Public Benefit Statement
Why ABGN-UK exists, and how the public benefits.
The Ambedkarite Buddhist Global Network UK is a non-profit community organisation uniting British members in the spirit of Babasaheb Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's embrace of the Buddha's Dhamma. This page sets out the tangible public benefit ABGN-UK provides, in plain language.
Last updated: February 2026 · Reviewed annually by the volunteer governance committee.
Six pillars of public benefit
Concrete, measurable, open to everyone.
Charitable digital platform
ABGN-UK has built its own digital platform as charitable infrastructure (not as a commercial product). The platform delivers live meditation, Buddhist teachings, Dhamma talks, community meetings, structured educational courses, youth learning programmes, volunteer collaboration and study circles. It removes geographical, mobility, financial and caring-responsibility barriers that would otherwise exclude many beneficiaries from public participation in the Sangha.
Education for every age
Free Dhamma study materials, KS1–KS4 curriculum-linked workbooks for British schools, multilingual newsletter and an AI Dhamma assistant accessible 24/7. Members include first-generation Ambedkarite Buddhists who grew up without access to structured Buddhist education.
Mental wellbeing through Dhamma
Weekly meditation sessions, a meditation timer with streak tracking, ambient music for calming practice, and live-broadcast Dhamma talks. The Buddha's framework of mindfulness, ethical conduct and compassion is offered as a non-clinical wellbeing resource open to anyone, regardless of faith.
Inclusion, equality, social cohesion
ABGN-UK serves Britain's Ambedkarite Buddhist community across faith, caste, gender, age and ability lines. Membership is non-discriminatory; volunteer roles are open; community discussion forums are moderated for safety. We expressly oppose caste-based and other discrimination.
Global Sangha networking
Cloud-based meetings, livestreams and a translated newsletter (11 languages) connect members in the UK with Ambedkarite Buddhist communities in India, USA, Japan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and beyond, strengthening cultural exchange and shared learning.
Safeguarding and accessibility
We follow a written safeguarding policy (covering children, vulnerable adults and online conduct), an equality & diversity statement, and an elder-friendly readable design (large fonts, high contrast, multilingual). Donor information is processed under UK GDPR.
Volunteer development and youth engagement
Members can register as volunteers across teaching support, event organisation, content translation, technology and pastoral care. A youth wing is being developed to engage 13–25 year olds. Volunteer milestones and certificates recognise community contribution.
Activities
What we actually do.
All activities are open, free or low-cost, and designed to deliver the educational, spiritual and community benefits described above.
See upcoming events →- •Weekly online Dhamma study circles open to non-members
- •Quarterly in-person meetings at UK community venues (Stockport, Birmingham, London)
- •Annual Buddha Purnima celebration
- •Multilingual newsletter (Marathi, Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Bengali, Tamil and 5 more)
- •Children's reading programme aligned with KS1–KS4 curriculum
- •Volunteer-led translation of Babasaheb Ambedkar's writings
- •Free meditation room with streak tracking and ambient practice support
- •AI Dhamma assistant providing teachings on demand, 24/7
- •Public discussion forums on Dhamma, ethics, history and contemporary issues
Platform-based charitable delivery
Removing the barriers that keep people out.
The Charity Commission's published guidance recognises that a charity may deliver its objects through digital means where this widens access and improves public benefit. ABGN-UK's digital platform is built precisely for that purpose — it is charitable mission infrastructure, not a commercial software business.
Members from Stockport to London, Glasgow to Cardiff can sit in the same meditation together.
Live captioning, screen-reader support, and the ability to join from a bed or wheelchair widen access.
Parents, carers and shift workers can attend Dhamma teaching without leaving the house.
Large fonts, slow pacing, and an interface designed for first-time digital users.
Most UK cities do not have an Ambedkarite Buddhist centre. The platform brings one to every postcode.
Free baseline membership, hardship waivers on all paid tiers, and zero cost to attend public events on the platform.
Sessions are recorded (with consent) so working families can catch up at any hour.
Every public event runs simultaneously in-person and via the platform, so no one is left behind.
The platform is wholly owned by the CIO and is operated by volunteer trustees and members. It is not licensed to, leased to, or sold to any third party and generates no commercial income. Its sole purpose is the delivery of the CIO's charitable objects.
Not-for-profit structure
Every penny goes back to the community.
ABGN-UK is constituted on a clear non-profit, asset-locked basis. The following commitments are written into our governance:
- 1.Membership fees and donations are reinvested entirely into community activities and platform costs.
- 2.No member, director or volunteer receives personal profit, dividend or share of any surplus.
- 3.Surpluses (if any) are retained for charitable / community-interest activities such as scholarships, retreats and outreach.
- 4.Asset lock: on dissolution, residual assets transfer only to another asset-locked body with similar charitable / community-interest purpose.
Read more
For the full picture of our governance, please see our supporting policies.