☸ Birmingham Buddhist Vihara Trust ☸
29/31 Osler Street, Birmingham B16 9EU
0121 454 6591
www.birminghambuddhistvihara.org
Birmingham Buddhist Vihara Trust
Trustees’ Annual Report
1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025
The Trustees present their report and independently examined financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2025. They have been prepared in the light of the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities and the Charities’ Act.
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Administrative Information:
Charity Name: Birmingham Buddhist Vihara Trust Charity Commission Reg No:513368 Address: Birmingham Buddhist Vihara Dhamma Talaka Peace Pagoda 29/31 Osler Street, Ladywood Birmingham B16 9EU Trustees for the period: Chair: Suraj Prakash Lal Secretary: Maung Maung Kyi Treasurer: Su Theingi Thant Trustees: Mar Mar Lwin Adrian Thompson Spiritual Leader: Venerable Dr. Ottara Nyana Independent Examiner: Mr. A. Dervish 496-498 Bearwood Road, Bearwood Birmingham, B66 4BH Bank Details: Barclays Bank Plc Leicester LE87 2BB NatWest Bank Plc Edgbaston (B) Branch 30a Harborne Road Edgbaston Birmingham B15 3AA
Structure, Governance and Management
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The trust is governed by a trust deed dated November 1982 with an addendum dated May 2003. There is a provision for a maximum of nine trustees with a minimum of five. When there is a vacancy, the spiritual director puts forward names that the remaining trustees then consider, trying to ensure there is an even representation of gender, ethnicity, and interests. All trustees must be practising Buddhists. The trust has taken advice and is in the process of becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The constitution in relation to this has been drawn and is in the final stages of being ratified.
Objective
The objectives of the charity are to promote the study and practice of Buddhism according to the traditions of all schools of Buddhism, but particularly the Theravada School. To this end the trust presently supports a Spiritual Director and three other Myanmar Buddhist monks who reside at the monastery (Vihara) on Osler Street.
They teach basic Buddhism as well as run higher Buddhist (Abhidhamma) theological classes, perform religious rites as required, look after the religious and spiritual needs of the laity. Buddhist monks are traditionally totally reliant on the monastery and donations from their devotees for their basic needs.
Management
The trust relies mainly on volunteers. But as one of the monks is undergoing long term medical treatment, we took on a paid volunteer for housekeeping purposes and to look after the monks. The trust also applied for Certificate of Sponsorship from the Home Office and applied for a Tier5 Temporary one year work visa for a volunteer (Kappiya) for one year. We were successful in the application and were able to bring a Kappiya over in October 2024, whose main task was looking after the welfare and daily needs of the four resident monks.
The trustees meet regularly to plan events and to oversee the running of the Birmingham Buddhist Vihara and the Dhamma Talaka Peace Pagoda.
Activities at Birmingham Buddhist Vihara
Meditation Classes
Meditation sessions on Mondays and Thursday evenings on a regular basis with regular attendees.
Retreats
A 10 Days Vipassana retreat was held at the Vihara from 16[th] Aug to 25[th] Aug 2024.
Publications
Two books were published in Myanmar:
Dr. Rewata Dhamma, Biography of a Missionary Monk by Dr. Ottara Nyana
Sangha and Royalty, The symbiotic relationship in ancient Bagan.
Religious Events held at the Dhamma Talaka Peace Pagoda
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The Buddha Day {Vesak}
Birmingham Buddhist Vihara Trust hosted the Vesak Ceremony on Sunday 26[th] May 2024. About 150 devotees attended the ceremony
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Dhamma Talaka Peace Pagoda Anniversary & Dhammacakka Day
Dhamma Talaka Peace Pagoda’s 26th Anniversary, Vassa Ceremony and Dhammacakka Day was held on Sunday 21[st] July 2024.
Food Dana was sponsored by devotees Mr. Leslie Gray and Daw Khin Myo Thant.
About 250 devotees were in attendance for the day ceremony during which an
Abhidhamma & Pavarana Day Chanting
Our celebration on Pavarana Day with offering of light inside and outside the Dhamma Talaka Peace Pagoda took place in the evening of 17[th] October 2024. This was followed by Patthana chanting for World Peace, Metta, loving kindness to all beings. About 100 devotees attended and were treated to tea and samosas.
Kathina Robe Offering Ceremony
Kathina ceremony was held on Sunday 20[th] October 2024. The ceremony was sponsored by Dr. Yu Thandar Aung and Dr. Yu Sandar Aung. The celebrations were attended by more than 200 devotees.
Patthana-Abhidhamma Chanting
The bhikkhus observed an auspicious recitation to welcome the New Year 2025, on New Year’s Day Wednesday 1st January 2025. There was an offering of light and Patthana chanting. It was attended by about 60 devotees.
Birmingham Heritage Week
Sponsored by Birmingham City Council, Birmingham Museums Trust organised the Birmingham Heritage Week 2023 from 6th -15th September 2024. The week consisted of varied events, exhibitions and displays, walks, talks and open day visits to heritage sites around Birmingham City. There were 150 sites taking part in the event.
Birmingham Buddhist Vihara had open days over the 10 days of the event. It was well received, and complimentary comments were recorded in the visitors’ book with over 300 guests visiting the Vihara.
Birmingham Buddhist Vihara will continue to take part in future Birmingham Heritage Week.
Other Religious/Non-Religious Activities
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Birmingham Buddhist Academy
The academy, situated in Rewata Dhamma Hall, was able to continue with the Abhidhamma Course as it was run on-line. The new semester started on 1st September 2024.
Ven. Dr. Ottara Nyana and Ven. Dr. Nagasena continue to teach on the course. There is also an on-line course on Pali.
Interfaith Activities
Birmingham Faith Leaders’ Group Meetings
Ven. Dr. Ottara Nyana, as Buddhist Spiritual Leader, attended the Birmingham Faith Leaders’ Group first meeting for the year 2025 was held on 21[st] January 2025. The second meeting was held on 11[th] March 2025.
Installation of the Bishop of Birmingham
Ven. Dr. Ottara Nyana attended the Installation of The Right Reverend Dr. Michael Volland as the 10[th] Bishop of Birmingham held on Saturday 2[nd] March 2024 at the Cathedral Church of St. Philip, Birmingham. The Ceremony was also attended by all Faith Leaders of the City of Birmingham.
Interfaith Iftar Dinner
An Interfaith Dinner was hosted by Abrahamic Foundation, Birmingham Progressive Synagogue, Dialogue Society on Thursday 20[th] March 2025 at the Grand Hall, University of Birmingham. Ven. Dr. Ottara Nyana attended the event as a Buddhist representative.
Ikon Art Exhibition
On 20[th] March 2025 Ven. Dr. Ottara Nyana was invited to give a speech at the art exhibition held at the Ikon Gallery in Brindley Place.
Interfaith Reception
An Interfaith reception was to meet with Rt. Reverend Dr. Michael Volland, the new Bishop of Birmingham was held on Tuesday 30[th] April 2024 at John Cadbury House in Central Birmingham. It was attended by Maung Maung Kyi, one of our trustees, representing the Vihara.
Interfaith Event at Al Mahdi Institute
Ven. Dr. Nagasena attended an Interfaith Event hosted by Al Mahdi Institute on the theme of “Towards One Family of Humanity”. It was organised by Universal Peace Federation and was attended by a diverse audience of 150 attendees.
Conference
The University of Oxford and Yin-Cheng Buddhist Studies Network held one day conference on Theravada and East Asia on 29[th] June 2024 West on Lecture Theatre, Weston Library. Ven. Dr. Nagasena took part in the conference
Wedding Ceremonies
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22[nd] June 2024
Ko Min Thu Yein and Dr. Khin Nyein Chan Thein had their wedding ceremony blessed at the Vihara by their offering of Dana to the monks and friends.
14[th] July 2024
Dr. Kyaw Zaw and Dr. Yadana Lwin offered Dana to the resident monks and invited guests to celebrate their wedding at the Dhamma Talaka Peace Pagoda.
27[th] July 2024
Dr. Tin Htun Aung and Dr. Phyo Thinzar Aung celebrated their wedding by offering Dana to the monks and friends at the Vihara.
8[th] September 2024
Dr. Nyan Lin Naing and Dr. Khin Chit Zin had their wedding blessed by offering Dana to the monks at Dhamma Talaka Peace Pagoda with 70 invited guests.
19[th] October 2024
Dr. Zaw Htet and Dr. Khine Win War had their wedding at the Vihara and had blessings from the resident monks by offering Dana.
26[th] October 2024
Dr. Kaung Htet Htun and Dr. Khin Zar Khun held a religious wedding ceremony by offering Dana to the monks and friends.
31[st] October 2024
Dr. Thin Zar Myint and Michael Enerio celebrated their pre-wedding ceremony by offering Dana to the monks and friends and invited guests.
17[th] November 2024
Dr. Nyan Nyin Hon and Dmytro Kovalchuk offered wedding Dana to the monks and friends and had their wedding blessed.
16[th] March 2025
Kristof Nesselfeld and Myat Eindra Cho held their wedding ceremony by offering alms at Dhamma Talaka Peace Pagoda with friends in attendance.
Birthday celebrations
21[st] December 2024 – A Birthday food Dana and celebrations ceremony was held by three December born devotees. They also donated a sound system to be used in the Dhamma Talaka Peace Pagoda.
Silver Anniversary Celebration – 18[th] February 2024
Dr. Chit Win Saing and Dr. Sandar Kyaw invited friends from all over UK to join in their Dana and water-libation ceremony. They also donated furniture for use in the library.
Memorial Service for Ann Monica Lovelock 3[rd] November 2024
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An interfaith memorial service for Ann Lovelock held at Dhamma Talaka Peace Pagoda at 7pm. It was well attended by family, friends of all Faiths, devotees of the Vihara, friends and neighbours from Hagley. Ann’s passing was a huge loss not only to the Trust but to other Buddhist organisations in Birmingham. She joined the trust from its inception by Ven. Dr. Rewata Dhamma in 1981. As treasurer she managed the budgetary needs of the Trust for decades. She was Chair of the Trust when she resigned due to ill health. Ann’s legacy lives on.
Religious Education School Visits
The Ladywood interfaith Education Project (LIEP), which was initiated by John Tatlow of St. John & St. Peter’s parish Church, in 1999 in partnership with Ven. Dr. Rewata Dhamma of Birmingham Buddhist Vihara. Birmingham Progressive Synagogue and Masjid-e-Usman Mosque joined the group with the aim of enhancing religious education of the schools involved in the area.
Since RE became part of the national curriculum, LIEP as such has ceased to exist. Schools from within the region, as well as schools from further reaches have come to visit the Dhamma Talaka Peace Pagoda and the Vihara every year on a regular basis.
Fifty-eight schools visited Birmingham Buddhist Vihara during the school term between September 2024 to July 2025. Most were primary schools from within the Midlands. One visit was GCSE pupils from a grammar school, six visits from private schools, one from a vocational college and one visit from university students. One scout group visited as well.
Outreach
The Pagoda has hosted group visits not only from schools, colleges, and universities, but other groups have visited us as well.
12[th] May 2024
A Scouts Group from Walsall visited the Dhamma Talaka Peace Pagoda as part of a religious education visit.
28[th ] March 2025
Stitching and Sewing Club paid a visit to Birmingham Buddhist Vihara. Ven. Uttara Nyana gave a talk to the group on Meditation.
The Pagoda is open during the day for visitors. During school visits it is closed to the public. We are aware of our public benefit responsibility and make sure we welcome all visitors of any faith or none.
Ven. Dr. Ottara Nyana is a member of the Birmingham Faith Leaders' Group. The monks have open links with other Buddhist Viharas (Myanmar, Thais, Sri Lankan, Tibetan, Vietnamese) in London, Birmingham, Rugeley, Oxford, Sheffield,
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Manchester, and Sunderland.
Our resident monks do home visits for devotees wanting to have their homes blessed, for birthday celebrations, for memorial services etc. They travel to homes in London, Swansea, Cardiff, Leicester, Coventry, Northampton, Nottingham, Newark, Middlesborough, Norfolk, Shrewsbury, Manchester, etc.
Religious Activities Abroad
Belgium
30th July 2024 to 8th August 2024
Ven. Ottara Nyana conducted a Metta Meditation 10-day Retreat which was held in Dhammaramsi Centre in Belgium.
25[th] October 2024 to 3rd November 2024
Ven. Ottara Nyana held a Metta & Sacca ( Four Noble Truth) Retreat at Dhammaramsi Centre in Belgium. He taught Abhidhamma in the morning/ 10am to 11am ) and Vipassana Mahasatipatthana Sutta (in afternoon from 2pm to 3pm ) with a Q&A session in the evenings from 7pm to 9pm.
Cork, Republic of Ireland
Ven. Dr. Nagasena was invited to attend a Buddha Day Ceremony organised by Bangladesh Buddhist Association of Ireland on 2[nd] July 2024.
Paris, France
Ven. Dr. Nagasena attended the Kathina Ceremony hosted by Moitri Buddhist Society in Paris on 11[th] November 2024. About 300 devotees attended the celebrations.
Yangon, Myanmar
17[th] December 2024
One day conference at Buddhist University Yangon Ven. Dr, Ottara Nyana gave a talk on Theravada Buddhism in Europe.
Czech Republic
Meditation Retreat
Ven. Dr. Nagasena conducted a meditation retreat for Mettarama Buddhist society in Brno, Czech Republic between 25th to 28th October 2024.
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Renovation and maintenance work
3[rd] May 2024: Three batteries for solar panels installed as part of solar panel project donated by Dr. Khine Thin Han and Dr. Win Myint Aung.
10[th] – 15[th] June 2024: A major garden work by tidying up conifers in the grounds and trimming all the hedges of the Vihara.
27[th] – 28[th] June 2024: Installed four bollard lights at the entrance of the car park. Donated by Dr. Khine Thin Han and Dr. Win Myint Aung.
29[th] July 2024- 6[th] August 2024 : Car park renovation work at a total cost of £22,000.
3[rd] August - 6[th] August 2024 – Fire alarm upgraded to HMO level 3 in the Sangharama Vihara, the Sanghas’ residence.
Fire safety certification, Gas safety certification and electrical safety certification were renewed.
Buddhist Community
We are grateful to our many supporters and volunteers for all their donations and help in particular:
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The sponsors for our ceremonies.
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Ashin Rahtapala for organising and coordinating the dana ceremonies for the devotees. Ashin Rahtapala acknowledged all dana towards the Birmingham Buddhist Vihara via social media platform with photos of events & blessings.
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Su Theingi Thant for preparing invitations for ceremonies and events at the Vihara. Theingi also looks after the paperwork for the Birmingham Buddhist Academy.
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Wunna Shtika for updating and maintaining the Birmingham Buddhist Vihara website.
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Dr. Win Myint Aung and Dr. Khine Thin Han donated towards the cost of installation of 4 bollard lights at the Pagoda entrance, installation of two more spotlights for the pagoda and installation of solar batteries.
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Obituaries
– Andrew William Nichols (Karmadeva) (23[rd] September 1960 – 30[th] April 2024)
Andrew Nichols, one of Birmingham Buddhist Vihara’s Trustees passed away suddenly on Tuesday 30[th] April 2024.
A Prayer service and water-libation ceremony was held at Dhamma Talaka Peace Pagoda on 3[rd] May 2024 in memory of Andrew Nicholls, trustee of Birmingham Buddhist Vihara Trust. It was conducted by Ven. Dr. Ottara Nyana and was attended by the immediate family.
Funeral service was held at Sutton Coldfield Crematorium on 21[st] May 2024.
-Ann Monica Lovelock ( 8[th] March 1941 - 4[th] October 2024)
Ann Lovelock was one of the original trustees when the Birmingham Buddhist Vihara Trust was first formed by the late Ven. Dr. Rewata Dhamma in 1981. She served as treasurer for a long period of time and managed the financial needs of the Vihara during the lean years when the Dhamma Talaka Pagoda and the Sangharama Vihara were being built. She also worked as a hospital pharmacist in Oxford, Sheffield and finally in Birmingham Heartlands Hospital where she became Principal Pharmacist.
A private funeral service was held in Hagley on 17[th] October 2024. An interfaith memorial service was held on 3[rd] November 2024 at the Dhamma Talaka Peace Pagoda.
– Mrs. Ellen Parker @ Dhamma Jotika Kit Mon Parker (14[th] October 1952 - 13[th] March 2025)
Mrs. Ellen Parker was one of the most outstanding devotees of Birmingham Buddhist Vihara and most obedient disciples of the founder Ven. Dr. Rewata Dhamma, She was actively and selflessly involved in Religious Education at the Vihara for over 40 years.
First day memorial service for Mrs. Ellen Parker was arranged by Birmingham Buddhist Vihara Trust at the Sangharama Vihara on 14[th] March 2025. Food Dana, sharing of merit and water-libation ceremony was held for Mrs. Ellen Parker on 20[th] March 2025. The seventh day memorial service was arranged by donors Dr. Khine Thin Han and Dr. Win Myint Aung. It was attended by Ellen’s daughter and her family and friends and devotees of the Vihara.
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Financial Report
The financial assets of the Trust are in a reasonable position.
The cash funds bank balance stands at £513,799.00 on 31[st] March 2025 (£522,812 - 2024) for general expenses. There is £8296.11 in a deposit account {NatWest} which is our contingency fund.
The Birmingham Buddhist Academy functions as a charity subsidiary and has a balance of £ 29,057.00 as restricted funds.
No expenses or remunerations were made to any trustee or volunteer who all gave their time freely. No contracts were given to any company associated with any trustee.
Risk Assessment
The Trustees are aware of the need to consider the major risks to which the Charity is exposed. The Trustees continue to consider risks, their impact, an estimation of the likelihood of each risk, measures that must be taken to avoid exposure to the risk. These risks are reviewed on a regular basis. Our greatest risk is that we rely entirely on donations from devotees for our charitable work .
Signed: Dr. Maung Maung Kyi Trustee. 29[th] January 2026
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Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
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[3 a Dr Maung Maung Kyi 13/01/2026
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ed ‘ CHARITY COMMISSION Independent examiner's FOR ENGLAND AND WALES report on the accounts
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Report to the trustees/ | Birmingham Buddhist Vihara Trust
members of
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On accounts for the year | 31/03/2025
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Charity no | 513368
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ended
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| report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2025.
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Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
| report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, | have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent | have completed my examination. | confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: e accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
- e the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
| have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
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Name: | Ahmet Dervish
Relevant professional | !nstitute of Financial Accountants
qualification(s) or body: | [AFA] [MIPA]
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Address: | A Dervish & Co Limited, 496-498 Bearwood Road,
Bearwood, B66 4HB.
IER
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