The Abhayaratna Trust exists to relieve financial hardship among members of the Triratna Buddhist Order, particularly in the face of sickness, old age or disability. Inspired by Sangharakshita’s teaching of A Case of Dysentery, we see our main role as offering the infrastructure to help Order members to help each other.
We are now looking for one or two more Order members to become Trustees to help oversee and develop the work of the Trust at an exciting time in our development. We would particularly like to hear from you if you have some experience in the areas of finance, or health and social care, or welfare and benefits, or are younger members of the Order, or have experience of Triratna in India.
Alongside the financial support we give to Order members around the world through grants (over 100 a year) and appeals (for those in greater need), we also offer advice and support to mitigate or pre-empt financial hardship. Last year we launched two substantial schemes to support Order members in India in the wake of the COVID pandemic. We are also developing an ambitious programme of Local Care Networks aimed at establishing more explicit and organised frameworks for care in the Order. (See our website for more information about our work.)
Our Trustees meet about four times a year, usually at the Birmingham Buddhist Centre, UK, and sometimes online, as well actively contributing to the work of the Trust between meetings (not particularly onerous as the Trust is very ably supported by a team of 1 full-time and 3 part-time staff).
If you have the right experience and aptitude, as well as energy and enthusiasm for the ethos of the Trust, then please contact Dharmashura, Chair of the Abhayaratna Trust, in the first instance for an informal discussion.
Closing date for informal enquiries: 20th November
Closing date for written application following informal enquiry: 30th November