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BIRMINGHAM BUDDHIST CENTRE

Registered charity 516568 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as FRIENDS OF THE WESTERN BUDDHIST ORDER-MIDLANDS

This charity aims to advance and spread the Buddhist religion. This includes encouraging people to live in accordance with Buddhist teachings, supporting ordained Buddhists and maintaining close links with the Triratna Buddhist Order. The charity operates as part of a network of independent Buddhist charities known collectively as the Triratna Buddhist Community.

Objects

2. THE OBJECT OF THE ASSOCIATION ("THE OBJECT") IS THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE BUDDHISTRELIGION, IN PARTICULAR BY:2.1 ENCOURAGING MEMBERS AND OTHERS TO LIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEACHINGS OF THEBUDDHA; AND2.2 SUPPORTING ORDAINED MEMBERS OF THE TRIRATNA BUDDHIST ORDER AND OTHER DULYORDAINED BUDDHISTS, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE ASSOCIATION; AND2.3 MAINTAINING CLOSE COMMUNICATION WITH AND WORKING UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THETRIRATNA BUDDHIST ORDER AND IN CO-OPERATION WITH OTHER GROUPS WITH THE SAMEOBJECT.

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: Religious Activities · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£427k
Latest spending
£366k
Registered
1985
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state a net surplus of £60,580 for the year, driven by donations for renovations and a generous community response. The charity maintains unrestricted reserves of £1,223,206, significantly exceeding its stated policy target of £60,000. The trustees confirm that resources are adequate to continue operations on a going concern basis.

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

What the accounts disclose

Highest-paid employee band: Under £60,000 — in the top quarter for charities its size (median £60k)
“No employee was paid more than £60,000.” — page 15
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: at least £60,000 (held: £1.2m)
“the council has agreed that the charity should maintain a cash reserve of at least £60,000 and review this sum annually.” — page 7
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Payments to trustees: 3 trustees received support payments for other services provided to the charity (£62,337). 4 trustees were reimbursed for receipted goods and services. One trustee paid rent as a tenant.
“The trustees do not receive any emolument for their services as trustees, but 3 trustees received support payments for other services provided to the charity” — page 15
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustee rent payment
“One trustee paid rent at the going rate as a tenant in one of our community houses.” — page 15
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 6 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.

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Birmingham City · Coventry City · Dudley · Sandwell · Shropshire · Solihull · Walsall · Warwickshire · Wolverhampton · Worcestershire

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/05/2025£427k£366k
31/05/2024£348k£321k
31/05/2023£319k£289k
31/05/2022£305k£280k
31/05/2021£279k£246k

Common questions

Is BIRMINGHAM BUDDHIST CENTRE financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state a net surplus of £60,580 for the year, driven by donations for renovations and a generous community response. The charity maintains unrestricted reserves of £1,223,206, significantly exceeding its stated policy target of £60,000. The trustees confirm that resources are adequate to continue operations on a going concern basis. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

What does the highest-paid employee of BIRMINGHAM BUDDHIST CENTRE earn?

Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the Under £60,000 band.

Government & lottery funding

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

FunderDateAmountPurpose
The National Lottery Community Fund28/01/2022£10kPeer carer mentors for wellbeing
The National Lottery Community Fund13/07/2018£10kTraining Carer Peer evaluators

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

FunderSimilar charities fundedAmount to them
THE WINDHORSE TRUST1£53k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with TRIRATNA BUDDHIST COMMUNITY IN BRISTOL.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
BIRMINGHAM BUDDHIST CENTRE£427kUnder £60,0000unclear—no doubt
TRIRATNA BUDDHIST COMMUNITY IN BRISTOL FY2024£111k—0above—no doubt
LONDON MINDFULNESS MEDITATION CENTRE FY2025£166k—0unclear—no doubt
THE BUDDHIST SOCIETY TRUST FY2023£257k—0above—no doubt
SHEFFIELD TRIRATNA BUDDHIST COMMUNITY FY2025£214k—0unclear—no doubt
LAM RIM BUDDHIST CENTRE FY2025£127k—0below—no doubt

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