The Dāna Economy

We are a Buddhist community and charity based in Chelmsford. We offer a vision of human potential, a path of personal development and a thriving community. We regularly hear how our activities help transform people’s lives, offering inspiration, connection and meaning. The MEBC operates on a Dana Economy and thrives only thanks to the spirit of dāna (generosity). We invite you to contribute what you can to help sustain our community and ensure that meditation, teachings, and retreats remain accessible to all. Your support, no matter the amount, plays a vital role in keeping the Centre vibrant and welcoming for everyone. Together, we can continue to flourish and offer the Dharma to all who seek it.

Please donate here: PayPal

Please clearly indicate what your donation is for (like "Bursary Fund" or "Donation" ...), Thank you.

Our Bursary fund allows us to support Mitras training for Ordination in financial needs towards the cost of their training for Ordination retreats.

Please become a Gift Aid Donor 
(by clicking the ‘Gift Aid My Donations’ button at the bottom of this page)

If you are a UK taxpayer, please consider becoming a Gift Aid Donor as The Mid Essex Buddhist Centre will be able to claim back, from the HMRC, 25p for every £1.00 you donate.

These are the Gift Aid rules for donors in the UK: 
 - Eligibility: To qualify for Gift Aid, you must be a UK taxpayer and have paid enough income tax or capital gains tax to cover the amount that the charity will reclaim on your donation.
 - Gift Aid Declaration: You need to make a Gift Aid declaration to MEBC (by clicking the 'Gift Aid My Donations' button at the bottom of this page) which allows us to claim back 25p for every £1 you donate.
 - Tax Relief: Donors can benefit from tax relief on their donations, as Gift Aid increases the value of the donation to the charity without any extra cost to the donor.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the official guidance on Gift Aid on the GOV.UK website:
 - Claiming Gift Aid as a charity or CASC: Overview - GOV.UK
 - Claiming Gift Aid as a charity or CASC: Gift Aid declarations - GOV.UK

We took a loan of £220,000 to purchase the Centre and we are now paying back both interest and capital.
We need to raise an extra £750 each month to support The Mid Essex Buddhist Centre into the future.