CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1185175 Martsang Kagyu UK Buddhist Centre CIO Unaudited Financial Statements Period start date 6[th] April 2022 Period end date 5[th] April 2023 1 Martsang Kagyu UK Buddhist Centre Financial Statements Year ended 5[th] April 2023 _______________________________________________________________________________ Page Trustees' annual report 1 Statement of financial activities Statement of financial position Notes to the financial statements Independent Examiner's Report The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 5[th] April 2023 Reference and administrative detail Registered Charity Name Martsang Kagyu UK Buddhist Centre CIO Charity registration number 1185175 Principal office 4 Crossways Ely CB6 3TP The trustees His Holiness Gangri Karma Rinpoche C Gyaltsen Mr J A Mclntyre Ms T A Bryson 2 ## Martsang Kagyu UK Buddhist Centre ## Trustees’ Annual Report (continued) ## Year ended 5[th] April 2023 The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 5[th] April 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice relevant to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). ## Introduction The Martsang Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism is an unbroken lineage based on the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha’s sutras and tantras which was founded 858 years ago by Choje Marpa Sherab Yeshe in 1167 (1134-1203). His Holiness Gangri Karma Rinpoche is the spiritual director of the Martsang Kagyu UK Buddhist Centre and is eminently qualified to carry out this role. He is the current lineage holder of the Martsang Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and the reincarnation of the Eleventh Gangri Karma Rinpoche. He is an exceptional scholar of the Dharma and has played a key role internationally exploring the interface of Buddhism with modern science and psychology. ## Structure, governance and management Martsang Kagyu UK Buddhist Centre is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and was registered as such with the Charity Commission on 5th September 2019. The CIO was established under a constitution based largely on the Standard Constitution drafted by the Charity Commission, which establishes the objectives, powers and governance of the CIO. Some of the amendments and additions made relate to Martsang Kagyu traditional Tibetan Buddhism. Trustees are provided with copies of Public Benefit Guidance Notices from the Charity Commission on the organization (PB1), activities (PB2), and reporting responsibilities (PB3) to maintain the objectives of the organization, and in turn their Public Benefit. To fulfil their duties, the trustees are required to have knowledge and experience of the practices of the Martsang Kagyu tradition. The Trustees are therefore drawn from the volunteers of the organisation, who are already familiar with the core values. The trustees are provided with an induction regarding their duties and responsibilities and provided with a copy of the constitution and Charity Commission Guide CC3 (The Essential Trustee). Trustees are appointed for a period of three years as per the governing document. 3 ## Martsang Kagyu UK Buddhist Centre ## Trustees’ Annual Report (continued) ## Year ended 5[th] April 2023 To maximise a line of sight, meetings took place online or in person monthly between trustees, events coordinators, and volunteers. These are conducted to increase transparency throughout the organisation and ensure shared understanding of the values and objectives of the organisation. The CIO has been building relationships with other Buddhist organisations, other faith charities and created relationships with academic bodies to increase knowledge and understanding, and plane to support the researching of Buddha for schoolteachers and to explore the potential to share resources. ## Risk management The courses, workshops and practices operate on an experiential level. As such the CIO has implemented a risk policy to seek to increase awareness of those participants or visitors who are experiencing any difficulties when exploring or practising any of the Buddhist material or activities. Event coordinators are aware of and contribute to the risk policy and a risk register is available for all volunteers and coordinators. Mental and physical health services in the area have been identified for access where necessary. It is our responsibilities to provide a safe environment for those involved in our charitable activities. No incidents were reported in this period. ## Objectives and activities The object of the charity is “To advance Buddhism in the UK for the benefit of the public in accordance with the Martsang Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism mainly but not exclusively by the holding of prayer meetings, lectures, seminars, public celebrations of religious festivals and meditation to enlighten others about the Buddhist religion.” The purpose of the centre is to make these profound Buddhist teachings available for the benefit of the public in the UK through lectures, seminars, public celebrations, prayer meetings and meditation. In exercising the powers of the trust and pursuing the objects of the charity, public benefit is accomplished by: - Regular free meditation classes - Free public lectures around UK - Developing a network of practitioners of Martsang Kagyu Tibetan Buddhism - Reciting Prayers and rituals-Medicine Buddha, Avalokiteshvara Puja, Green Tara, Vajrapani Bodhisattva Puja, and Martsang Lama Chopa. - Presenting Buddhist textual teachings - Personal Buddhist consultancy 4 ## Martsang Kagyu UK Buddhist Centre Trustees’ Annual Report (continued) Year ended 5[th] April 2023 - Providing translations of Tibetan Buddhist texts - Providing cultural and social events - Support young monks training - Support rescuing animals - Support meditation teacher training Further details are provided below: ## Meditation classes: We run four mediation classes a week at regular intervals that seek to help all practitioners increase their wellbeing and health, reduce stress, and gain a sense of peace. In addition, meditation can increase patience and compassion and can help to improve personal and family relationships. This feedback from our meditation students has been documented to support the aims and objectives of our activities and indicated that many students were achieving excellent results. ## Buddhist teachings: Knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism was provided through training in the Marsang Kagyu tradition, as transmitted through His Holiness Gangri Karma Rinpoche and handouts distributed in respect to Buddhism and other media to inform others. We have experienced an increase in students requesting teachings from His Holiness. We provide free lectures in the UK for the public to increase the joy and happiness within their minds and daily life. ## Prayers and rituals: We undertake various rituals and ceremonies to promote the Martsang Kagyu traditional Tibetan Buddhism including: ## Medicine Buddha Puja The practice of the Medicine Buddha within Martsang Kagyu actualises prayers that the Medicine Buddha made in the past to bring happiness by bringing about causes for enlightenment, appeasing problems, satisfying good wishes, and helping those in a state of distress due to illness. ## Green Tara Puja The Martsang Kagyu Green Tara puja is traditionally understood to bring strong help to people's careers. This is understood to bring them benefit and benefit those with whom they interact. 5 ## Martsang Kagyu UK Buddhist Centre ## Trustees’ Annual Report (continued) Year ended 5[th] April 2023 ## Avalokiteshvara Puja The precious Avalokiteshvara Puja is within the Martsang Kagyu system, which includes the Avalokiteshvara offering, Refuge, and so on. It is a prayer for increasing compassion and helping people who have been passed away. ## Martsang Lama Chopa Martsang Lama Chopa is a practice of guru devotion specific to the Martsang Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. We celebrate the Nirvana and enlightenment Day of our lineage founder, Choje Marpa Rinpoche. In gratitude to our founder Choje Marpa's compassion, charitable activities provided by Martsang Kagyu on the day, included releasing animals from captivity into the wild and providing food to homeless. ## Vajrapani Bodhisattva Puja The Vajrapani Bodhisattva puja is a special religious ceremony for Buddhist practitioners. This puja is usually held during the New Year and hope to bring blessings, happiness, health to people. ## Other activities: Providing translations of Tibetan Buddhist texts to Buddhist practitioners. This enables students to gain a deep understanding of Buddhist philosophy that can benefit to their daily life. Holding cultural and social events to increase people experiencing different cultural and to open their mind to enjoy the life. His Holiness provides education to young monks to ensure they receive the appropriate training to continue our charity objectives in the future. We support a farm in Scotland to ensure the animals rescued have enough food to survive for the year. We continue to train meditation teachers to provide more free regular classes for the public. Benefits to meditation have been proved scientifically to improve mental wellbeing, reduce stress, improve concentration, sleep and relaxation. ## Contribution of volunteers The charitable activities are staffed entirely by unpaid volunteers. The role of volunteering is essential to our charity and the contributions of our volunteers has a tremendous impact in terms of public benefit. This includes greater community engagement and developing caring and compassionate qualities in our daily life. 6 ## Martsang Kagyu UK Buddhist Centre Trustees’ Annual Report (continued) Year ended 5[th] April 2023 Volunteering can help the individual in several ways including increasing employability skills, reducing stress, supporting personal development, increasing happiness, making friends and strengthening communities. Achievement and performance Charitable activities that were undertaken for public benefit: The CIO is governed in a manner where the intention is to achieve a degree of public benefit in all activities. The meditation teacher training is an ongoing project and will continue to benefit many more people in the future. Our simple meditation technique has increased happiness and well-being for our practitioners. Regular practice can be useful both to resolve problems such as insomnia, depression, anxiety and trauma, as well as for self-development through improving productivity, confidence, emotional stability and relationships. Some testimonials are provided by students below, which show the range of benefits from meditation training. “I also attended the sleep meditation teaching. I used to be plagued by nightmares and sleep was difficult for me for over 15 years. The sleep meditation really worked well for me - the nightmares stopped, and I have enjoyed normal sleep for years since the course. It has been life changing.” The charity’s spiritual director His Holiness Gangri Karma Rinpoche held prayers and blessings for residents when performing the Vajrapani Bodhisattva puja, Martsang three Buddhist protector puja, Martsang Lama Chopa, and Avalokiteshvara Puja. The attendance rate for all our pujas was high. The pujas were free to attend. The three-year and half Diploma course called the ‘Martsang LamRim’ supports students to transform their minds and open their hearts, based on ancient teachings that originated in India and Tibet that provide antidotes to the stress and isolation of modern urban life. We have experienced an increase in students requesting teachings from His Holiness Gangri Karma Rinpoche. We continue to provide support when requested by the public from His Holiness and teachers for those with mental health issues. This included increasing their understanding from a Buddhist perspective which can result in a positive impact on their mental health, jobs, family relationships, and other personal issues. Our Charity continue to support a farm in Scotland that rescues animals in the area. We donated food to ensure they had enough to eat for a year. In addition, we donated biscuits to homeless people during the celebration of the founder of Martsang Kagyu. 7 Martsang Kagyu U K Buddhist Centre Trustees, Ar￿Ual Re[￿ IcontinLted) Year ended 5 April 2023 His Holine55 Omtinues to supwrt and train S young monk F￿drdiSl￿actmI￿s We continue to suggest dortatrjns for the SuFWt Fund thr￿ ts c(wKtiY*to wa °supporV fee for our Lwen We successfvl secured a 8rnnt to continue and WFPXttrefree f]*ditth daw We to appty for furthergrants to supp)rt the free cSas5es thrThEhc¥Jt ts)tar. PESTLE and stakeholder an3￿6 has teen lntrtsl￿ed as a wxtKeto irKrease to meet future turbulent times as well to enswe we can rnaximise wbfK benefiL Flnandal Rtdl ReseNes Fdicy The charlvs unallocated reserve alt(Ms for the value of fNe montli rental and utl1it1￿ bilbto be pald. This will enable the tharity to continue to operate in the event of a major decline in donations. Efforts continue to be madeto keep our c05t base as kn¥ as Fossible whilst thking ahead to develOp￿t of the strat￿￿ direcilon ofthe tharity. accounts a surplus on 5th April 2023 of £26.145A5 The trusted annual repwt was apwv4ed ￿ P Fetwuary 2024 ar4J syd ￿hall0fthe L￿rd of trustees trf. Hts Holiness Gan8ri Karma Rlnwth C G￿ltsen Tnjstee Mr J A Mclntyre Trustee MST ABr￿n Trustee Martsang Kagyu U K Buddhist Centre . CHARITY CQMIItsSIO Fok FNGIANO UID WAI IiW7S Recel and ments accounts CC16a Tts Section A Receipts and payment5 En41owmgn¢ A1 AR) 21A*) 11J16 Phtofrn¢W(p•ym•ntsJ Ctsh futhl# th11￿￿•￿ c￿RI W)x￿11$s1