Policy

Conflict of interest policy

ABGN-UK trustees, volunteers and members declare any interest that might influence, or be seen to influence, decisions made on behalf of the Sangha.

Purpose

  • •To protect the integrity of ABGN-UK and ensure decisions are made in the best interests of the community, not in the personal interest of any trustee, member or volunteer.
  • •To safeguard donor and member trust by being transparent about any actual, potential or perceived conflict.

What is a conflict of interest?

  • •A trustee, employee or close family member stands to gain financially or materially from a decision being made.
  • •A trustee holds another role (paid or unpaid) where their loyalty might be divided between two organisations.
  • •A trustee has a personal, political, religious or social relationship with someone who would be materially affected by a decision.
  • •An external party seeks to influence ABGN-UK by gifts, hospitality or other benefits.

Declaration procedure

  • •Each trustee completes a register of interests on appointment, updated annually and whenever a new interest arises.
  • •At the start of every trustee meeting, the chair invites declarations of conflict relating to any item on the agenda.
  • •Declared conflicts are recorded in the minutes. The conflicted trustee withdraws from the relevant discussion and does not vote on it.
  • •Where the entire committee is conflicted (rare), the decision is deferred until independent advice is sought.

Gifts & hospitality

  • •Volunteers and trustees do not solicit gifts. Modest gifts of dāna (under £25 in value) may be accepted on behalf of ABGN-UK.
  • •Any gift over £25, or any pattern of recurring small gifts from a single source, is logged in the gifts register and reported to the chair.
  • •Hospitality (meals, travel, accommodation) offered by external parties is declined unless approved by the chair on a case-by-case basis.

Breach

  • •A failure to declare a known conflict is a serious matter and may result in the trustee being asked to step down.
  • •Any member, volunteer or trustee may raise concerns confidentially with the chair (or, if the chair is involved, with the secretary) at info@ambedkaritebuddhistglobalnetworkuk.com.
  • •Good-faith whistleblowing is protected; we do not retaliate against reporters.

Approved February 2026 · Reviewed annually by the volunteer governance committee.