Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From Period start date 3.10.2024 To Period end date. 2.10.2025
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. 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. |
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| 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. |
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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
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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 | Our Chair stepped down from the role in July 2025. The Vision Team stopped regular meetings from that date. Our principle aims continue: to attract a younger and more diverse membership, and to have a greater community presence. In addition, our vision now includes: 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. The 3 groups now have a team each to organise activities and events. 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. All are well attended. We have held introductory courses for newcomers in Deal and Canterbury, and also a meditation teacher training course for experienced sangha members. 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 have held a very successful weekend sangha retreat at a Triratna retreat centre, |
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and 2 very successful and well attended weekend “at home” retreats locally, all led by visiting Order members. Our annual Buddhist Action Month event took place in June. The theme was “Sowing seeds of compassion for the world”. Activities included a film night, discussions, meditations and an earth puja. 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. 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 |
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|---|---|---|
| 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 is used for payments to the social media co-ordinator. 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 objectives including any Para 1.46 social investment policy adopted A description of the principal Para 1.46
risks facing the charity Other
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
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|---|---|---|
| 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: |
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| 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 | Safeguarding Officer | 3/10/24 – 31/7/25 Remains as Trustee |
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| Richard Gifford | ||||
| Maddava John | GroupTreasurer | |||
| Geraldine Moon | GroupSecretary | |||
| Graham John Patterson |
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| Marilyn Ann Williams |
Chair | 3/10/24 – 31/7/25 Remains as Trustee |
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| Sara Williams | 9/7/25 –present | |||
– 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 | 1188543 | ||
| Receipts andpayments accounts | CC16a | ||
| 03/10/2024 Period start date For the period from |
02/10/2025 Period end date To |
| Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 11 834 6 047 834 - - - - - 18 715 - - - 18 715 4 978 3 516 288 401 8 397 - - 83 1 650 295 19 608 - - - 19 608 - 893 - 66 072 65 179 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 11 834 6 047 834 - - - - - 18 715 - - - 18 715 4 978 3 516 288 401 8 397 - - 83 1 650 295 19 608 - - - 19 608 - 893 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
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| Donations | 11 834 | 8 941 | ||||
| Sanga retreats | 6 047 | 3 523 | ||||
| Bank interest | 834 | 1 440 | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
18 715 | 13 904 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
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| - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
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| 13 904 | ||||||
| Premoises fees | 4 978 | 3 307 | ||||
| Retreats | 3 516 | 3 009 | ||||
| Sangapurchases | 288 | 461 | ||||
| Regular costs,insyrance,zoom | 401 | 527 | ||||
| Social media co-ordinator | 8 397 | 5 676 | ||||
| Websiute | - | 21 | ||||
| Order member support | - | 544 | ||||
| Bank charges | 83 | 68 | ||||
| Donation to Triratna charities | 1 650 | 5 950 | ||||
| Bank transfer to Triratna charity Sundries |
100 000 | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 19 608 | 119 563 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
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| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
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| 119 563 | ||||||
| - 893 | - | - | - 893 | - 105 659 | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 66 072 | - | - | 66 072 | 171 731 | ||
| 65 179 | - | - | 65 179 | 66 072 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
Details Details (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Total cash funds Co-Op Community Directlplus account Signature Treiodos depsit ccount Triodos current account Details Details Details |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 6 772 - 54 703 - 3 700 - 65 175 - Agreement Error OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| Current value (optional) |
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| Current value (optional) |
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| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
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CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
2