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2024-10-02-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From Period start date 3.10.2023 To Period end date. 2.10.2024

Charity name: Triratna East Kent Buddhist Group Charity registration number: 11885433

Objectives and Activities

SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document		 Para 1.17 To support the advancement of the
Buddhist religion, in particular by:
1. Teaching members of the public the
Buddhist practices of mindfulness and
meditation.
2. Promoting and teaching Buddhist
ethical values thereby enabling people to
live more healthy and harmonious lives.
3. Enhancing the understanding and
practice of spirituality* in our local
community in particular by cooperating
with other organisations delivering
similar benefits. (*Spirituality being
understood as pertaining to life’s
meaning and purpose.)
4.Supporting ordained members of the
Triratna Buddhist Community and others
(at the discretion of the CIO), who are
working to actively promote the above
values and practices.
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		 We have:
Held services of worship and devotion
both in person and via zoom.
Organised lectures, courses, classes and
retreats, both in person and via zoom.
Maintained contact and provided
information and resources, for example
via regular emails, Facebook, Instagram
and the website.
Invited and received contributions.
Supported individuals to attend learning
events and retreats.
Established and maintained connections
with the local community.
Continued to encourage and support
people to practise mindfulness and
meditation with all their psychological
and spiritual benefits.
All of our activities are designed to
encourage individuals to lead more
ethical, purposeful, friendly and
compassionate lives; to deepen their
understanding and practice of Buddhism
through study, friendship and events,
and through working with others for the
benefit of the local community and
environment. Most of our events are
offered on a donation basis and, where
there is a charge, we have a bursary
available to help those in need of
support.
No Order members are currently
receiving ongoing support.
Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit		 Para 1.18 The trustees have had regard to the
Charity Commission guidance on public
benefit when carrying out the charity’s
activities.

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

SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other

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 We have continued to develop and
consolidate the principle aims
established for our sangha:
to attract a younger and more diverse
membership;
to have a greater community presence.
A ‘Vision Team’ meets frequently to plan
and monitor sangha activities and
membership. Minutes of meetings go to
the trustees.
A self-employed ‘social media
co-ordinator’ is appointed for 8 hours a
week to promote our activities. They
have created a presence for us on
Facebook and Instagram and been
instrumental in setting up a website and
keeping it up to date. This publicity has
attracted newcomers, including younger
people, to many of our events and
classes.
We have held weekly meditation classes
in Deal, Margate and Canterbury. These
have proved very popular for newcomers
and regulars alike and are well attended.
Our Friday morning meditation on the
beach and on zoom, has continued and
attracted newcomers.
Regular study groups have continued,
both on zoom and in person. A new class
commenced in Canterbury in September.
All are well attended.
Sangha meetings in Deal, Canterbury and
Margate have continued. Newcomers,
including young people, have joined us.
We hold regular women+ and men+
events.
We have celebrated some Buddhist
festivals with in-person evening and day
events. In addition, we encourage
sangha members to join online festivals,
retreats and classes held by the wider
Triratna Community.
We held 2 very successful weekend
sangha retreats – one at a Triratna retreat
centre and one ‘urban retreat’ locally,
which was also very successful and
another is planned.
Our annual Buddhist Action Month event
took place in June. Themes were “How to
find a compassionate response to the

sufferings of the world” and “How can we listen deeply to others when they have a very different point of view to our own.” Activities included a talk & discussion with a representative from the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, and an event at Brighton Buddhist Centre on the Climate & Ecological emergency. We hosted a Yatra (spiritual procession or pilgrimage) in August, with walking, poetry readings, meditation and a picnic. This was very well attended and another will be planned. The sangha Lunch Club has continued to be very popular and enabled connections to grow. We have held film nights, showing films with a Buddhist theme, which have proved popular. The Sangha Care Group continues to offer friendship and simple care to people in the sangha in East Kent. The trustees decided to use some of our legacy to support a Triratna charity which provides retreats for women training for Ordination. This will benefit women throughout the wider Triratna community as well as the whole community and Order. We have started to prepare for changes in our sangha when the current chair steps down next year. We have discussed a Vision and Way Forward at Vision Team, Trustees’ and sangha meetings. Forward planning is: to deepen sangha within the 3 groups; consolidate what has already been achieved; continue to spread the dharma; encourage people to deepen their own practice.

It was agreed by the trustees that the year had been successful in working towards our aims and consolidating all that has been achieved so far.

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

Achievements against
objectives set		 Para 1.41
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set		 Para 1.41
Investment performance
against objectives		 Para 1.41
Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period		 Para 1.21 Our finances have remained healthy
throughout the year. We have received
regular and one-off donations from
sangha members for classes, retreats
and events.
Our outgoings have included donations
to visiting speakers and Triratna charities
approved by the trustees; regular
payments to the social media co-
ordinator; regular costs such as hire of
premises, insurance, zoom and bank
charges; payments for the website.
The bursary fund has been used once in
the year.
Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held		 Para 1.22 We hold a reserve of unspent income
from a legacy of unrestricted funds. The
legacy has so far been used for payments
to the social media co-ordinator and
donations to Tiratanaloka Unlimited for a
larger centre for women training for
Ordination.
We are at the beginning of a year of
transition with the possible appointment
of a new chair, and our reserves will give
the ability to continue to pay the social
media co-ordinator, fund new projects
and to manage unforeseen costs or
financial difficulties such as a shortfall in
income.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 Our reserve of unspent income is within
our revised target range of £35,000 -
£50,000. The reserves are deposited in 2
bank accounts earning interest.
Reasons for holding zero
reserves		 Para 1.22 N/A
Details of fund materially in
deficit		 Para 1.24 N/A
Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern		 Para 1.23 N/A

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

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including Para 1.47 any fundraising) Investment policy and Para 1.46

objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted
A description of the principal
risks facing the charity		 Para 1.46
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s
trusts:
Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)		 Para 1.25 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 members of the charity trustees may
at any time decide to appoint a new
charity trustee. The maximum number of
trustees is 12.
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
The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works		 Para 1.51 TEKBG is part of a worldwide network of
Triratna Buddhist centres, groups and
practitioners – the Triratna Buddhist
Community – all sharing the same aims
and objectives. This provides us with
both support and access to retreat
centres, study materials, teachers, other
centres and other Buddhist practitioners
with whom we can share and discuss our
plans and vision.
Relationship with any related
parties		 Para 1.51
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name Triratna East Kent Buddhist Group
Other name the charity uses Deal Buddhist Group
Registered charity number 1188543
Charity’s principal address 13 Herschell Square,
Deal, Kent
CT14 7SH

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)
Madeline Borland SafeguardingOfficer
Richard Gifford
Maddava John GroupTreasurer
Geraldine Moon GroupSecretary
Graham John
Patterson
Marilyn Ann
Williams		 Chair

– 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

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects

Details of arrangements for 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

Other optional information

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

Charity Name No (if any) Triratna East Kent Buddhist Group Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 10/3/2023 10/2/2024

Section A Receipts and payments

Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts
Donations
8,941
Sangha retreats
3,523
Bank interest
1,440
studyclasses
-
refund
-
-
-
-
13,904
-
-
Sub total -
Total receipts 13,904
A3 Payments
Premises fees
3,307
Retreats
3,009
Sanghapurchases
461
Regular costs,insurance,zoom
527
Social media co-ordinator
5,676
Visitingspeakers
-
Website
21
sundries
-
Audit
Order member support
544
Bank error
Bank charges
68
Donations to Triratna charities
5,950
Bank transfer to Triratna charity
100,000
-
Sub total 119,563
-
-
Sub total -
Total payments 119,563
Net of receipts/(payments) - 105,659
A5 Transfers between funds
A6 Cash funds last year end
171,731
Cash funds this year end 66,072
Unrestricted
funds
to the nearest £
Sub total(Gross income for AR)
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)		 to the nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Restricted
funds		 to the nearest £
Endowment
funds		 Total funds
to the nearest £		 Last year
to the nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 8,941
3,523
1,440
-
-
-
-
-
13,904		 5,826
2,800
1,270
145
337
-
-
-
10,378
-
-
-		 -
-
-
-
-
- 13,904 10,378
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 3,307
3,009
461
527
5,676
-
21
-
544
68
5,950
100,000
-
119,563		 1,662
4,161
307
507
5,036
144
-
185
175
337
59
3,530
-
16,103
-
-
-		 -
-
-
-
- 119,563 16,103
-
-
-
-		 - 105,659
-
171,731
66,072		 - 5,725
-
177,456
171,731

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

Categories
B1 Cash funds
B2 Other monetary assets
B3 Investment assets
B5 Liabilities
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees		 Details
Triodos current account
Triodos deposti account
Co-op Community Directplus account
Details
Details
Details
Details
Signature
Total cash funds
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))		 to nearest £
to nearest £
2,491
-
30,844
-
32,737
-
66,072
-
OK
OK
to nearest £
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Cost (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Cost (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Print Name
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Fund to which
asset belongs
Fund to which
asset belongs
Fund to which
liability relates
Amount due
(optional)		 to nearest £
Endowment
funds
-
-
-
-
OK
to nearest £
Endowment
funds
-
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
When due
(optional)
Date of
approval