2025-12-31-accounts

Triratna Buddhist Community (York)

Charity number 1189773

Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025

Triratna Buddhist Community (York)

Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025

Contents	Page
Trustees' report	2 to 7
Examiner's report	8
Receipts and payments account	9
Statement of assets and liabilities	10
Notes to the accounts	11 to 12

Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO

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Triratna Buddhist Community (York)

Trustees' report for the year ended 31 December 2025

Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors

The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were: Name Position Dr Shakyapada Jenny Roberts Chair Mark Jones Treasurer Mark James Leech Dr Joanne McVey Alexander Karen Carr-Malcolm Charity number 1189773 Registered in England and Wales Registered and principal address Bankers 17 Walmgate Triodos Bank plc York Deanery Road YO1 9TX Bristol BS1 5AS

Registered in England and Wales

Independent examiner Sarah Coates MAAT West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW

Structure, governance and management

The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) association formed on 3 June 2020 and is governed by a constitution.

Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees

The trustees of the charity are appointed by the members at the AGM.

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Triratna Buddhist Community (York) Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2025

The charity's objects

The object of the CIO is to support the advancement of the Buddhist religion, in particular by:

Encouraging members and others to live ethical lives in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha; Supporting ordained members of the Triratna Buddhist Community and other duly ordained Buddhists, at the discretion of the Council of the CIO;

Maintaining close communication with and working under the guidance of the Triratna Buddhist order and in co-operation with other groups with the same objects; and

Using applications of the Buddha's teaching to promote the health and well-being of all.

Encouraging members and others to live ethical lives in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha.

We are here to support people who wish to learn about and practise Buddhism. In order to achieve this we provide courses and classes which explore Buddhist practice. These include teaching basic meditation techniques to complete beginners, and more advanced classes and courses for those who want a deeper understanding of Buddhist practice and how this can be explored in contemporary society. We have a small Spiritual and Gift shop to provide access to meditation accessories, etc. and Buddhist literature not easily available elsewhere. All the work and teaching at our Centre, including the shop, is carried out by volunteers. No one is paid. We raise money from donations at the classes and events and from members of the Sangha (community). We aim to promote the Buddhist ethic of 'dana' or giving, so most of our activities are paid for by donation. People are free to attend even if they have no money. We have a commitment to making our activities and premises accessible to all by providing access for disabled people.

Supporting ordained members of the Triratna Buddhist Community and other duly ordained Buddhists, at the discretion of the Council of the CIO;

At the moment we do not support anyone. However, this may be necessary in the future as we grow. The contribution made by members of the Triratna Buddhist Order remains essential to provide the experience, depth of practice and understanding of Buddhism needed in a spiritual community, and to make this available to others.

Maintaining close communication with and working under the guidance of the Triratna Buddhist Order and in co-operation with other groups with the same objects;

We work in co-operation with other Triratna Centres, Retreat Centres and with the Preceptors College (which oversees the Ordination process). This allows us to maintain clarity with regard to our vision, to benefit from the experience of other groups with similar objectives, and so make the best use of the resources we have in York.

Using applications of the Buddha's teaching to promote the health and well-being of all.

Triratna Buddhist Community (York) is committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our sangha, and eliminating discrimination. Everyone is welcome regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, income, sex and sexual orientation. People attending our classes or events classes do not have to be a Buddhist or feel the need to become a Buddhist.

Specifically, we do this by:

• a. Holding services of worship and devotion;

• b. Organising talks, courses, classes meditation sessions and retreats;

• c. Publishing materials (written and online); and

• d. Raising funds and invite and receive contributions.

Our aim is to encourage members and others to live ethical lives in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha. So, the Triratna Buddhist Community (York) provides an understanding of Buddhism through a programme of classes and events, both for regular members of our group as well as for newcomers from the local community and others.

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Triratna Buddhist Community (York)

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2025

Objectives and activities (continued)

One of the main aspects of the Buddha's teaching is a grounding in Buddhist ethics. These ethical values are central to, and are threads that run through all the Buddha's teachings. Non-Buddhists are in no way expected or required to take on or follow these precepts. Instead, they are invited to test the ethical principles in their own lives to determine their effects on themselves and others around them, for the enhancement and benefit of society as a whole.

These ethical values are expressed in both a positive and negative form in what are called The Five Precepts:

Negative formulation:

I undertake to abstain from taking life.

I undertake to abstain from taking the not-given.

I undertake to abstain from sexual misconduct.

I undertake to abstain from false speech.

I undertake to abstain from taking intoxicants.

Positive formulation:

With deeds of loving kindness, I purify my body.

With open-handed generosity, I purify my body. With stillness, simplicity, and contentment, I purify my body. With truthful communication, I purify my speech. With mindfulness clear and radiant, I purify my mind.

The charity's main activities

We are a community of friends who support the Buddhist religion in York mainly through our Centre and online. Our activities encourage members and others to live ethical lives in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha. We use applications of the Buddha's teaching to promote the health and well-being of all through classes and courses and other means.

Public benefit statement

In setting our objectives and planning our activities the Trustees have given serious consideration to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit and in particular the advancement of religion, encouraging members and others to live ethical lives in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha and, through those teachings, promoting the health and well-being of all.

Achievements and performance

This has been our third full year at our premises at 17 Walmgate, York and we have seen considerable growth in the number of people attending the Centre, particularly over the past 6 months. It is likely that by the end of the current lease in May 2028, we will have outgrown the current facility and will be looking for larger premises. This will result in additional estimated running costs of at least £20k per year, plus the cost of a new lease. Next year we will begin to raise and ringfence additional funds to ensure that enough capital is available to refurbish new premises and cover the increased rental for the first year or so.

We committed to paying off the refurbishment loan which we received from Windhorse Publications in 2022. This is a year earlier than expected and means that the Centre will be free of debt.

Buddhism and Meditation

Classes and courses

We continued to offer a variety of courses, day retreats, sangha retreats and practice nights to ensure that the Dharma was communicated to as many people as possible throughout the year.

In the summer we introduced ‘Puja in the Woods’ in Rowntree Park, York, held on the last Friday of June, July and August. This regularly attracted 15-20 attendees and will be staged again in summer 2026

We also introduced Wednesday lunchtime meditation sessions. These are unled (apart from bells) and open to the public. While initial take up was slow, the sessions are becoming more popular.

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Triratna Buddhist Community (York) Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2025

Achievements and performance continued Classes and courses continued

The Thursday daytime class continues to go from strength to strength. Themes this year have included: ‘Eight verses to train the mind’; ‘Exploring the Bodhisattva Ideal’; ‘Stories from the Buddhist Tradition’; ‘The Mystery of Being’.

Wednesday practice nights have been extremely well attended, particularly in the latter half of the year, with shrine room capacity being reached on several of the evenings. Themes covered this year include: ‘Wheel of Life’; ‘Seven Weeks to Enlightenment’; ‘This Difficult Thing Being Human’; ‘All the Things You Wanted to Know About Buddhism and York Buddhist Centre’; ‘What is Sangha?’; ‘Don’t Panic – Everything Changes’; ‘Radical Love’; ‘Three Refuges’.

One off Wednesday evening events included: ‘Winter Solstice Puja’; ‘Dharma Quiz Night’; ‘Triratna Day Celebration’; ‘Sangharakshita’s Birthday Celebration’; ‘Padmasambhava Day Celebration’; ‘Dedication of the New Shrine and Thangka’; ‘A Talk About Dr Ambedkar’; ‘Turn of the Year Puja’; ‘The Future of York Buddhist Centre’. ‘Wesak Celebration’.

An 18-30 young persons’ group was started in September but was short lived. It is planned to resurrect the group in the future as the Centre is attracting more young people.

Introduction to Meditation courses were held in March and November. Shakyapada wrote and produced a guide book to be used alongside the meditation course.

Introduction to Buddhism courses were held in January, April, May and September. These were attended by 2025 people on each course. An additional evening, ‘What My Buddhist Practice Means to Me,’ was put on for newcomers to attend as a way of introducing them to the sangha. This has proved successful with several newcomers now regularly attending the Centre.

Retreats

Two retreats were held this year at Barmoor. In May, the theme was Padmasambhava and in October the theme was Kshitigarbha.

There were four day retreats this year: ‘Going Deeper in Meditation’; North Eastern Women GfR Gathering’; ‘Being with Being – An Exploration of Awareness and the Six Senses’; Guest talk by Vijayasri about her Dharma life.

Social event

We organised a sangha social event in March at St Olave’s church hall.

Mitras

Two Mitra ceremonies took place in January, along with a Mitra reaffirmation ceremony

In September, four more Mitra ceremonies were held. This brings the number of active Mitras to nineteen, six of which are training for ordination.

It was announced that Mark Jones has been invited for ordination at Padmaloka in July 2026.

Finances

In January, in appreciation for the work carried out by the Triratna European Chairs’ Assembly, we increased our monthly donation to £200.

The Centre changed to a fee paying model for introductory courses, rather than relying on donations at the end of each evening. This has proved successful and income generated from courses has increased as the result. The rates have been set at £89 (£65 unwaged) with free places available to those who cannot afford the fee.

We have purchased a ‘Goodbox’ card payment terminal at approx. £400 plus a monthly fee of £12. This allows attendees to donate with a quick tap of their card. It is preset with three choices of donation: £6, £12, and £20, with the option to choose a smaller or a larger amount.

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Triratna Buddhist Community (York)

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2025

Achievements and performance continued

The number of regular payments has remained fairly static during the year and it is one of the Centre’s aims to increase this valuable and stable source of income in 2026.

As usual, no one was paid during the year and all classes and events we led by volunteers.

Educational Visits

Mark Jones led an Introduction to Buddhism group at St John’s University in March, where he is the Buddhist Faith Advisor.

Two of our sangha started a Buddhism and Meditation Society group at the University of York.

We had a visit from students and staff from Vale of York Academy in October

We held a one hour virtual session with children from St Joseph’s Primary School.

The Centre was represented at the chaplaincy tent at York St John’s Freshers’ Week in October, week handing out flyers advertising the 18-30 sessions and talking to students.

Dharmabookshop.co.uk

Shakyapada has set up an online book shop selling pre-loved Dharma books. The website will go live in the middle of 2026. The intention is for this to be a Right Livelihood Business. The model is based on receiving unwanted Dharma books (from people downsizing etc.) and listing them for sale on the website. During the year, the concept has been advertised throughout Triratna and several people have begun donating their unwanted books, which have then been collected. Once 800 / 1000 books have been received, they will be entered onto the website. It is envisaged that the business could earn up to £6,000 per year for the Centre.

Publicity

We are continuing to advertise our courses and events on Facebook, as well as on posters displayed at the

Personnel and Management

The Centre Team met seven times during the year and the Trustees met three times, alternating between Zoom and in-person meetings.

The executive management team (the Palas ) continued to take more executive roles, ensuring that when Shakyapada retires from her role as chair, her responsibilities will be covered and a successor, or successors will be in place.

Conclusion

This has been another successful year for our charity when we have been able to reach out to more people, helping them with their lives and spreading the remarkably helpful teachings of the Buddha. We continue to focus on delivering accessible and inclusive Dharma teachings.

After eight years of activity in York we are now the established Buddhist presence and are beginning to forge links with both York universities, which we believe will introduce more young people to the Centre. More members of the sangha are taking on lead roles which ensures that the workload is being spread across a larger group.

Over the next couple of years we will be building towards moving to a new Centre in order to cater for the extra demands on the services we offer.

However, despite the recent growth in number, York Buddhist Centre continues to maintain a reputation for being warm, friendly and welcoming.

Mark Jones

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Triratna Buddhlst Community (York) TNstees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2025 Aehievemefits and ￿rf¢M￿n¢t continu F•nancial review The chantys free ￿se￿￿5, al Ihe ypar end were £34.159. A winding up Te5erve Of£15.(￿, £4.550 renl tthd and £4.5￿ renl pa￿￿&?t Is sel asbde. A furtheT TeseNe of£15.000 on quartw day to N)1 pa￿Tren1 SIX￿Id be malnlained. e IKwd of I￿￿te88 on . Slgnèd.. . (Tru8kn8) Name..

Triratna Buddhist Community (York)

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Triratna Buddhist Community (York)

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the CIO for the year ended 31 December 2025, which are set out on pages 9 to 12.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the CIO you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').

I report in respect of my examination of the CIO's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Charities Act; 2 the accounts do not accord with those records.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: …………………………………… Name: Sarah Coates MAAT

Date: …………………….

West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO

Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW

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Triratna Buddhist Community (York)

Receipts and payments account

for the year ended 31 December 2025

Notes 2025 Total funds £ Receipts Grants and donations (2) 19,688 Shop sales 819 Other income 739 Gift aid 7,011 Courses 13,820 Retreats 5,888 Fundraising 24 Total receipts 47,989 Payments Marketing and publicity 1,057 Books, resources and stock 1,549 Accountancy and independent examination 855 Rent, rates and room hire 19,906 Retreat costs 1,683 Legal and professional 400 Training 31 IT software and consumables 951 Furniture and equipment 611 Bank charges 865 Utilities 2,086 Insurance 1,301 Sundry 35 Donations to ECA 1,860 Telephone 560 Premises costs 1,226 Other donations 100 Loan repayment 7,870 Travel 30 Speaker fees 33 Total payments 43,009 Net receipts / (payments) 4,980 Fund balances brought forward 29,179 Fund balances carried forward 34,159

2024 Total funds £ 20,486 1,024 519 6,701 10,421 4,465 2,763 46,379 1,185 1,063 829 19,276 4,141 77 167 453 168 662 2,936 1,273 889 1,800 488 1,474 108 5,400 - 18 42,407 3,972 25,207 29,179

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Triratna Buddhist Communlty (York) statement of assets and Ilabllltles as at 31 December 2025 2025 Totsl 2024 Total Ca$h fund¥ Cash at tJ* Cash in hand Totsl cuh fund¥ 34,110 49 34,759 29.116 29.179 2025 A•••¢• r•l•ln•d for th• 4)wn u 21 x stackable chai HP laptop Scr￿$ Ikea fumrture U•bMIII•• 2025 Loans rvp8yable vithin one Loan$ repayai48 after one AccnMIs 3.808 4.443 8,911 The fir￿nCIal io}L a)jb.... . (rwskn) Namè.. JoAieg 10

Triratna Buddhist Community (York)

Notes to the accounts

for the year ended 31 December 2025

1 Accounting policies

Basis of accounting

The trustees have taken advantage of section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 and have prepared the accounts on a receipts and payments basis.

There has been no change to the accounting policies since last year.

No changes have been made to the accounts for previous years.

Taxation

As a charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.

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Triratna Buddhist Community (York)

Notes to the accounts continued

for the year ended 31 December 2025

2 Grants and donations Dana - General Donations Dana - Puja in the Woods Dana - Recurring Payment Dana - Meditations Dana - Standing Orders Dana - Study Dana - Mindful Movement Dana - Practice Night Dana - Yoga /Crystal Bath Dana - Young Persons Group	2025 Total funds £ 115 116 375 322 14,924 - - 3,675 120 41 19,688	2024 Total funds £ 566 - 561 1,246 14,799 285 366 2,540 123 - 20,486

3 Related party transactions

Trustee expenses

No trustee received any expenses during this year or the previous year.

Trustee remuneration and benefits

No trustee received any remuneration or benefit during this or the previous year.

**4 **	Funds held as agent	Balance	b/f Incoming	b/f Incoming	Outgoing Balance c/f
	Scarborough Buddhist group		£ 35 -	£	£ £ - 35
			35 -		- 35
	Fund name	Additional information
	Scarborough Buddhist group	We are administering funds for the Scarborough			Buddhist group until they
		can get a bank account set up.

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