SGI-UK Governance Information

Explaining the Structure of SGI-UK

Introduction

SGI-UK is an organisation which exists to promote Nichiren Buddhism as taught within the SGI.

1. The purpose of the following  is to explain how SGI-UK is structured first as a legal entity with a charitable purpose, and secondly as the organisation that supports our members in their Buddhist faith and practice.

Part A – The Legal Structure of SGI-UK

2. As stated above, SGI-UK is an organisation which exists to promote Nichiren Buddhism as taught within the SGI , and in order to have legal status in the UK it is constituted as a charitable company limited by guarantee. The charitable company has (at present) eight directors who are also trustees of the registered charity. These are people with a range of expertise (e.g. in law or business) in addition to having many years of Buddhist practice. In the language of our governing document (the Memorandum and Articles of Association) these eight directors are referred to as the ‘members’ of the company.

3. The role of the board of trustees is to make sure that SGI-UK fulfils the purpose for which it was set up, and to ensure that it is solvent and well run. The trustees look after our organisation’s precious assets, such as Taplow Court and the other national centres and the funds that are sincerely contributed by our members for kosen-rufu activities. The trustees are responsible for ensuring that the activities proposed by the Directorate are financially viable and in accordance with UK law and charity regulations.

4. The Directorate is the board of representative area and divisional leaders of SGI-UK which discusses and agrees the general direction for SGI-UK’s activities (see Part B below).

SGI-UK’s Trustees

5. The ten trustees are:
Stephanie Ball, Ricky Baynes, Kazuo Fujii (staff ), Robert Harrap, Fiona Harrow, Robert Samuels (staff ), Sue Thornton , Sachiyo Wilson, Paul Williams and Jennie Peters-Smith .
The secretary to the Trustees is Carol Rees-Williams.

6. The trustees have a wide range of experience in business, law, finance, management and employment issues as well as being long standing members of SGI-UK. In addition they take advice from experts as required.

Trustees’ meetings and activities

7. The trustees currently meet about once a month to discuss the protection and development of SGI-UK’s assets. This of course includes the buildings that we own, but also means setting budgets for our organisation and ensuring that they are adhered to. The trustees are enormously helped by the accounts staff at Taplow Court and are very grateful to them for the hard work that they do. SGI-UK relies on the contributions made to the kosen-rufu fund by our members. The trustees also take responsibility for other legal obligations with regard to such things as staff issues, insurance, tax and risk.

8. In addition, the Finance Committee, a sub-committee of the Trustees, keeps an even closer eye on SGI-UK’s budgets and financial strategy so that our expenditure is closely managed.

9. The trustees approve the accounts and annual report prepared by our accountants, Baker Tilley, who are charity specialists (the number one provider of audit services to the top 3,000 charities in the UK). The report is then published and is made available to the public via the Charity Commission website.

10. Over the last year, the trustees have instituted a review of the governance of SGI-UK, which has looked at our policies and procedures, and considered how SGI-UK can be better governed. One element of the review was a close examination by the trustees of all those affected by SGI-UK’s activities, whether our members, their families, the public at large, government, the media, academics and other religious bodies. This process will help us to clearly define our engagement with different areas of British society.

Caring for our assets

11. Although SGI-UK is predominantly a volunteer organisation, it is necessary to employ staff, for example to look after our administration and management, and to care for and develop our properties. We currently employ 21 full time and 12 part time members of staff.

12. At present SGI-UK has four centres: Taplow Court near Maidenhead, the London Ikeda Peace Centre in Central London (WC1), the South London National Centre in Brixton and the West London Centre in Acton. The trustees ensure that the buildings and grounds are properly cared for and managed so that our activities can take place in the best and safest way.

13. The trustees always welcome your comments and questions. If there are other matters which you would like to have more information about, please contact the trustees at Taplow Court, Berry Hill, Taplow, Berkshire SL6 0ER, or by email trustees@sgi-uk.org. We will endeavour to respond within 21 days.

Part B – The Faith Structure of SGI-UK

14. The purpose of SGI-UK is to support individuals in their faith, practice and study of Nichiren Buddhism, and to promote a wider understanding of this practice in society. People join SGI-UK when they decide that they wish to practise Nichiren Buddhism and be part of the worldwide movement for peace known as ‘kosen-rufu’. Simply put this phrase means establishing a world where every individual is treated with profound respect and is able to fulfil their potential as a human being. At present there are more than 11,000 members of SGI-UK.

Being a member in a district

15. Each member of SGI-UK is also (and primarily) a member of a local district. A district usually consists of 15-20 individuals who live in a local area and come together to hold discussion meetings, chant together and encourage one another in their practice and study. In urban areas a district may consist of members living in just a few streets, whereas in other parts of the UK a district may cover a much wider geographical area.

16. In order to coordinate activities, SGI-UK asks some individuals with experience of practice in the SGI to take responsibility for a district and to lead those local activities. These leaders are usually representatives of the men and women, young men and young women (representing the four ‘divisions’) of that particular area.

17. Each district is responsible for the activities it holds, but commonly in any month the activities will include a discussion meeting, meetings to inspire and inform, study opportunities as well as meetings where members meet and chant. In addition a district will probably be looking for ways to engage with the local community in areas of common concern. Decisions on what activities take place is reached through the consensus of those involved.

18. To support our districts and their members, other members are asked to support a collection of districts known as a chapter, often with four chapter leaders. Usually two or more districts form a chapter and some activities, e.g. study lectures, are often held on chapter level, according to local circumstances. Equally, chapters form together to make headquarters (often abbreviated to HQ), and groups of HQs make a region or area.

The shape of SGI-UK today

19. SGI-UK consists of 570 districts, organised in 154 chapters and 62 Headquarters (or HQs). In turn the HQs are supported by regions, areas and two general areas. Our current national membership is 11,380. Those people taking responsibility as leaders in their local areas at present number 2,800.

The SGI-UK Directorate

20. The Directorate is the decision-making body for faith activities in SGI-UK, setting the national direction. Membership of the Directorate is determined by responsibility. The Directorate is composed according to divisional and geographical representation and is currently comprised as follows (those marked with an *asterisk are also members of the board of trustees):

21. Appointments to these responsibilities are made by the National Appointments Board, and national appointments are made in consultation with SGI-Europe’s Appointments Board and SGI in Japan.

22. The Directorate has monthly meetings at Taplow Court. The purpose of the Directorate’s meetings is to agree all policy and the national direction of activities for SGI-UK in the coming months. All members of SGI-UK are represented on the Directorate by their divisional and geographical leaders listed above.

23. The Directorate in turn delegates the coordination of local activities through the areas, regions, HQs, chapters and districts. The Directorate welcomes suggestions and feedback, and members may either contact their divisional or geographical leaders directly, or write to the General Director at Taplow Court.

24. Soka Gakkai International is a worldwide society for the creation of value founded upon the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin.

SGI-UK IS A REGISTERED CHARITY No: 1104491 COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE NO: 5114516. REGISTERED IN ENGLAND & WALES.