Bristol Insight Meditation
Annual Report and Financial Statements
Year Ended 31 December 2019
Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Registered Charity No 1162182
About Bristol Insight Meditation
In this our fifth annual review we set out our charitable objectives and our activities to promote those objectives for public benefit.
Background information
In 2003, a small group of people who had been to retreats at Gaia House in Devon got together to support each other in their meditation practice – and Bristol Insight (originally named Bristol Gaia House Group) was born. Today, whilst our original, supportive intentions remain unchanged, that small group has grown organically into a peer-led registered charity – a network of over 350 people involved in a wide range of organised activities.
Our approach
At Bristol Insight Meditation, we support the practice and study of Buddhist Insight Meditation also known as Vipassana (literally translated as ‘seeing deeply or clearly’). This is the practice of developing a calm and mindful investigation into the nature of experience, leading to wisdom, compassion and the end of suffering. The Vipassana movement began in the Theravada schools of Buddhism in the early 20th century in Burma and Thailand, and attempts to reconnect with the teachings of early Buddhism. In its spread to the West, teachers such as Jack Kornfield and Christina Feldman integrated Vipassana with understandings from Western culture, while remaining true to the Buddha’s teachings.
It is from this group of pioneer Western teachers that centres such as Gaia House in Devon and Spirit Rock and IMS in the USA were formed. Bristol Insight Meditation has close links with Gaia House and draws inspiration from the wide range of teachers and teachings from the worldwide Insight meditation community. As well as Vipassana, some of us have practice backgrounds in traditions such as Quakerism or Tibetan and Zen Buddhism.
Our approach emphasises inquiry, experiential exploration and mindfulness amongst many other influences. It is not important to hold particular beliefs or to consider yourself to be a Buddhist to participate in our activities, all are welcome. What we do have in common is an interest in our own personal development as part of a supportive community. Ethical living is important to us too, including our collective responses to current social and environmental challenges.
Our aims and values
Through our groups and activities, we aspire to build a community that nurtures wisdom and compassion: for ourselves, for others and for the world we live in. We strive to be open to all and do not seek to convert or discriminate, irrespective of religious or political beliefs, ethnicity, gender, social background, age, sexual orientation or disability. We invite donations to cover our costs but our activities are open to everyone, irrespective of means.
What we do
We offer a range of activities to support meditation practice. Please visit our website: www.bristolmeditation.org.uk for full details. Our longstanding association with Gaia House, a well-known retreat centre for Insight Meditation, means we regularly invite their teachers, as well as those from other linked traditions, to lead our own retreat days and courses. These are reputable, highly experienced teachers who commit to a code of ethics. Our supporter-led charity is run by a small team of volunteers.
2019 Annual Review
Charitable Objective
To advance the education of the public in the subject of meditation and the teachings of the Buddha in particular but not exclusively by supporting and encouraging the study and practice of Buddhist Insight Meditation (also known as Vipassana meditative practice) for the benefit of people in Bristol and the surrounding areas.
Education
During the year we organised the following activities to promote education
- Introductory Practice Course
In October 2019 we ran our Introductory Course in Insight Meditation. The course offers the basics of Insight meditation – enough to get started in the practice. There were 10 participants, a very manageable number and one which allowed us to get to know each other and provide individual instruction when needed. Feedback was very positive with one participant saying that “It has given me understanding of mindfulness, reduced my anxiety levels and helped my overall wellbeing” and another saying “I was impressed with the teaching, kindness and professionalism”.
- Teacher Led Course
In May 2019 we ran a longer teacher-led course. 30 people from across the Bristol area attended.
The course was given by the former Buddhist monk Suvaco and was called Stillness of the Heart. We were introduced to various practices of meditation that focussed on stillness of the mind and heart as a way of calming the tendency of the mind to continually grasp after some future attainment. Suvaco has a wonderfully spontaneous, experimental and intuitive way of teaching and holding a group. Feedback was very positive with many reporting that they had benefited from the course and that it had inspired them to continue with their meditation practice in different ways.
- Eight Teacher Led Day Retreats
These were facilitated by teachers associated with Gaia House Retreat Centre, Devon on a range of subjects, combining teaching and practice. In 2019 we had the following retreats: - Mark Ovland – ‘Seeing things differently’
- Stephen Fulder – ‘Equanimity – Dancing with Uncontrollable Life’
- Kirsten Kratz – ‘Ground, Body, Breath, Space – The Art of Knowing Support’
- Maura Sills – ‘Inherent States of Wellbeing’
- John Peacock – ‘The Heart of Mindfulness’
- Jake Dartington – ‘A Path of Wisdom and Love’
- Suvaco – ‘Dharma for these times’
- Julia Wallond – ‘Wild perception – Ways of looking and listening, that open the heart, call forth the sacred and restore a sense of ground in a chaotic world’
Having these teachers come to Bristol was greatly appreciated by us all.
Supporting practice
We provide a number of opportunities for people to support and develop their meditation practice through small group communities:
- Weekly evening sitting group, combining practice and discussion to support individual practice;
- Monthly daytime sitting group, combining practice and discussion to support individual practice;
- Monthly ‘Self-led’ day retreat, which provides alternative sitting and walking practice sessions, together with opportunities for discussion;
- Monthly group to support focussing practice;
- Insightful ageing group;
- Book group to support practice;
- Occasional Sangha walks;
- A monthly newsletter with news and contributions from the sangha;
- A website that provides up to date information and links to bookings for our events.
All activities are publicised widely, including on our website and in our monthly email newsletter. Participants are requested to make donations to cover associated running costs, but low income is not a barrier to participation.
“Without community my practice would mean very little. I take delight in helping to run the Tuesday meditation group. This involves welcoming newcomers and overseeing the meditation and mindful sharing sessions. As we sit in a circle a deep sense of connection and community emerges. I’m also a member of the day retreats team helping to bring dharma teachers to Bristol for a day of practice for our wider community. It is deeply satisfying to work within a team to plan retreats, from the initial idea to organising the day itself and to know that many people have benefited.”
Some Highlights from 2019
Teacher Led Retreats
The Teacher Led Retreats team have worked hard over the last year to deliver 8 retreats, specified above. The retreats have reflected a rich variety of perspectives and practices within the Insight tradition. We have decided to stay with the new venue at Glenfrome School as it is accessible and has larger, greener outside space. Feedback from the retreats has been very positive and have been much appreciated. They are seen as an enrichment and valuable support for participants’ practice.
Self Led Day Retreats
The Self Led day retreats provide an opportunity to have a retreat experience in the heart of Bristol. Meeting on the first Saturday of each month in a light filled and spacious Quaker Meeting House, the group supports the development of personal practice through alternating periods of sitting and walking practice, together with a recorded talk from teachers connected with Gaia House. At the end of the day participants share their experience of the day in s supportive atmosphere. During 2019 there were 12 retreat days, with an average of 12 – 15 participants per day. The days have become an established part of Bristol Insight Meditation’s offering to support and develop personal practice. The feedback from participants continues to be positive. The day supports their home practice. There is a good mix of new and existing participants, including some meditation teachers. The structure of the day is regularly reviewed by participants & organisers but is largely unchanged. The recorded talk addresses topical issues and provides a focus for the day.
Tuesday Evening Sitting Group
The weekly evening sit continued to thrive with many new comers and a dedicated team of facilitators. Our “Cultivating our Practice” programme covered in-depth exploration of several Dharma topics – including the 4 Noble Truths, the Foundations of Mindfulness, the 3 Refuges, the Mandala, an introduction to Soulmaking, the Buddha Nature, the Brahma Viharas and Radical Dharma. We also explored the psychological effects of meditation, an inquiry into Insight and Pain, and how to meet the Inner Critic amongst many other themes. And we continued with our Mindful Sharing and Poetry and Prose sessions. We purchased 6 cushions for the group.
Focusing Group
The group has met once a month for 3 hours (10am-1pm), generally on the second Sunday of the month. Because numbers have been consistently relatively high (averaging 10 people, but up to 16), we have made a regular booking at Bristol Natural Health Service since last October – this is a complementary health clinic in the upper part of Gloucester Road, Bristol. This venue works well due to the availability of up to 7 different rooms/spaces for 1-1 Focusing, including a meeting room that is ok for up to about 14 people. We share the cost of renting the space, which usually works out at about £5/6 each.
The group is open to anyone interested in Focusing, regardless of experience, and several people have joined the group recently having their first experiences of Focusing online.
Sangha Walks
Sangha walks have been happening intermittently since the first walk in 2005, with several walks happening each year. There has been an increase in the frequency and attendance on the walks in the last couple of years. Since the last AGM there have been 8 walks – averaging one walk every
6 weeks.
Attendance averages at about 10 walkers. Children and dogs are welcome on the walks and there have been children/teenagers with us on some of the walks. Walks this year have been to:
Black Mountains (twice), Kelston, Wentwood Forest, Bath (Skyline walk), Avon & Kennet Canal, Goblin Combe, Uley Bury.
We walk at a gentle pace and walks generally last for 2–4 hours and include a pub or picnic lunch during or at the end of the walk. Part of the walk, anything from 30 minutes to 1 hour, is done in silence.
Like all other Bristol Insight sub-groups the sangha walks are open to anyone, and new people often come on the walks. Connections get made and new people get to hear of other group activities through conversation with sangha members on the walks.
Insightful Ageing Group
The group which consists of ten members has continued to meet monthly. The sessions last for two hours and involve a process of checking in, followed by a period of meditation leading to a substantive sharing of thoughts usually around a specific topic. For the past twelve months this has been based upon a reading of a specific book, namely “A year to Live” by Stephen Levine. This raises the question of how to live such a year as if it were one’s last. I think that we have all found it a profound guide for savouring life. It is fair to say that the members of the group are all in the third age of life. However, ageing begins at the moment of birth and there is no reason why younger members of the Sangha would not be interested in and have much to contribute to the work of the group.
“Seeing that Frees” Book Group
The group meets on a bi-monthly basis to explore Rob Burbea’s book ‘Seeing That Frees’ that explores the teaching and application of emptiness in our practice and daily life. We are experimenting using video conferencing to enable people to access the sessions that would otherwise not be able to attend the sessions.
Next steps
In particular over the next year we are planning to:
- increase the number of introductory courses we offer
- develop a longer beginners course
- develop monthly ‘Meditation in Nature’ sessions
- expand our social “Dharma in Action” plan
Charity Information
TRUSTEES
Michael Baker
Max Beseke
Gillian Bird
Jonathan Edwards
Alastair Wakely
Geoff Windle
LEGAL STATUS
Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Charity No 1162182
FURTHER INFORMATION
Website: www.bristolmeditation.org.uk
BANKERS
The Co-operative Bank, PO Box 250, Skelmersdale WN8 6WT
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Independent scrutiny of accounts is not required where the gross income for the financial year is £25,000 or less.
Annual report of the trustees of Bristol Insight Meditation
for the year ended 31 December 2019
1 Factual information
- Structure
Bristol Insight Meditation (“Bristol Insight”) is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (No: 1162182)
1.2 Object
The Object of the charity is:
To advance the education of the public in the subject of meditation and the teachings of the Buddha in particular but not exclusively by supporting and encouraging the study and practice of Buddhist Insight Meditation (also known as Vispassana meditative practice) for the benefit of people in Bristol and the surrounding areas.
1.3 Governance
The charity is managed by a group of Trustees. All trustees are required to be members (supporters) of Bristol Insight. Trustees are recruited on the basis of skills needs identified by the group of Trustees. A variety of methods is used to identify suitable candidates. Trustees are elected by the members (supporters) of the charity at the Annual General Meeting. Each year one third of the Trustees retires by rotation. The group of Trustees has the power to co-opt members during the year but these members must stand for election at the next Annual General Meeting. Trustees are given an induction pack containing key information about our organisation and on becoming a trustee. Trustees are encouraged to identify gaps in their knowledge, which are then addressed by briefings or other training delivered to some or all of the trustees as appropriate.
1.4 Management
The Committee of Trustees currently comprises 6 members and meets approximately 5 times a year. The Trustees are supported by ‘organisers’ who organise and support activities on an operational basis. Organisers report to the Trustee Committee. The charity was registered by the Charity Commission on 15 June 2015. Trustees serving during the year 2019 were:
Michael Baker (elected on 25 June 2016, re-elected 13 April 2019)
Gillian Bird (appointed 15 June 2015, elected 25 June 2016, re-elected 14 April 2018)
Max Beseke (appointed 15 June 2015, elected 25 June 2016, re-elected 14 April 2018)
Amanda Burn (appointed 15 June 2015, elected 25 June 2016 & 24 June 2017, resigned 13 April 2019)
Jonathan Edwards (appointed 15 June 2015, elected 25 June 2016, re-elected 24 June 2017)
Chris Makepeace (elected 25 June 2016, resigned 13 April 2019)
Alastair Wakely (elected 13 April 2019)
Geoff Windle (elected 13 April 2019)
- Review of Activities
The review of activities is set out in the 2019 Annual Review earlier in this report.
3 Financial Review
Total income for the year was £8,050.25 and total expenditure for the year was £8,170.30.
The total net assets held at the 31st December 2019 were £5,106.62 represented by cash at bank and in hand. During the year we purchased 6 meditation cushions for the Tuesday evening sitting group.
4 Risk Management
The major risks to which the charity is exposed, as identified by the trustees, have been reviewed during the year and the trustees are satisfied that systems have been established to mitigate those risks. The charity has arranged employers and public liability insurance cover of £10M through an insurance policy underwritten by the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group.
5 Format of financial statements
The report and accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011
6 Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements
Legal regulations require the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity’s financial activities for the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by the Committee of Trustees and signed on their behalf by
Jonathan Edwards, Trustee and Treasurer
Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2019
| Teacher | Tuesday | ||||||
| Led Day | Self-Led | Sitting & | Teacher | ||||
| Retreats | Day | Introd | Led | 2019 | 2018 | ||
| & Admin | Retreats | Course | Courses | Total | Total | ||
| INCOME | |||||||
| Voluntary Income | |||||||
| Donations | £1,976.00 | £3,106.67 | £5,082.67 | £4,612.29 | |||
| Investment Income | |||||||
| Bank Interest | £0.00 | £0.00 | |||||
| From charitable activities | |||||||
| Event booking fees | £2,296.42 | £166.16 | £505.00 | £2,967.58 | £3,641.70 | ||
| Total Income | £2,296.42 | £1,976.00 | £3,272.83 | £505.00 | £8,050.25 | £8,253.99 | |
| EXPENDITURE | |||||||
| Cost of charitable activities | |||||||
| Payments to Teachers | £260.00 | £300.00 | £560.00 | £1,079.38 | |||
| Hire of Halls | £660.63 | £1,620.00 | £3,016.00 | £210.00 | £5,506.63 | £5,557.50 | |
| Travel & Accommodation | £474.65 | £127.95 | £602.60 | £244.72 | |||
| Admin Services | £765.00 | £765.00 | £502.50 | ||||
| Coffee, Tea, Biscuits | £56.14 | £75.50 | £131.64 | £135.41 | |||
| Printing & Stationery | £51.00 | £51.00 | £287.68 | ||||
| Liability Insurance | £364.00 | £364.00 | £364.00 | ||||
| Website & IT | £71.93 | £71.93 | £473.42 | ||||
| Purchases (6 cushions) | £117.50 | £117.50 | £390.24 | ||||
| Total Expenditure | £2,703.35 | £1,620.00 | £3,209.00 | £637.95 | £8,170.30 | £9,034.85 | |
| Net Movement of Funds | (£406.93) | £356.00 | £63.83 | (£132.95) | (£120.05) | (£780.86) | |
| Reconciliation of Funds | |||||||
| Balance B/F at 1 Jan 2019 | £5,226.67 | £6,007.53 | |||||
| Balance C/F at 31 Dec 2019 | £5,106.62 | £5,226.67 |
Balance Sheet at 31 December 2019
| 2019 | 2018 | ||||
| Tangible Fixed Assets | £0.00 | £0.00 | |||
| Current Assets | |||||
| Cash at bank | £4,752.75 | £4,951.47 | |||
| Cash in PayPal account | £178.89 | £178.89 | |||
| Cash in hand | £174.98 | £96.31 | |||
| Net Current Assets | £5,106.62 | £5,226.67 | |||
| Net Assets | £5,106.62 | £5,226.67 | |||
| Represented by | |||||
| Unrestricted funds | £5,106.62 | £5,226.67 | |||
| Restricted funds | |||||
| Total Funds | £5,106.62 | £5,226.67 | |||
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees
on 7th July 2020 and signed on their behalf by
Jonathan Edwards
Trustee and Treasurer
Independent Examination
Independent scrutiny of accounts is not required where the gross income for the financial year is £25,000 or less.