS and DBS | 141.25 |
| Chair and mitra meetings | 414.00 |
| Training for teachers | 0.00 |
| Private preceptors retreat | 0.00 |
| Garden | 41.99 |
| ECA development fund | 1712.00 |
| Fundraising contributions | 0.00 |
| Retreats - venue hire | 1415.00 |
| Travel | 69.37 |
| Sundry | 88.29 |
| Total | 10354.70 |
| Surplus for the year | 22589.35 |
| Triratna Shrewsbury | |
| Balance sheets as at 5 April |
2022
| Assets | |
|---|---|
| Premises | 201355.6 |
| Cash at bank | 15487.46 |
| Cash in hand | 0.00 |
| Total Assets | 216843.06 |
| Less Liabilities | |
| Loans | 40411.08 |
| Net Assets | 176431.98 |
| Financed by: | |
| Accumulated fund | 153842.63 |
| Add surplus for the year | 22589.35 |
| 176431.98 |
Notes
Gift Aid - claim of £5,817.58 received from 21/22 income; claim for 22/23 to Loan 1 - reduced by £11,500 from £26,500 to £15,000. To be repaid by Dec Loan 2 - reduced by £8,000 to £0; repaid early. Load 3 - fully repaid as per schedule.
2023 3199.17 26032.91 2688.42 12827.74 9256.14 5817.58 492.98 6630.00 620.00 1040.50 1500.00 0.00 472.66
35289.05
1295.25 964.90 2020.08 1352.00 0.00 0.00 553.31 469.20 491.45 169.50 733.79 0.00 97.50 4845.00 1218.00 0.00 0.00 160.48 101.18
14471.64 20817.41
2023
201355.6 10893.79 0.00
212249.39
15000.00
197249.39
176431.98 20817.41 197249.39
o be processed and included in 23/24 accounts. cember 2024.
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORTTOTHE TRUSTEESOF SHREWSBURY BUDDHISTCENTRE I report on the accounts of the charity the Shrewsbury Buddist Centre for the Year Ended 5 April th 2023 REspE1VE RESPONSIBLILTIES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER As the charitys trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts.- you consider that the audit requirement of Section 43121e of the Charities Act 1993 (the Actl doe5 not apply: it is my responsibility to stste, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the charity Commissioners under sertion 43(7) Ib) of the ACL whether particular matters have come to my attention. BASIS OF INDEPENDETrif EXAMINERS REPORT. My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directiorks given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the tharity and a cornparison of the accounts presented with records. It include5 consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequentFy I do not express an audit opinion given by the accounts. INDEPENDENT EXAMINER. ATEMENT All records that We asked for were provided to me in my examination, and no matters came to light that suggested true and accurate records were not being kept Signed.. W. McGinley Upper Demesne, TheTurnin& Garway, HR2 8RJ 6" July 2023