2023-12-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1st January 2023 To 31st December 2023

Charity name: Oxford Insight Meditation

Charity registration number: 1175855

Objectives and Activities

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SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of Para 1.17 To advance the education of the public in
the charity as set out in its the subject of meditation and the
governing document teachings of the Buddha, in particular but
not exclusively by supporting and
encouraging the study and practice of
Buddhist Insight meditation for the public
benefit, in particular but not exclusively
for the benefit of people in Oxford and
the surrounding areas.
Summary of the main Para 1.17 and Oxford Insight Meditation carries out
1.19
activities in relation to those these purposes by offering a year-round
purposes for the public programme of activities and events to
benefit, in particular, the
the people of Oxford and the surrounding
activities, projects or services
area, giving them the opportunity to
identified in the accounts.
study and practise Buddhist Insight
Meditation and to learn about the
teachings of the Buddha.
We invite teachers from Gaia House, a
retreat centre in the Insight Meditation
tradition, to lead our retreat days. These
teachers are highly experienced, widely
recognised and bound by a code of
ethics.
We are committed to creating inclusive
spaces. We welcome people irrespective
of religious or political beliefs, ethnicity,
class, sexual orientation, gender identity,
age, ability or culture. It is our hope over
time to increase the accessibility of what
we offer to people of all backgrounds
through developing a more varied
programme of events.
Oxford Insight Meditation offers activities
on a sliding scale; it is committed to
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ensuring that no one is excluded from any of its activities because of lack of funds. People unable to afford the discounted rates will not be turned away. Pricing of events is intended to cover the costs of putting on the events; any surplus goes into reserves. The price of events does not cover any payment to teachers. In the longstanding tradition of ‘dana’, donations to the teacher are invited at the end of the session, in gratitude for their teachings. The main activities undertaken by the charity to carry out its charitable purposes for the public benefit are as follows: Teacher-led day retreats – nonresidential day-long retreats in Oxford with respected teachers in the Insight tradition, who offer their teachings free of charge. We ask people to pay a small fee to cover costs but waive this fee where someone is unable to pay it. Donations are invited to support the teachers. The days are suitable for both experienced and new meditators. Monday sitting group – this evening drop-in group is suitable for both beginners and those with more experience. It aims to enable people who are new to Buddhist meditation to have a taste of the practice, and to support more experienced meditators to practise together on a regular basis. These evenings consist of guided meditation, teaching and discussion. Some of the sessions are facilitated by experienced teachers and others by peer facilitators or teachers in training. Donations are invited to support the teachers. Occasional non-residential courses – We occasionally organise and underwrite courses on aspects of meditation practice or the Buddha’s teaching, to support the deepening of understanding and to foster a sense of a community amongst practitioners. Website and e-newsletters – Oxford Insight Meditation keeps in touch with supporters and engages with new people through its website, which has details of

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events and how to book a place on
retreats. We also send out regular email
newsletters to two subscriber lists to let
recipients know about our activities and
other related events: one newsletter is
about the day retreats and has about
550 recipients, and the other is about the
Monday evening drop-in group and has
about 311 recipients.
Statement confirming Para 1.18 The trustees confirm that they have
whether the trustees have complied with their duty to have due
had regard to the guidance regard to the guidance contained in the
issued by the Charity
Charity Commission’s general guidance
Commission on public
on public benefit when reviewing the
benefit
charity’s aims and objectives, in planning
charitable activities and when exercising
any powers or duties to which the
guidance is relevant.
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Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

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SORP reference
n/a
Para 1.38
Policy on grant making
n/a
Para 1.38
Policy on social investment
including program related
investment
Trustees receive no remuneration for
Para 1.38 their work for the charity. All activities are
Contribution made by planned and delivered by volunteers.
volunteers
The Trustees are grateful to all of the
volunteers who have offered service
during the period of this report. Without
their regular support and commitment to
the organisation, our charitable activities
would be significantly reduced.
Other
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Achievements and Performance

SORP reference

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In 2023, we offered eight day-long
retreats led by experienced teachers
connected to Gaia House. These
Summary of the main
Para 1.20 retreats were offered as hybrid events,
achievements of the charity,
with some participants attending in
identifying the difference the
person and others online. This format
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its has been very successful and has
helped us to accommodate those
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a wishing to attend in person, as well as
whole. maintaining accessibility by those with
disabilities or caring responsibilities and
those living further away.
We maintained our fees at the same rate
as the previous year, which allowed us to
cover our costs and make a modest
surplus, whilst also making sure that
retreats were financially accessible.
Each retreat day attracted between 20
and 125 participants.
The Monday sitting group met three
times a month in every month except
August. There are two in-person
meetings in central Oxford, while one
meeting is held online.
Some sessions were led by experienced
and trainee teachers, with the rest led by
peer facilitators. There were between 6
and 20 people at each session.
The group is thriving, with a core of
regular participants with a strong
commitment to practice. It also attracts
many newcomers and beginners and
offers support to develop their practice.
Moving to a cheaper venue has enabled
us to invite participants to stay on for half
an hour to have tea and talk to others.
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Achievements against Para 1.41
objectives set
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives Para 1.41
set
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Investment performance Para 1.41
against objectives
Other
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Financial Review

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Review of the charity’s Para 1.21 Oxford Insight Meditation made a surplus
financial position at the end of £1768.60 in 2023, a significant
of the period increase compared with the previous
year (£7.20). The total assets at 31st
December 2023 were £5631.57.
Finances will continue to be closely
monitored to ensure that the financial
resources of the charity are not
exhausted.
Statement explaining the Para 1.22 Reserves are held to cover the small
policy for holding reserves number of annual fixed costs (insurance,
stating why they are held web hosting, publicity, printing, etc.), and
to provide some contingency if several
day retreats fail to break even. The
majority of costs incurred by OIM relate
to activities that can be cancelled without
incurring significant unrecoverable costs.
For this reason, the reserves needed are
low.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 £1000
Reasons for holding zero Para 1.22 n/a
reserves
Details of fund materially in Para 1.24 n/a
deficit
Explanation of any Para 1.23 n/a
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern
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Additional information (optional)

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The principal source of funds of the
charity are the fees paid by participants
The charity’s principal for the various activities that we offer.
sources of funds (including Para 1.47 There are also a small number of
any fundraising)
donations from members of the public
who support our work.
n/a
Investment policy and
objectives including any Para 1.46
social investment policy
adopted
The charity's income is dependent on
levels of interest in its activities, and the
A description of the principal Para 1.46 capacity of attendees to pay booking
risks facing the charity fees and/or make donations to cover
OIM’s costs. The trustees are mindful of
the need to reverse the trend of recent
years of a deficit, and have been actively
working to reduce costs and increase
income, without compromising our policy
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of ensuring that no one is excluded from our activities because of a lack of funds. One way in which we can do this is to find private accommodation for our visiting teachers. Thanks to the generosity of some of our supporters, we have been able to do this. We are always seeking ways to advertise our events more widely. Other

Structure, Governance and Management

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Description of charity’s
trusts:
Type of governing document Para 1.25 Constitution
(trust deed, royal charter)
How is the charity Para 1.25 Foundation Charitable Incorporated
constituted? Organisation
(e.g. unincorporated
association, CIO)
Trustee selection methods Para 1.25 Appointed by trustees
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees
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Additional information (optional)

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When there is a vacancy for a trustee,
the position is advertised to the OIM
Policies and procedures mailing list, on our website and other
adopted for the induction and Para 1.51
relevant places, and applicants are
training of trustees
invited for interview. Suitable applicants
are sometimes invited to apply. New
trustees are provided with information
on their duties as trustees and their legal
obligations under charity law. They are
also inducted in the work of the charity,
its aims and objectives, its constitution
and how it operates day to day.
Oxford Insight Meditation is part of a
network of Insight Meditation groups
The charity’s organisational around the country that are connected
structure and any wider Para 1.51 with the residential retreat centre Gaia
network with which the
House. We are in regular contact on
charity works
practice and ethical issues. Whilst we
collaborate with these organisations, we
are independent, and there is no formal
legal or financial relationship with any
other organisation.
n/a
Relationship with any related Para 1.51
parties
Other
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Reference and Administrative details

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Charity name Oxford Insight Meditation
Other name the charity uses n/a
Registered charity number 1175855
Charity’s principal address 55 Bartlemas Road Oxford OX4 1XU
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Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
Dates acted if not for whole Name of person (or body) entitled
Trustee name Office (if any)
year to appoint trustee (if any)
Pamela Ruth Treasurer The Charity Trustees
1
Sutherland
Andrew Martin 01/01/2023 - 05/08/2023 The Charity Trustees
2
Finney
Dione Brigid 01/01/2023 - 05/08/2023 The Charity Trustees
3
Avison
Isabel Grace The Charity Trustees
4
Tucker
5 Kathryn Tulip Secretary The Charity Trustees
Jennifer Kirsten The Charity Trustees
6 Daniella
Nicholson
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
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Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name n/a

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

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Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
n/a
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Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

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Description of the assets n/a
held in this capacity
Name and objects of the n/a
charity on whose behalf the
assets are held and how this
falls within the custodian
charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for n/a
safe custody and
segregation of such assets
from the charity’s own assets
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Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

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Type of Name Address
adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
n/a
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Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Signature(s) Isabel Grace Tucker Full name(s) Kathryn Tulip Position (e.g. Secretary, Secretary Chair, etc) Date 21st October 2024

	Oxford Insight Medita:on	Oxford Insight Medita:on	Oxford Insight Medita:on
	Accounts for year ended 31 December 2023
			2023		2022
			£		£
	Income:
	Eventbrite		3569.03		3470.26
	Sumup/cash		352.44		141.32
			3921.47		3611.58
	Expenditure:
	Hall hire		-913.00		-698.00
	Teacher's expenses		-656.12		-2207.46
	Other expenses		-719.19		-662.63
	Insurance		-170.80		-170.80
	Drop in:
	Hire	-589.51		-224.10
	Dana	843.70		186.50
			254.19		-37.60
	Dona:ons:
	CAF less fees		43.38		72.11
	Sunday Sangha:
	Costs	0.00		0.00
	Repayment	8.67		100.00
			8.67		100.00
	Surplus of income over expenditure		1768.60		7.20
Bank Balance at 31 Dec			5591.57		3822.97
Unpresented cheques
Cash in hand			40.00		48.67
Total Assets and LiabiliEes			5631.57		3871.64

Bank Balance at 31 Dec	Bank Balance at 31 Dec	5591.57		3822.97
Unpresented cheques
Cash in hand		40.00		48.67
Total Assets and LiabiliEes		5631.57		3871.64

Approved at AGM 1st September 2024

Pamela Ruth Sutherland

Treasurer