| REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: |
| REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: |
| Report of the Trustees and |
| Unaudited Financial Statements |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| for |
| BRISTOL ZEN DOJO (1998) LTD |
| (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) |
| REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: |
| REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: |
| Report of the Trustees and |
| Unaudited Financial Statements |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| for |
| BRISTOL ZEN DOJO (1998) LTD |
| (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) |
| BRISTOL ZEN DOJO (1998) LTD |
| Contents of the Financial Statements |
| FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 |
| Page |
| Report of the Trustees | 1 | to | 3 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 4 |
| Balance Sheet | 5 | to | 6 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 7 | to | 11 |
| BRISTOL ZEN DOJO (1998) LTD (REGISTERED NUMBER: 03558662) |
| Report of the Trustees |
| FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 |
| The Trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report |
| with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019). |
| OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES |
| Objectives and aims |
| - To advance the education of the public in the study and practice of Zen meditation |
| - To advance the knowledge of the public of the teachings of Taisen Deshimaru Roshi |
| The intended beneficiaries of the charity's aims include: |
| 1. Practitioners of Zen Buddhism who come from all walks of life in Bristol and the surrounding area as well as from other parts of the UK and Europe. |
| 2. The wider public, who may benefit from the charity's activities by having the chance to come to the Dojo and learn about Zen and practice meditation. |
| 3. Members of the public who may ask for ceremonies to be performed for the sick and the dying, or for example marriage, or naming. |
| The Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit. |
| Significant activities |
| In exercising the powers of the trust and pursuing the objects of the charity, public benefit is accomplished by: |
| - Providing and maintaining a centre (the Dojo) for the study and practice of Zen Buddhism. |
| - Maintaining a regular schedule of Zen meditation (currently 5 days per week and a monthly half day). |
| - Promoting and providing for the public every week introductory sessions to Zen meditation. |
| - Performing and dedicating ceremonies for the sick, dying and deceased. |
| - Developing and providing a programme of talks at the Dojo on aspects of Zen and Buddhism and their application in daily life, and giving talks when requested to other local groups. |
| - Organising and inviting certified teachers to lead and direct retreats at the Dojo and at other venues in the UK. |
| - Providing support and pastoral care for those visiting the Dojo, including those who are unemployed, those recovering from addiction, alcoholism, mental illness; keeping in touch with those who are no longer practising due to ill health etc. |
| - Providing and maintaining a library of books on Zen, Buddhism and related subjects for users of the centre. |
| - Making available for sale books by Master Deshimaru, meditation cushions, kimonos and other artefacts helpful for the study of Zen. |
| - Care and maintenance of Buddha statues, calligraphies, ceremonial instruments and other objects entrusted to the Dojo. |
| - Providing copies of translations of Buddhist sutras and other Zen texts. |
| - Providing an opportunity for local groups to use the Dojo for activities which complement Zen practice such as yoga, shiatsu, chanting. |
| It is the policy of the Trustees to request members and visitors to make donations to help cover costs rather than set fees. The Trustees are satisfied however that any charges for room hire, events or requests for regular payments are reasonable and take into consideration each beneficiary's ability to pay. All events provided by the Dojo offer a concessionary rate which may be waived depending on an individual's circumstances. |
| BRISTOL ZEN DOJO (1998) LTD (REGISTERED NUMBER: 03558662) |
| Report of the Trustees |
| FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 |
| OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES |
| Public benefit |
| Public benefit is derived from the charity's activities when an individual practitioner's attitude, behaviour and aspiration expresses the ethics and values of Buddhism which contributes to the moral and spiritual fabric of society. |
| Those responsible for the daily running of the Dojo do not receive any payment. The Trustees are satisfied however that where private benefit may occur when a teacher is invited, it is necessary and incidental to furthering the charity's object of advancing Zen Buddhism. |
| Volunteers |
| The Trust is assisted in carrying out its charitable activities with the support of a team of volunteers who instruct and support attendees in the basics of Zen Buddhism and meditation and who give their time to the administrative aspects of the charity. |
| ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE |
| Achievements |
| The charity continued modernisations to 91-93 Gloucester Road - the first floor premises now owned by Bristol Zen Dojo. This includes new acoustic glass windows and a new heating system in order to provide a more peaceful and comfortable environment for practitioners. In the autumn, Bristol Zen Dojo recommenced Thursday morning zazen practice meaning the dojo is now open five days a week once again. |
| Fundraising activities |
| The charity raises additional funds from letting out its premises for the use of local groups and to practitioners of complementary therapies. |
| FINANCIAL REVIEW |
| Financial position |
| The charity had net income for the year of £7,850 (2023: £4,519). As at the year-end the charity was in a healthy financial position with reserves of £28,750 (2023: £20,880). The trustees have taken advantage of the Gift Aid scheme, which has entitled the charity to reclaim tax paid on donations received. The amount claimable for the year amounts to £2,232(2023: £1,787), which has contributed to the charity's financial results for the year. |
| Reserves policy |
| It is the intention of the charity to achieve sufficient reserves to allow it to meet its liabilities as they fall due. Free reserves are measured as the unrestricted general fund balance, after excluding fixed assets of £135,780 and long term liabilities of £136,666. At the year end, free reserves were £29,636 (2023:£34,100). The charity held cash at the bank of £33,298 (2023:£38,141). |
| STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT |
| Governing document |
| The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006. |
| Recruitment and appointment of new trustees |
| Appointment of Trustees is governed by the Memorandum of Association. The Board of Trustees is authorised to appoint new Trustees to fill vacancies arising through resignation or death of an existing Trustee. |
| Risk management |
| The Trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. |
| REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS |
| Registered Company number |
| BRISTOL ZEN DOJO (1998) LTD (REGISTERED NUMBER: 03558662) |
| Report of the Trustees |
| FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 |
| Registered Charity number |
| Registered office |
| Trustees |
| This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. |
| Approved by order of the board of trustees on |
| BRISTOL ZEN DOJO (1998) LTD |
| Statement of Financial Activities |
| (Incorporating an Income and Expenditure Account) |
| FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| Unrestricted | Total |
| fund | funds |
| Notes | £ | £ |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
| Donations and legacies |
| Raising funds | 2 |
| Other income |
| Total |
| EXPENDITURE ON |
| Charitable activities |
| NET INCOME |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS |
| Total funds brought forward |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 20,880 |
| BRISTOL ZEN DOJO (1998) LTD (REGISTERED NUMBER: 03558662) |
| Balance Sheet |
| 31 DECEMBER 2024 |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| Unrestricted | Total |
| fund | funds |
| Notes | £ | £ |
| FIXED ASSETS |
| Tangible assets | 6 |
| CURRENT ASSETS |
| Debtors | 7 |
| Cash at bank and in hand |
| CREDITORS |
| Amounts falling due within one year | 8 | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS |
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES |
| CREDITORS |
| Amounts falling due after more than one year | 9 | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| NET ASSETS |
| FUNDS | 11 |
| Unrestricted funds | 20,880 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 20,880 |
| The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 December 2024. |
| The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. |
| The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for |
| (a) | ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and |
| (b) | preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company. |
| BRISTOL ZEN DOJO (1998) LTD (REGISTERED NUMBER: 03558662) |
| Balance Sheet - continued |
| 31 DECEMBER 2024 |
| These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime. |
| The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on |
| BRISTOL ZEN DOJO (1998) LTD |
| Notes to the Financial Statements |
| FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 |
| 1. | ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
| Basis of preparing the financial statements |
| The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. |
| The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. |
| The financial statements ae prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £. |
| Income |
| All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. |
| Expenditure |
| Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. |
| Tangible fixed assets |
| Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life. |
| Improvements to property | - |
| Fixtures and fittings | - |
| Taxation |
| The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities. |
| Fund accounting |
| Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. |
| Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. |
| Short term liquid investments and cash |
| Cash at bank is held to meet short-term cash commitments as they fall due rather than for investment purposes and includes all cash equivalents held in the form of short-term highly liquid investments. Cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and that are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value. |
| BRISTOL ZEN DOJO (1998) LTD |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 |
| 2. | RAISING FUNDS |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Room hire | 1,453 | 1,342 |
| 3. | NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) |
| Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting): |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Depreciation - owned assets |
| 4. | TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS |
| There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2024 nor for the year ended 31 December 2023. |
| Trustees' expenses |
| There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 December 2024 nor for the year ended 31 December 2023. |
| 5. | COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES |
| Unrestricted |
| fund |
| £ |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
| Donations and legacies |
| Raising funds |
| Other income |
| Total |
| EXPENDITURE ON |
| Charitable activities |
| NET INCOME |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS |
| Total funds brought forward |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 20,880 |
| BRISTOL ZEN DOJO (1998) LTD |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 |
| 6. | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS |
| Improvements | Fixtures |
| Long | to | and | Computer |
| leasehold | property | fittings | equipment | Totals |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| COST |
| At 1 January 2024 |
| Additions |
| At 31 December 2024 |
| DEPRECIATION |
| At 1 January 2024 |
| Charge for year |
| At 31 December 2024 |
| NET BOOK VALUE |
| At 31 December 2024 |
| At 31 December 2023 |
| 7. | DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Other debtors |
| 8. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Other loans (see note 10) |
| Accrued expenses |
| BRISTOL ZEN DOJO (1998) LTD |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 |
| 9. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Other loans (see note 10) | 141,666 |
| 10. | LOANS |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Amounts payable after less than 1 year | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Amounts payable in 1-2 years | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Amounts payable in 2-5 years | 15,000 | 15,000 |
| Amounts payable in over 5 years | 116,666 | 121,666 |
| Total | 141,666 | 146,666 |
| Loans have been provided at nil rate of interest for the purchase of leasehold property. |
| 11. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS |
| Net |
| movement | At |
| At 1.1.24 | in funds | 31.12.24 |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds |
| General fund | 20,900 | 7,850 | 28,750 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 7,850 | 28,750 |
| Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |
| Incoming | Resources | Movement |
| resources | expended | in funds |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds |
| General fund | 16,958 | (9,108 | ) | 7,850 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | ( |
) | 7,850 |
| BRISTOL ZEN DOJO (1998) LTD |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 |
| 11. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued |
| Comparatives for movement in funds |
| Net |
| movement | At |
| At 1.1.23 | in funds | 31.12.23 |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds |
| General fund | 16,361 | 4,519 | 20,880 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 16,361 | 4,519 | 20,880 |
| Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |
| Incoming | Resources | Movement |
| resources | expended | in funds |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds |
| General fund | 16,752 | (12,233 | ) | 4,519 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 16,752 | (12,233 | ) | 4,519 |
| 12. | RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES |
| Bristol Zen Dojo received a loan of £150,000 for the purchase of leasehold property from the International Zen Association United Kingdom, a charity with shared trustees, in 2023. The loan has been provided at nil rate of interest. Repayments have been made to the international Zen Association throughout the year and the balance outstanding at the year end is £141,667 (2023:£146,666). |
| There were no other related party transactions for the year ended 31 December 2024 or the year ended 31 December 2023. |
| 13. | COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE |
| The charity is a company limited by guarantee having no share capital and, in accordance with the Memorandum of Association, every member is liable to contribute £1 towards the cost of dissolution and liabilities incurred by the charity in the event of the company being wound up. |