The Zen Gateway Trust Annual Report for year ending 31/10/2024
This year marks our 12 year anniversary. Since we launched in 2012 we have undergone a number of significant changes.
Our original vision was to create a platform, almost a social media platform for Zen groups who wanted a place online to interact with the general public as well as other Zen groups or those with similar interests. We quickly learned that this was not what was wanted. We found most groups were more inward looking and so changed tack. What is more for those who are interested in the Dharma what they wanted was quality Dharma.
So, we re-launched in the current ‘magazine’ format we see today. We now became what is known as ‘content creators’, being our own source for materials that we publish. This means that the emphasis is placed on us to source and quality control the materials we publish. What we found from our previous survey and from interactions with subscribers and Dharma Centre members is that people want to trust what we are saying. Another ingredient is ease of access for users to find what they are looking for as well as a variety of media, written audio and video. This past year we have been working on cataloguing our material to help readers find their way through the very large quantity of material there. To this end we have made it easier for visitors to quickly find items on the teachings and practice, whether that be Zazen or daily life practice.
Talks and articles this year have laid more prominence on the importance of faith in our lives. Many commentators have been talking about a world in transition, more volatile and uncertain. Whilst insight into the Buddha Nature is central to Zen practice, the path to it is one of increasing faith in the Way, this is the heart of Bodhicitta practices a more devotional path that can heal a sense of alienation and fracturing that is a cause for anxiety and enmity for many people. Teachings this year have laid emphasis on faith in the Heart-Buddha and the Wisdom-GoneBeyond. In particular Michael O’Neill’s series of articles on how Master Torei’s book ‘Discourse on the Inexhaustible Lamp’ provided a catalyst for his own insights as he coped with a major transition in his life over the past two years. The feedback on this series from readers has been particularly positive and well-received. Regular contributors such as Jenny Hall and Alan Sidi have now become an important addition to our resources.
Now we turn to our team who keep The Zen Gateway going. Martin, Dominic and Alethea are responsible for the weekly newsletter. They maintain content creation, editing and proofing material as well as looking after the day-to-day running of the website and our podcast and YouTube channels (more of this in the presentation at the AGM). Sam Marcuson, our IT consultant, has been updating the website platform and is integral to the change over to the new categories. We are delighted to inform you that Sophie Walker has also joined the team taking charge of our new Instagram page and we look forward to seeing how integrating this platform into our work can increase the uptake of the newsletters by subscribers. Our sincere thanks to all of them for their dedication over the past year.
The Dharma Centre has a core of attendees who come regularly to the weekly Zazen meetings as well as to the monthly tutorials where there is an opportunity to discuss the Dharma and issues arising from the daily life practice. The latest course in the Centre is ‘The Way of the Herdsman’, a deep dive into the Ten Bull Herding pictures as a vehicle for describing the training and the spiritual transformation at its core. The course covers the historical development of the Bull pictures and takes in a variety of different Chinese and Tibetan examples of this spiritual transformation journey. It also explores this series in the wider context of the archetype of the
Hero’s journey looking at examples from Eastern and Western literature, alchemy and assorted spiritual traditions.
Looking ahead, our challenges remain the same as in previous years, increasing our reach and creating stability in content creation by attracting quality contributors as well as funding. Our approach remains an organic one, that allows for the Dharma to guide us rather than rushing ahead heedlessly. Although it takes longer for things to manifest it does mean we can put down good roots for the longer term.
May we take this opportunity to thank you our trustees for your support over the past year, our work is the work as of old, to keep open the path of transformation of the Heart and its energies for the benefit of all beings!
Facts & Figures for The Zen Gateway 2024
21st January 2025
The Zen Gateway has an online presence across the following platforms: Podcasts on Liberated Syndication Downloads per year: 2022: 28,204 2023: 39,174 2024: 64,959
The Zen Gateway has an online presence across the following platforms: YouTube Year Subscribers Views (01/11 - 31/10) 2022. 3.84K 46,397 2023. 4.90K. 54,290 2024. 5.84K. 50,481
Website & Dharma Centre 2022. 2023. 2024 Newsletter subs 639 679 731 Dharma Centre 22 31 26
Thanks to all our contributors and editors for their work so far. For the Benefit of All Beings!
The Zen Gateway Trust Financial Report Year Ending 31st October 2024
The Zen Gateway Website Costs
| Item | 2023 (£) | 2024 (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Salaries | 19,800 | 21,666 |
| Editing costs | 660 | 705 |
| I.T. costs/website design | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Miscellany | 300 | 300 |
| Subscriptions | 842 | 1,093 |
| Totals | 21,602 | 23,764 |
| The Zen Gateway Income | ||
| Sponsorship | 23,706 | 29,000 |
| Dana | 2,594 | 1,514 |
| Subscriptions | 2,783 | 2,371 |
| Total | 29,083 | 32,885 |
The Zen Gateway Expenditure Forecast for y/e 2025
Website curation and administration (magazine + community)
19,800
| Editing costs | 1,000 |
|---|---|
| I.T. costs | 5,000 |
| Commissions for articles | 3,000 |
| Miscellany (subs to Mailchimp & Shutterstock + Google suite etc.) | 1,100 |
| Total | 29,900 |
THE ZEN GATEWAY TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 10 OCTOBER 2024 Registered Charity No. 1185762
Page 1
THE ZEN GATEWAY TRUST
Financial Statements for the Year Ended 10 OCTOBER 2024
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| Independent Examiner's Report | 3 |
| Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities | 4 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 5 |
| Balance Sheet | 6 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 7-9 |
Page 2
THE ZEN GATEWAY TRUST INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT YEAR ENDED 10 OCTOBER 2024
Report of the independent examiners to the Zen Gateway Trust
We report on the accounts of the Zen Gatewat Trust for the year ended 10 October 2024 which are set out on pages 3 to 5
Trustees
The trustees at the financial year end were as follows: Mr Michael Hagging Mr John Eskenazi Mr Bruce Ginsberg
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts.
The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is our responsibility to:
-
(a) examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
-
(b) to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
-
( c) to state whether particular matters have come to our attention.
Basis of the independent examiner's report
Our examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention:
-
(1) which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
-
(a) to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
(b) to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or
- (2) to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed by : Jackson Robson Licence, Chartered Accountants
33-35 Exchange Street, Driffield, East Yorkshire, YO25 6LL on 6th August 2025
Page 3
THE ZEN GATEWAY TRUST
Financial Statements for the Year Ended 10 OCTOBER 2024
Statement of Trustees' responsibilities
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:-
-
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
-
make judgements and estimates which are reasonable and prudent;
-
state which accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting by Charities; and
-
prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the concern will continue in operation.
The trustees are required to act within the framework of trust law and the Charities Acts;they are also responsible for keeping proper accounting records. The trustees have a general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the funds and to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.
Annual Report dated 6th August 2025
Page 4
THE ZEN GATEWAY TRUST STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES YEAR ENDED 10 OCTOBER 2024
| Note Incoming resources: Donations 2.1 Subscriptions Interest Total incoming resources Resources used: Total expenditure 3.1 Total resources used: Net incoming/(outgoing) resources Net movement in funds |
TOTAL TOTAL General Restricted FUNDS General Retricted FUNDS Funds Funds 2023 Funds Funds 2022 £ £ £ £ £ £ 23,874 - 23,874 29,070 - 29,070 3,943 - 3,943 2,153 - 2,153 - - - 1 - 1 |
|---|---|
| 27,817 - 27,817 31,224 - 31,224 |
|
| 22,145 - 22,145 23,620 - 23,620 |
|
| 22,145 - 22,145 23,620 - 23,620 |
|
| 5,672 - 5,672 7,604 - 7,604 |
|
| 5,672 - 5,672 7,604 - 7,604 |
Page 5
THE ZEN GATEWAY TRUST BALANCE SHEET YEAR ENDED 10 OCTOBER 2024
| Note Fixed assets: Tangible fixed assets Intangible assets Current assets: Bank deposit account Bank current accounts Net current assets: Current Liabilities Accruals TOTAL NET ASSETS FUNDS: Capital Reserve 4 TOTAL FUNDS Signed by a Trustee Name: Date: Signature: ……………………………… Michael Haggiag on 29th August 2025 |
TOTAL FUNDS 2024 £ - - - - 15,170 15,170 15,170 300 14,870 14,870 14,870 |
TOTAL FUNDS 2023 £ - - |
|---|---|---|
| - | ||
| - 9,498 |
||
| 9,498 | ||
| 9,498 | ||
| 300 | ||
| 9,198 | ||
| 9,198 | ||
| 9,198 | ||
Page 6
THE ZEN GATEWAY TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 10 OCTOBER 2024
1. Accounting policies (this note should be read in conjunction with the following notes 2 to 10)
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2006 together with applicable accounting standards and the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with the exception of tangible fixed assets and investment properties which are included at valuation, and investment assets, included at market value.
Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life:
Page 7
THE ZEN GATEWAY TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ( continued ) YEAR ENDED 10 OCTOBER 2024
| 2. Incoming resources 2.1 Donations Subscriptions Interest Total incoming resources 3. Resources used 3.1 Expenditure Website / IT Website up keep Content creations Filming & editorial Accountancy Subscriptions Total resources used Excess income over expenditure 4. Capital Reserves Movements on the Capital reserves were: Capital Reserves at 11 October 2023 Total net movement in funds Capital Reserves at 10 October 2024 |
General Restricted Funds Funds £ £ 23,874 - 3,943 - - - |
TOTAL TOTAL FUNDS General Restricted FUNDS 2024 Funds Funds 2023 £ £ £ £ 23,874 29,070 - 29,070 3,943 2,153 - 2,153 - 1 - 1 |
|---|---|---|
| 27,817 - |
27,817 31,224 - 31,224 |
|
| General Restricted Funds Funds £ - - 9,600 - 10,200 - 1,818 - 300 - 227 - |
TOTAL TOTAL FUNDS General Restricted FUNDS 2024 Funds Funds 2023 £ £ £ - 3,844 - 3,844 9,600 8,616 - 8,616 10,200 10,200 - 10,200 1,818 660 - 660 300 300 - 300 227 - - - |
|
| 22,145 - |
22,145 23,620 - 23,620 |
|
| 5,672 0 |
5,672 7,604 0 7,604 |
|
| £ 9,198 5,672 14,870 |
Page 8