Trustees’ report 2021 

# **st – Triratna Liverpool Buddhist Centre Report 1 April 2020 31st March 2021** 

Prepared by Kshantabandhu, June 2021 

## **1. General Summary** 

This has been an extraordinary year, dominated by the global Covid pandemic. This has meant the closure of the centre and a move to on-line activities for the majority of the year. 

Of course, this has involved adjusting to new technology and ways of relating to each other that often did not involve face to face contact. During the crisis we have had to adapt to changing levels of risk. Initially when lockdown began Sumnadipa emailed weekly to keep our community informed of any changes being made due to restrictions imposed nationally during the crisis. When lockdown eased Sthirabandhu and Sumnadipa kept Sangha night running at the centre for a period of time, an alternative Zoom Sangha meeting was also initiated by Buddhashanti for those unable to attend due to shielding themselves or others. Recently we have started activities at the centre again in a limited and risk managed manner. 

In November Sumnadipa stepped down as chair of the charity. The Trustees are very grateful for Sumnadipa’s outstanding contribution to development at the centre. This has included overseeing a major fundraising drive providing us with a stable financial position and the leadership to search and find our current city centre premises. 

We have had one ordination during the lockdown period in October 2020: Mike Whittam became Kshantabandhu at a special organised socially distant retreat at Padmaloka. Kshantabandhus’preceptors are Buddhashanti, from the Liverpool centre and Satyaraja form Padmaloka.  We are also celebrating one Mitra who has asked for ordination -Marianna. 

Two outreach activities continue - Kshantabandhu visits a local prison and Caz has continues support for Sangha families both on-line and in local parks. 

A morning on-line meditation has been led consistently by Mokshaka for a year, which has provided another essential support for Sangha members to maintain their practice. Thanks to him for this much appreciated and supportive activity. 

## **2. Events and Activities** 

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Trustees’ report 2021 

## **Sangha evenings** 

Despite the lockdown we have continued to offer Sangha evenings via Zoom and for brief periods in the centre, when lockdown was eased  We have Sthirabandhu to thank for his work in establishing a technical set up at the centre to enable us to share activities via Zoom. Sangha members have had to shield themselves or loved ones from possible infection, so this has been a lifeline for some people 

Sangha evenings have been shorter but have been well attended and we have continued to offer a meditation and Dharma teaching, led by order members including Buddhashanti, Ketumati Satyaketu, Moksaka, Sthirabandhu and Ajitamati. 

Participation at sangha evenings has been supplemented by newcomers from on-line courses and enquirers through email contact. 

## **Meditation and Buddhism Courses** 

We have offered three on line courses, two led by Mokshaka and one by Satyaketu. 

Moksaka led two beginners’ courses supported by Ajitamati,Kshantabandhu, Caz and Jnanadeva from Birmingham(?). 

An intermediate course was offered by Satyaketi supported by Kshantabandhu, Janet and Marianna. 

All courses were well attended and led to new participants at Sangha nights. 

## **Dharma Study** 

Sumnadipa continued to lead Dharma study for men and women on a weekly basis. The group is now in its third year. Thanks to Kshantabandhu for supporting Sumnadipa with her study group. This group is popular and provides a way for people to deepen their practice; to re-orientate their lives and to increase levels of skilfulness and understanding of the Dharma. 

## **Family Gatherings** 

Caz McCann has continued a weekly Family Gathering group which is for Sangha members with families or those who care for children. This has been offered on-line and in local parks during the pandemic and is very much appreciated by everyone involved.  Thanks to Caz for her creativity and commitment together with support from Steve. 

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Trustees’ report 2021 

## **Prison Service** 

Kshantabandhu has continued to visit prisoners in a local prison, with a pause during the worst period of the pandemic. Recently he has been asked to visit a second prison. 

## **Sangha Members** 

We currently have about 40 Sangha members, some who come to the centre very regularly and others less frequently. 

Mariana has asked for ordination recently, many congratulations to her. Sarah Laird has withdrawn from the ordination process and all Sangha activities. 

We currently have 5 Mitras who have asked for Ordination; Janet, Mary, Elke, Mariana and Caz. 

## **3. Centre Team** 

The centre has been closed for lengthy periods during the pandemic, but thanks to Sthirabandhu, Janet and others for their work in keeping the centre tidy and prepared for ‘hybrid’ evenings involving online and shrine room activities. 

Thanks also to Janet for her continuing in the role of Treasurer and for the considerable work in keeping the accounts for us. Thanks as well to Lynn and Marianna for helping to keep our rooms clean and beautiful. 

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## **Triratna Liverpool Receipts and Payments Accounts for the year ended 31[st] March 2021** 

||2021|_2020_|_(See_|
|---|---|---|---|
|_Note)_||||
||£|_£_||
|**Receipts**||||
|Donations|11,117|_9,811_||
|Courses|923|_343_||
|Shop & Books|-|_422_||
|Gift Aid|1,564|1,542||
|Refund of Electricity charges|-|1,482||
|Website|34|_-_|_(1)_|
|Rental income from owned property|6,240|_6,240_||
|Interest on bank accounts|169|_383_||
||--------------|---------------||
|**Total Receipts**|20,000|_20,223_||
||--------------|--------------||
|**Payments**||||
|Rent|11,500|_11,500_||
|Electricity|419|_2,619_||
|Charitable donations|240|20|(2)|
|Insurance|402|_388_||
|Rates|942|_927_||
|Shop & Books|-|_385_||
|Website/IT/Comms|955|_330_|_(3)_|
|Petty Cash|-|77||
|Publicity|123|_-_||
|Chairs Retreat|-|_259_||
|Centre Development|-|_86_||
|Retreat|-|_144_||
|Expenses on owned property|1,180|_1,235_|_(4)_|
|Accountancy|-|_780_||
||--------------|--------------||
|**Total payments**|15,761|_18,750_||
||--------------|--------------||
|**Net Receipts/(payments) for the year**|4239|_1473_||
||--------------|--------------||
|Bank and cash balances at start of year|70,125|_68,652_||
|**Bank and cash balances at end of year**|**74,412**|**_70,125_**||
||**----------**|**----------**||





## **Triratna Liverpool Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31[st] March 2020** 

||2020||
|---|---|---|
|_2019_|||
||£|_£_|
|**Bank and cash balances**|**74,412**|**_70,125_**|
||**------------**|**------------**|
|**Fixed Assets**|||
|Land and Buildings|60,000|_60,000_|
|Shrine Room|3,862|_3,862_|
|Fixtures and fttings|9,912|_9,912_|
||-----------|----------|
||73,774|_73,774_|
||**------------**|**------------**|





## **Notes** 

- (1) This amount was a refund from a mix up with order and billing for new website domain name 

- (2) This is a regular donation made to the Development Fund of the Triratna European Chairs Assembly whose aims are to benefit the development of Triratna Centres around the world. 

- (3) Included in this section are costs for a new mobile phone, new website costs and regular subscription to Zoom Video Conferencing. 

- (4) Service Charge for flat. 

- a. All the charity’s funds are unrestricted at the year end.  Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. 

- b. The  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  the Charities Act 2011.  As a lower-income charity under section 133 of the 2011  Act,  the  trustees  have  elected  to  prepare  the  charity’s  financial statements using the Receipts and Payments basis. 

Approved by the trustees on and signed on their behalf by: 

Janet Drury Treasurer 



## **Financial Review** 

The beginning of this financial year, as we all know, saw the first of the series of national ‘lock-downs’ and consequently the Centre has been closed for much of the year.  Although initially we were concerned about the impact of the loss of income from cash donations and sales of books and cards, our regular donors have, in the main, continued to support the Centre and we have in fact ended the year in a satisfactory financial position.  Over the course of the year our average monthly income has been £1,660 and our average monthly expenditure has been £1,313. 

## Income 

Our two main sources of income are the donations from our members and friends and rent from the flat.  This last year donations have accounted for 55.5% of income, the rent for 31.0% and the remaining 13.5% has come from the total of the courses and Gift Aid claim. 

We are extremely grateful to those regular donors who have continued to support us throughout this year, despite the centre being closed. However, there has been a slight drop in the numbers.  Sadly we know that one person has died and another has moved away from Triratna completely. We are also aware that this year has brought financial instability to many and it may well be that, for some, charitable contributions have been suspended by necessity.  On a positive note, there have been several ‘one-off’ donations received and I want to express my appreciation to all those who have contributed in this way. 

Our small shop has had to be closed along with the Centre so obviously there’s been no income from that this year. 

We are grateful to Mokshaka who took the plunge and offered our first introductory course to be run on line using Zoom.  This proved to be very successful and was then followed by several more.  All the courses were offered on a dana basis and the total income generated from these came to £923 in total. 

The Gift Aid Scheme gives us a small, but important, additional regular income.  We need to ensure that we continue to take advantage of it and make everybody aware of their option to ‘gift aid’ their donations. 

The rental income from our flat is invaluable.  We had hoped that this would provide us with the capacity to make some financial surplus but it has turned out to be essential in enabling us to remain in the premises we now occupy.  We need to be aware that should our tenant vacate the property then this income would cease quite abruptly, I believe that we should therefore make some contingency plan to ensure that when the 



need arises, the property is re-let as soon as possible and income loss is minimised. 

## Outgoings 

We have still had to pay the rent throughout the year which is obviously the bulk of our expenses.  We have however had much reduced electricity costs. 

A significant increase in outgoings is in the area of IT, Communications and the Website.  This will likely continue into the coming year as we develop a new website and look to improve how we can ensure that what we have to offer is made more accessible to a wider audience. 

A lot of time is given, and some expenses are covered, voluntarily by our members and friends and again we express our gratitude to the commitment and generosity of all involved.  It is only this commitment which allows the Centre to continue as a source of friendship and inspiration to those who use it. 

## Reserves 

The total free reserves of the charity are £74,412.  Our policy is to keep about £10,000 in our current account as a working reserve, and as of 31[st] March 2021 the balance was £14,700.  The remainder is held in a savings account with the Triodos Bank. 

Financial Report prepared June 2021 by Janet Drury Treasurer