MANCHESTER BUDDHIST CENTRE

Registered charity 514937 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as FRIENDS OF THE WESTERN BUDDHIST ORDER (MANCHESTER)

Manchester Buddhist Centre provides a place of peace in Manchester. We offer classes in meditation and Buddhism both for Buddhists and non-buddhists and, for those who ask for it, training for ordination. We welcome schools and community groups, having developed a reputation for excellence.

Objects

THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE BUDDHIST RELIGION IN PARTICULAR BY: (I) ENCOURAGING MEMBERS AND OTHERS TO LIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEACHINGS OF THE BUDDHA. (II) SUPPORTING ORDAINED MEMBERS OF THE TRIRATNA BUDDHIST COMMUNITY AND OTHER DULY ORDAINED BUDDHISTS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE ASSOCIATION.(III) MAINTAINING CLOSE COMMUNICATION WITH AND WORKING UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF TRIRATNA BUDDHIST ORDER AND IN CO-OPERATION WITH OTHER GROUPS WITH THE SAME OBJECTS.(IV) USING APPLICATIONS OF THE BUDDHA'S TEACHING TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ALL

Area of benefit: NOT DEFINED

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Education/training · The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives · Religious Activities · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£271k

Latest spending

£270k

Registered

1984

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity is debt-free and holds unrestricted reserves of £779,805, which the trustees describe as a strong level of liquidity compared to their policy target of three months' operating costs. The filing reports a small accounting surplus of £751 for the year and notes that all income streams remain solid with no reason to expect changes.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Rental Income (37% of income)

“Rental Income £100k – 37%” — page 13

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves policy: three months' operating costs (held: £780k)

“Our Reserves Policy is to hold funds sufficient to cover three months' operating costs in the event of income sources being lower than forecast, or costs being higher than expected.” — page 15

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Trustee as tenant

“Jeff Cole is a tenant in one of the community houses.” — page 30

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Conflicting interests
Engaging external speakers at charity events policy and procedures
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Investing charity funds policy and procedures
Paying staff
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Social media policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Trustees · trustee networks

Jeremy Bristolchair
Ajay Gilbert
Hatthaka Sanghadhara · trustee of 2 other charities
Helen Sullivan · trustee of 1 other charity
Jeff Cole · trustee of 1 other charity
Keith Green
Rosemary Alison Cole · trustee of 1 other charity

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Manchester City

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£271k	£270k
31/12/2024	£295k	£268k
31/12/2023	£276k	£268k
31/12/2022	£271k	£280k
31/12/2021	£241k	£256k

Common questions

Is MANCHESTER BUDDHIST CENTRE financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity is debt-free and holds unrestricted reserves of £779,805, which the trustees describe as a strong level of liquidity compared to their policy target of three months' operating costs. The filing reports a small accounting surplus of £751 for the year and notes that all income streams remain solid with no reason to expect changes. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
The National Lottery Community Fund	15/07/2015	£9k	Building Stronger Connections

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with BIRMINGHAM BUDDHIST CENTRE.

BIRMINGHAM BUDDHIST CENTRE income £427k
JAMYANG BUDDHIST CENTRE income £630k
BUDDHA LAND KADAMPA MEDITATION CENTRE LTD income £124k
BUDDHIST COMMUNITY CENTRE KENT LTD income £165k
LONDON MINDFULNESS MEDITATION CENTRE income £166k
INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST PROGRESS SOCIETY (MANCHESTER) income £437k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
MANCHESTER BUDDHIST CENTRE	£271k	—	above	—	no doubt
BIRMINGHAM BUDDHIST CENTRE FY2025	£427k	Under £60,000	unclear	—	no doubt
JAMYANG BUDDHIST CENTRE FY2025	£630k	—	unclear	—	no doubt
BUDDHA LAND KADAMPA MEDITATION CENTRE LTD FY2024	£124k	—	above	—	no doubt
BUDDHIST COMMUNITY CENTRE KENT LTD FY2024	£165k	—	above	—	no doubt
LONDON MINDFULNESS MEDITATION CENTRE FY2025	£166k	—	unclear	—	no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.