Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements Year: 06 Apr 2022 - 05 Apr 2023
Charity number:1169219
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From To
06 04 2022 05 04 2023
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Avon Buddhists
None 1169219 35 Coronation Road Downend Bristol BS16 5SN
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Mr Ashok Mali Chairperson 20/02/2015 To Date Trustees Appointed
Mr Stephen Holley Treasurer 20/02/2015 To Date Trustees Appointed
Mr Scott Pomery Secretary 20/02/2015 To Date Trustees Appointed
Mr Chris Hill Trustee 20/02/2015 To Date Trustees Appointed
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Dr Mark Fahey
Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). An association consisting of everyone who uses the Avon Buddhists or volunteers their time. Trustees are appointed or reappointed annually at the Annual General Meeting held in October.
All trustees and staff give their time voluntary and received no remuneration or other benefits.
Avon Buddhist Group was set up with the primary purpose to preserve and maintain the Mahayana Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and make the teachings available to the wider public. Our central tenet is to offer the teachings as a clear path for the future well being and happiness of our community and the wider public. Paramount to this is to provide the right conditions for our spiritual guide, Ven Geshe Lobsang Thinley to teach and give advice. Around him, a small group of dedicated students have gathered in order to bring about some of our objectives. As follows:
(i) To provide accommodation for the teacher and his day-to-day needs. In the beginning, this was offered by students on a six-monthly basis, but eventually, it was decided that he needed to be independent and so rented accommodation was acquired. The present accommodation above is the principal address of the charity.
(ii) Provide suitable venues for the teachings to be held. Rented spaces were made available in the local area which gave us the opportunity to advertise
our events to the public. These were on a weekly basis where a talk was given by the Geshe and then a discussion would follow. Weekend courses were also offered on particular topics every two or three months.
(iii) Social events were organised on special days/celebrations. This gave us the chance to fund-raise and get the message out regarding our purposes to a wider audience.
(iv) Business models. Discussion amongst the group on how we can generate a more sustained and stable income rather than relying on donations as our main source. As part of our ethos, we wish to provide not just spiritual/emotional nourishment but physical nourishment/comfort too. The cafe and a social gathering place ideas were discussed and how these could be realised.
(v) Following on from this point the need for a more substantial space/property is still the next priority: the aim is to bring together all of the above under one roof and thus we hope it would become an integral part of the community and to give us the opportunity to expand our aims into other areas of service.
After the problems experienced with lockdowns due to Covid 19 and rises in the overall cost of living, our plans in the coming year will attempt to find further means of income and find a space/property as an Avon Buddhist Centre.
Due to the Covid 19 restrictions, the Avon Buddhist Group had great difficulties providing its core purpose - as soon as these are lifted we will continue to offer Buddhist teachings to the general public. These remain on a weekly basis by our resident teacher Ven. Geshe Lobsang Thinley. The general programme begins with offering prayers chanted in Tibetan (although an English translation is there for those who wish to read it), followed by the main topic of the evening. A discussion amongst the group follows. Emphasis is always placed on making the teachings relevant to our everyday experiences with a particular focus on strategies enhancing wellbeing and reducing problems. Similarly, weekend courses are held to give students a more in-depth study of the Buddhist Path by focusing on particular topics in the Canon. These are generally well attended.
Furthermore, our outreach program will extended to include groups outside the Bristol area. Links to other communities are encouraged who might share common interests. In the past invitations have come from local schools for our teacher to talk about Buddhism to the students as part of their studies on Comparative Religions. Also encouragement in the learning of mindfulness and stress relief techniques to help with their studies and enhance their general health and happiness.
We will continue to organise social events so we can keep in touch with our extended associate members who are unable to attend regularly. The core group meet fairly often to discuss current needs, progress reports and future projections. Special events to commemorate Losar or Tibetan New Year and to celebrate the birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama are organised. Thanks go to our Chairman for providing the venue for these occasions offering food and entertainment. And to the volunteers who give their time and make it possible.
Concerns over our finances have been in review for some time. The need to reduce our overall costs has meant we have had to consider where our priorities lie. Our primary outgoing has been the rent on Geshe Thinley’s residence. It has also become apparent that his situation has become difficult and inappropriate for his status as a monk and so the need for him to move to more suitable accommodation has become absolutely necessary. In due course, placement has been found and while not ideal ie. it is smaller, a single room with shared facilities, it is a temporary solution. However, it is more affordable and nearer his place of work.
Inquiries concerning finding Geshe Thinley a council accommodation have been successful. However, due to the smallness of his current accommodation, we cannot hold our weekly classes there and have had to look for alternative venues. Fortunately one of our core members has access to a Community Room in the block of flats where she lives. As a resident, she is entitled to hire the room at no cost and so this is at present where we hold our meetings. It is a large space with an adjacent kitchen facility so ideal for our purposes. Advertising this and other functions are now on our web page.
Since our last review, the organization has continued to function largely due to the generosity of our donors. However regular donations generated from our teaching programme have fluctuated from month to month which has made forward planning difficult. Many of our projects have had to be put on hold for the time being but we hope to bring some of these to fruition in the near future. To this end, we are looking for sponsors. Part of our programme looking for sponsorship has been focused on our membership.
Mail-shots with publicity materials, fundraising events etc at some cost and effort to the volunteers and active members have not generated enough in the past. We continue to inform by email and on our web page about our activities.
However our catchment is small, relatively speaking, and so it has been decided to spread the net wider, literally on the Net by opening our Facebook and Twitter pages. Posting various Buddhist related topics, articles, teachings etc along with who we are and what we are trying to achieve we hopefully are broadening our appeal.
Recognising the situation as it has been, our teacher Ven Geshe Thinley took the unprecedented decision to find work in order to help supplement our costs. An excellent cook learnt from his time in his monastery he took courses to up his skills in preparation for the world of work. This while still teaching and carrying on his own personal studies. While it was never our intention for this to happen, his practical solution to all things has stabilised, for the moment at least the drain on the finances. His subsequent move to his present address again has shown his willingness to help lift the financial burden and secure a future for Avon Buddhists.
Please find statements relating to the relevant financial periods in the appendices of cc16a.
Mr Ashok Mali Mr Stephen Holley Chairperson Treasurer
01/11/2023
| Charity | No | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avon Buddhists | 1169219 | |||
| Receipts andpayments accounts | CC16a | |||
| For the period from |
06/04/2022 Period start date |
Period end date 05/04/2023 To |
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 5 - - - - - 68 - - - 68 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 68 3,654 3,722 63 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 5 - - - - - 68 - - - 68 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 68 63 |
Total funds to the nearest £ 5 - - - - - 68 - - - 68 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 68 63 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | 5 | 141 | ||||
| PayPal Donations | 63 | 70 | ||||
~~Cash at PayPal Account~~ |
154 | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
68 | 365 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| 365 | ||||||
| RentforSpiritual Teacher | - | - | ||||
| Administration | - | - | ||||
| Room Rent | - | - | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
||||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| 68 | - | - | 68 | 365 | ||
| - | - | - | - | |||
| 3,654 | - | - | 3,654 | 3,289 | ||
| 3,722 | - | - | 3,722 | 3,654 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
01/11/2020
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds |
Details Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Cash at Bank Cash at PayPal Details Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 3,435 - 287 - - - 3,722 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - - - - - - Print Name Mr Ashok Mali Mr Stephen Holley |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Date of approval |
|||
| Mr Ashok Mali | 01/11/2023 | ||
| Mr Stephen Holley | 01/11/2023 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
2
Appendix (I): Avon Buddhists Barclay's Account (73323595) 06/04/2022-0S/04/2023
Avon Buddhists Barclays Statements
| Avon Buddhists Barclays Statements | Avon Buddhists Barclays Statements | Avon Buddhists Barclays Statements | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date Account Num Description Memo BALANCE 15/09/2022 20/02/2023 Avon Buddhists From Amazon Europe Now Closed TOTAL 16/09/2022 - 05/04/2023 BALANCE 05/04/2023 16/09/2022 Through 05/04/2023 (in U.K. Pounds Sterling) 26/04/2023 |
Category Amount 3,430.29 Other Income 5.00 5.00 3,435.29 TOTAL INFLOWS 5.00 TOTAL OUTFLOWS 0.00 NET TOTAL 5.00 Page 1 |
||
| BALANCE 15/09/2022 | |||
| 20/02/2023 Avon Buddhists From Amazon Europe Now Closed |
|||
| TOTAL 16/09/2022 - 05/04/2023 | |||
| BALANCE 05/04/2023 | |||
Appendix: Appendix (II) Avon Buddhists Pay Pal Account 06/04/2022 - 05/04/202 3
Avon Buddhists PayPal Statment
06/04/2022 Through 05/04/2023 (in U.K. Pounds Sterling)
| 26/04/2023 | Page 1 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Account | Num | Description | Memo | Category | Clr | Amount | |
| BALANCE 05/04/2022 | 224.22 | |||||||
| 07/04/2022 | AB PayPal | Tanya Liddiatt | 94295349T4738045X | Donation Payment | 4.73 | |||
| 09/05/2022 | AB PayPal | Tanya Liddiatt | 31N39291YH746431D | Donation Payment | 9.66 | |||
| 15/06/2022 | AB PayPal | Tanya Liddiatt | 7RT96159NH647993G | Donation Payment | 9.66 | |||
| 29/06/2022 | AB PayPal | Tanya Liddiatt | 3GD3083165778050V | Donation Payment | 4.73 | |||
| 18/07/2022 | AB PayPal | Tanya Liddiatt | 8F84586313037023P | Donation Payment | 4.73 | |||
| 23/09/2022 | AB PayPal | Tanya Liddiatt | 2967681338258693Y | Donation Payment | 9.66 | |||
| 20/10/2022 | AB PayPal | Tanya Liddiatt | 2967681338258693Y | Donation Payment | 9.66 | |||
| 07/02/2023 | AB PayPal | Tanya Liddiatt | 2FA43387DY7225023 | Donation Payment | 9.66 | |||
| TOTAL 06/04/2022 - 05/04/2023 | 62.49 | |||||||
| BALANCE 05/04/2023 | 286.71 | |||||||
| TOTAL INFLOWS | 62.49 | |||||||
| TOTAL OUTFLOWS | 0.00 | |||||||
| NET TOTAL | 62.49 |