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2024-10-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1 Nov 2023 To 31 Oct 2024

Charity name: MILTON KEYNES VIHARA: COMMUNITY CENTRE FOR MINDFULNESS MEDITATION

Charity registration number: 1183908

Objectives and Activities

SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document		 Para 1.17 For the public benefit, to advance
Buddhism in Milton Keynes and the
surrounding area, in particular but not
exclusively by: (a) facilitating the
teaching of Theravada Buddhism and to
provide opportunities for the study and
practice of Buddhist philosophy,
meditation and mindfulness (b)
conducting regular lessons in Buddhism
for devotees. (c) establishing centres for
the practice of Buddhism and meditation
(d) providing residential facilities for
Buddhist monks to teach and practice
Buddhism.
Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.		 Para 1.17 and
1.19		 • Conducting regular classes teaching
Theravada Buddhism to children
• Conducting a regular programme of
meditation courses
• Organising regular talks and
discussions on Buddhism and
meditation practice that are open to
anyone to attend
• Maintaining accommodation for the
resident monks on the vihara
premises
Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit		 Para 1.18 Yes, all trustees have read this
guidance.

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Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

SORP
reference
Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Not applicable
Policy on social
investment including
program related
investment		 Para 1.38 Not applicable
Contribution made by
volunteers		 Para 1.38 • Volunteers contribute their time and expertise
to support the activities of the Milton Keynes
Vihara summarised above. This includes:
o
Facilitating children’s Buddhism
programme
o
Facilitating regular Buddhism talks and
discussions that are open to the public
o
Working to maintain the Vihara premises
Other Not applicable

Achievements and Performance

SORP reference
Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.		 Para 1.20 •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•		 Milton Keynes Vihara has continued
to conduct regular events that
enable the community to learn
Buddhist teachings and develop
their practice of meditation.
The children’s Dhamma School
programme is conducted twice each
month, with students having the
option to join in person at the Vihara
premises or online.
Organisation of a programme of
devotional songs to mark the Poson
full moon day in June 2023
(https://mkvihara.org/events/2024-06-
29/)
Formal invitation of monks to spend
the rains retreat at the vihara (Vas
Aradhana, July-Nov 2024):
https://mkvihara.org/events/2024-07/
https://mkvihara.org/events/2024-08/
https://mkvihara.org/events/2024-09/
https://mkvihara.org/events/2024-10/
https://mkvihara.org/events/2024-11/
Katina Ceremony at the end of the
rains retreat (16 Nov 2024):
https://mkvihara.org/event/milton-
keynes-vihara-annual-kathina-
ceremony-2024/

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Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against
objectives set		 Para 1.41 No additional information to add to that
provided above.
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set		 Para 1.41 Fundraising to support the activities of
the vihara have been through one-off
donations from individuals visiting the
Vihara or regular contributions from
well-wishers and members of the
community.
The funds raised have been sufficient to
meet the essential expenses of
maintaining the Vihara premises (rent,
utilities, telephone / broadband and
council tax).
Investment performance
against objectives		 Para 1.41 Not applicable
Other Not applicable

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Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the
charity’s financial
position at the end of
the period		 Para
1.21		 The financial position of the vihara continues to
return to a more stable footing, although income has
fallen slightly to £24,294 (cf. £29,801 in 2022/23).
However, overall expenditure is also lower £21,123
(cf. £27.823 in 2022/23). One contributory factor
towards this difference is that last year (2022/23), we
received and spent a grant of £3,600 from Milton
Keynes Council to hold a community celebration of
the King’s Coronation in May 2023.
Successful fund raising activities relating to the
Rains Retreat (Vas) programme and other events
enabled Milton Keynes Vihara to close the year with
an operating surplus of £3,171/-, leading to a current
account balance of £10,755/- on 31 Oct 2024.
Statement explaining
the policy for holding
reserves stating why
they are held		 Para
1.22		 We haven’t raised any further funds to our Building
Fund, which was established to enable the Trustees
to explore a permanent physical location for Milton
Keynes Vihara. This was partly due to the death of
one of the trustees, Dr. Ajit de Silva, who was
leading this initiative. The remaining trustees have
not had the capacity to progress this work.
Amount of reserves
held		 Para
1.22		 £10,200/-
Reasons for holding
zero reserves		 Para
1.22		 The Milton Keynes Vihara is now in its 6th year of
operation and the establishment of the ‘Building
Fund’ account was a first step in the long term
planning for the development of the vihara. The
death of the trustee leading this, Dr. Ajit de Silva, led
to a decision to put this work on hold. However, it is
still the ambition of the trustees to establish a long-
term home for the Vihara. This is something that will
be explored and progressed over the next 2 years.
Details of fund
materially in deficit		 Para
1.24		 None
Explanation of any
uncertainties about
the charity continuing
as a going concern		 Para
1.23		 None

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources
of funds (including any
fundraising)		 Para 1.47 Direct donations from supporters of
Milton Keynes Vihara
Investment policy and objectives
including any social investment
policy adopted		 Para 1.46 Not applicable
A description of the principal
risks facing the charity		 Para 1.46 Loss of physical premises
Cost of living pressures leading to
reduction in donations.
Limited capacity of trustees to develop
long term plan for Vihara premises
Other Not applicable

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Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s
trusts:
Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)		 Para 1.25 CIO Constitution
How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)		 Para 1.25 CIO
Trustee selection methods
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		 Para 1.25 The founding trustees were volunteers
from the community who wanted to
support the establishment of the Milton
Keynes Vihara. This includes i. Head of
the Centre; ii. President; iii. Secretary;
and iv. Treasurer of the Milton Keynes
Vihara who are ex-officio trustees as
defined in the CIO’s constitution.
We have vacancies for 2 new trustees, a
secretary and treasurer.
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements		 where relevant about:
Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees		 Para 1.51 Induction: Trustees will make available
to each new charity trustee, on or before
his or her first appointment:
1. a copy of the CIO constitution
and any amendments made to it;
and
2. a copy of the CIO’s latest
trustees’ annual report and
statement of accounts.
3. Induction meetings with the Head
of Centre and President of the
Vihara
The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works		 Para 1.51 Not applicable
Relationship with any
related parties		 Para 1.51 Not applicable
Other Not applicable

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name MILTON KEYNES VIHARA: COMMUNITY CENTRE FOR
MINDFULNESS MEDITATION
Other name the charity uses MILTON KEYNES VIHARA
Registered charity number 1183908
Charity’s principal address 3 Aldrich Drive
Willen
Milton Keynes
MK15 9HP

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Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20		 Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for
**whole year **		 Name of person (or body) entitled
to appoint trustee (ifany)
Prof. Arosha K. Bandara Trustee
Dr. Ajit De Silva Trustee 1/112023 – 01/02/2024
Ven. Akurala Samithasiri Head of Centre
Dr. Dinuka De Silva Trustee
Dr. Mahesh Dias Trustee

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

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Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets Not applicable held in this capacity Name and objects of the Not applicable charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for Not applicable safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of Name Address adviser Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details Not applicable

Other optional information

One of our long-serving trustees, Dr. Ajit de Silva, died in February 2024.

Declarations

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

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s)
Full name(s)
Position (eg Secretary,
Chair, etc)
Date
Professor Arosha K. Bandara Ven. Akurala Samithasiri

Trustee		 Trustee

04 / 14 / 2025		 04 / 23 / 2025

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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner s Report Report to the trusteesl membèrs of Milton Keynes lfjhara.. Communty Centre for Mindfulness Meditation On accounts for the year ended 310CT 2024 Charlty no (rf any) 1183908 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of ttle above charity (Ihe Trust'} for the year erKled 3111012W. ResponsSbllltles and As the charity trustees of the Trust. you a￿ responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordan￿ with the requirem8nts of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe Acr). I réport in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts Carried out under seclion 145 ofthe 2011 Act and in (xrying out my ex8mination, I have followed the ap￿Icable Directions given by the Chanty Commission under section 14515)(bl of the Ad. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below") in connect￿￿ wth the eXaMinat￿n which gNes me cause to believe Ihat in. any material respect: accounling re￿rdS were not kept in accordance wtth section 130 of the Ad or the accounts do not accord vath the aC￿U￿.ng records Inde￿ndent examiner's statement I have no concems ar￿ have cAJme across no other matters in connection with the examinatson to which attents.on shoukl be drawn in order lo enabl8 proper nderstanding of the accounts to be reached. Ple de the words in the brackets rfthey do not 8ppIy. Signed: Date: 202 Name: Relevant professional quallficatlon(sl or body (rf any}: LIMk U IER October 2018

Section B Disclosure Onty complete rf the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Inde￿r￿lent examination of charFty accounis: directions and guhdance for examiners). .Gi￿e hwo brief detsil$ of any item5 that the exanllner wlshes to dlscto3e. NIO MKliqio) 4b Vc 10 Il LDL5 IER October 2018

Milton Keynes Vihara Milton Keynes Vihara Milton Keynes Vihara Milton Keynes Vihara 1183908 CC16a
Receipts and payments accounts
For the period
from		 01-Nov-23 To 31-Oct-24
Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts Unrestricted
funds
to the nearest £		 Restricted funds
to the nearest £		 Endowment
funds
to the nearest £		 Total funds
to the nearest £

Income - StandingOrder		 9,130 -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 - 9,130 8,515
Income - KATINA Ceremony (Last Year) 1,535 - 1,535 450
Income - KATINA Ceremony (This Year) 1,340 - 1,340 5,440
Income - ATAVISI BUDDHA PUJA(This Year) 3,005 - 3,005 4,145
Income - VAS PUJA(This Year) 2,190 - 2,190 -
Income - Poson Celebration 2,590 - 2,590 900
Income - New Year 75 - 75 936
Income - Coronation Celebration(2023) - - 3,800
Income - Other Donations 4,429 - 4,429 5,615
Income - BuildingFund Donations - - - 10,200
Sub total(Gross income for AR) 24,294 -
-
-
-
-		 - 24,294 40,001
A2 Asset and investment sales, (see
table).
- - -
- - - -
Sub total - - - -
Total receipts
A3 Payments
- 24,294 40,001

Expenditure - Rent		 15,000 -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 - 15,000 15,000
Expenditure - Council Tax 2,397 - 2,397 2,280
Expenditure - Energy 2,767 - 2,767 2,462
Expenditure - Water 500 - 500 329
Expenditure - Telecomms 460 - 460 370
Expenditure - Coronation Celebration - - - 3,851
Expenditure - New Year Event - - - 212
Expenditure - Kathina Ceremony (Last Year) - - 3,028
Expenditure - Kathina Ceremony (This Year) - - 292
Other expenses - - - -
Donation to other orgainsations - - -
Returned Donations - - - -
**Sub total ** 21,123 -
-
-
-
-
-
-
10,200
10,200		 - 21,123 27,823
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
- 21,123 27,823
3,171
-
3,171		 12,178
- - - -
7,584 - 17,784 5,606
10,755 - 20,955 17,784

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories
B2 Other monetary assets
B1 Cash funds		 Details
Total cash funds
(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s))
Details
Closing bank balance on 31 Oct 2024		 Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £		 Restricted funds
to nearest £		 Endowment
funds
to nearest £
10,755 10,200 -
- - -
- - -
10,755 10,200 -
OK OK OK
Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £		 Restricted funds
to nearest £		 Endowment
funds
to nearest £
- - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
- - -

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Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of
all the trustees
B5 Liabilities
B3 Investment assets
B4 Assets retained for the charity’s
own use		 Details
Details
Details

Signature		 Fund to which asset
belongs
Cost (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which asset
belongs
Cost (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
liability relates
Amount due
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Print Name
Arosha K. Bandara (Trustee)
Ven. Akurala Samithasiri (Trustee)		 Current value
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
When due
(optional)
Date of approval
04 / 23 / 2025
~~04 / 14 / 202~~5
Arosha K. Bandara (Trustee) ~~04 / 14 / 20~~
Ven. Akurala Samithasiri (Trustee) 04 / 23 / 20

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