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2025-04-05-accounts

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1185175

Martsang Kagyu UK Buddhist Centre CIO Unaudited Financial Statements

Period start date 6[th] April 2024 Period end date 5[th] April 2025

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Martsang Kagyu UK Buddhist Centre

Financial Statements Year ended 5[th] April 2025

______________ Trustees' annual report Statement of financial activities Statement of financial position Notes to the financial statements

The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 5[th] April 2025

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

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Martsang Kagyu UK Buddhist Centre

Trustees’ Annual Report (continued) Year ended 5[th] April 2025

The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 5[th] April 2025. 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 860 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 currently the 38[th] 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.

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

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Martsang Kagyu UK Buddhist Centre

Trustees’ Annual Report (continued) Year ended 5[th] April 2025

plan to support the researching of Buddhism 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. MKUKBC seeks to benefit all people in the community without prejudice or judgement.

In exercising the powers of the trust and pursuing the objects of the charity, public benefit is accomplished by:

Further details are provided below:

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Martsang Kagyu UK Buddhist Centre

Trustees’ Annual Report (continued) Year ended 5[th] April 2025

Meditation classes:

Mediation classes provided 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. Feedback from our meditation students indicates that many students were achieving excellent results in increasing their health and wellbeing.

Buddhist teachings:

Knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism was provided through training in the Martsang Kagyu tradition, as transmitted through His Holiness Gangri Karma Rinpoche.

We will continue to provide free lectures in the UK for the public to increase the joy and happiness within their minds and daily life that provide antidotes to stress and isolation of modern urban 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 meaningful help to people's everyday life. This can bring great benefit to people and their relationships.

Avalokiteshvara Puja

The Precious Avalokiteshvara Puja is a central practice within the Martsang Kagyu tradition, encompassing a range of sacred rituals, including the Avalokiteshvara offering, the taking of Refuge, and various prayers. This puja is primarily dedicated to increasing compassion within oneself and in the world, and it is deeply revered for its ability to benefit all beings.

Martsang Lama Chopa

Martsang Lama Chopa is a deeply significant practice within the Martsang Kagyu tradition, focused on cultivating guru devotion and reverence for the lineage. This practice is particularly observed on the Nirvana and Enlightenment Day of the lineage's founder, Choje Marpa Rinpoche. On this auspicious day, practitioners honour the remarkable life and teachings of Choje Marpa, expressing their deep gratitude for his compassion and the profound wisdom he imparted.

Vajrapani Bodhisattva Puja

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Martsang Kagyu UK Buddhist Centre

Trustees’ Annual Report (continued) Year ended 5[th] April 2025

The Vajrapani Bodhisattva Puja is a special and highly revered religious ceremony within the Buddhist tradition, performed to invoke the blessings and protection of Vajrapani. Vajrapani is known for his strength and ability to remove obstacles, making this puja particularly powerful in overcoming challenges and bringing about positive transformation.

Other activities:

Working with communities to forge and develop strong connections, friendships and relationships. This includes increasing public awareness and mutual understanding of the teachings, traditions and practices of different faith communities in the UK and promoting good relationships between people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. For example, collaborating with local councils including attending coffee meetings, promotion of interfaith dialogue and provision of events for the local community. The delivery of such services also helped to reduce social isolation within different groups of society.

Holding a bathing Buddha ceremony every year to celebrate the birth of Buddha and the diversity of our multicultural and multi-faith society, through a curated programme offering traditional Buddhist Ceremonies, and activations, music performances, spiritual wellbeing puja, and blessing ceremonies for the community.

His Holiness provides education and support 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 sufficient food to survive for the year. Key to MKUKBC’s future endeavours is their aspiration to work in harmony with nature to ensure a sustainable future for all.

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 have a tremendous impact in terms of public benefit. This includes greater community engagement and developing caring and compassionate relationships while holding a deep respect for interfaith relations.

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:

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Martsang Kagyu UK Buddhist Centre

Trustees’ Annual Report (continued) Year ended 5[th] April 2025

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. One of our testimonials is provided below, which show the range of benefits from meditation training.

“I have found the classes very helpful, deep and informative. Having a weekly meditation class has been like an anchor that has helped me to cultivate a sense of calmness in these challenging times. Fred”

In partnership with the Camden Faith and Community Awards, our singers performed Buddhist songs on behalf of local Buddhist organisations at the awards ceremony. The audience greatly enjoyed the beautiful Tibetan songs presented on the day.

Enhanced relationships and cooperated with different faith organizations, the outcome of which will improve community peace and happiness is one of our charity's objectives. Attended interfaith coffee morning and met with diverse groups representing different faiths organised by Camden council. Our meditation teachers also provided mindfulness sessions to schools.

On Buddha Day, many residents joined us in celebrating the birth of the Buddha. We shared Buddhist culture and traditions with all participants, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Everyone enjoyed the event and had a meaningful and enriching experience engaging with Buddhist practices and heritage.

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 pujas, Martsang Lama Chopa, and Avalokiteshvara Puja. The attendance rate for all our pujas was high. All pujas are free to attend.

Nominated to attend Buckingham Palace Garden party

His Holiness Gangri Karma Rinpoche was invited to attend the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, 8 May 2024, to celebrate the contributions of Martsang Kagyu to the community. Buckingham Palace Garden Party invitations are extended to nominated guests who have been recognised for their outstanding contributions. His Majesty King Charles III welcomed guests to the first Royal Garden Party of 2024. He was accompanied by Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

The Buddhist teachings support students to transform their minds and open their hearts, based on

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