What is the 108 CLUB?
The 108 Club is a saving scheme that will enable Diamond Way Buddhism UK to raise a deposit and then pay the mortgage for a new Buddhist centre in London. A big new Buddhist centre will be good for London and good for the whole UK.
You can help in many ways, by joining the 108 Club which will support the project in the long-run and also by making a one-off donation. By joining it you show your ongoing support for our growth in London, either as your local centre or as a place for our national activities. This will provide a large meditation hall where we can practice and hold courses, as well as places to organise events, socialise and live together. And best of all, it will be a place to offer Diamond Way Buddhism to London and the UK for generations to come.
108 Club members donate a regular sum of money every month. This can be £108, or a half, third, or quarter of £108: £54, £36, £27, or whatever you feel you can spare. You can sign up as an individual, a group, or as a centre. Registrations are welcome from anywhere in the world and we now have several friends who have joined from abroad who want to sign up.
To join the 108 CLUB you need to set up a monthly standing order and register your details. The following details will guide you through this process and should answer any questions you might have. Please feel free to contact us by email at 108club@dwbuk.org with any questions or suggestions.
We occasionally reward all our members with special 108 Club gifts and dedicated events as a way to show our appreciation for your support.
How does it work?
You decide how often you want to donate £108 to the 108 CLUB: once every one, two, three or four months. Making regular payments from your bank account helps us to build a strong foundation and plan for the future.
Is there a target?
Yes – £2.5 million! Although we can take a mortgage, we would like to buy the new centre debt-free, and we think this target is possible through the 108 Club and other sources of fundraising. We have already collected nearly half a million pounds, and the 108 Club has been instrumental in demonstrating to the banks how serious and stable we are, and how we are growing all the time.
Is there a special account for the 108 CLUB?
Yes, we have an account with Triodos Bank. This charity bank is the sister of the German bank that funded the Hamburg Buddhist Centre project and we want to build an on-going relationship with them. They have lent money to so many Buddhist groups that they even have a dedicated advisor for this sector. They offer group loans and the 108 Club scheme demonstrates to them that we have a group of committed supporters, and that they can work with us. If we show them that we are saving regularly, then they may lend us the deposit as well as provide us with a mortgage.
Gift Aid
If you are a UK taxpayer, you have the option to Gift Aid your donation. Gift Aid is a way for the charity to claim back the money that you have already paid to the government as tax. It doesn’t cost you a penny but means that your £108 is worth £130 to the charity. When signing up you can let us know you are happy for us to claim the Gift Aid on your donations.
