THE 2015 - 2016 ANNUAL REPORTKrishnamurti Foundation Trust

This past year has seen the implementation and consolidation of the many changes that occurred as a result of the review of the charity in the previous year. Despite fluctuations in student numbers at Brockwood Park School, overall the charity has still managed well both operationally and financially. Both schools joined the Independent Schools Association and were lauded in the inspections undertaken by the Independent Schools Inspectorate a short time later. The Krishnamurti Centre undertook extensive maintenance and refurbishment, and prepared an expanded programme of theme weekends and related activities, while the Krishnamurti Foundation launched ‘Free to the World’, its ambitious project to make all 600 video recordings of Krishnamurti’s talks freely available online, with a growing number of subtitles to accompany them.

The operating surplus for the year was £112,000, with £2,082,000 incoming resources and £1,970,000 outgoing resources. A record number of students

graduating from the School in 2016 caused a fall in income of £247,000 compared to the year before. However, this was offset by generous support via our Annual Appeal, unexpected legacies and ongoing savings as a result of a leaner, better structured organisation. The number of student applicants received last year for the current academic year was is in line with the numbers we have come to expect in a ‘good year’; furthermore the number of accepted student applicants increased by almost 100%, from 16 to 31.

As trustees, we feel our responsibility is to ensure that the teachings of Krishnamurti remain the cornerstone of Brockwood and its activities. At the heart of this is the engagement of staff who are interested in the teachings and who can live together in the spirit of co-operation, affection and inquiry. The past year has seen more time and energy given to improving the living and working arrangements of staff, students and volunteers, with a corresponding positive effect on the

Message from the Board of Trustees

THE 2015 - 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

atmosphere. Most current residential staff have indicated their intention to remain for the next calendar and academic year, which should further focus energy and inquiry.

Brockwood has four distinct departments (The Krishnamurti Foundation, The Krishnamurti Centre, Brockwood Park School, Inwoods Small School) but it also has numerous areas of common concern and is best regarded as an interconnected whole. Effective care and maintenance of the buildings, gardens and grounds, an up-to-date IT system, professional and responsive accounting and administration staff, and well run kitchens are essential support functions. All of these areas have seen major changes in the past two years and now seem more robust and coherent, better utilising their resources.

Founded by Krishnamurti as an international community, Brockwood currently has students, staff and mature students from around 25 countries. Brexit is going to be a major challenge in this respect, as it could impose restrictions on travel and employment for our mainly European students and staff. The changes that Brexit will herald are still very

A highlight of the year was the London concert ‘J Krishnamurti: Silence, Music and the Arts’ given in support of the Krishnamurti Foundation Trust with performances by Aditi Mangaldas (Indian dance), Maria João Pires (Piano) and Nigel North (Lute).

speculative, however we are preparing plans for different scenarios in order to anticipate and reduce the risks involved.

In 1983, Krishnamurti said of Brockwood, ‘It is the only centre in Europe representing the teachings, which are essentially religious.’ His statement highlights the significance he gave to Brockwood’s existence, and this report is prepared in the knowledge that you share our concern for its future. Brockwood is unique, not simply because Krishnamurti said so, but because it operates in a manner that has no parallel elsewhere: the concerns and connectedness of the four departments; the international mix; the human-scale model; the residential staff all on the same minimum wage. When all of these factors are taken into account, we realise it is a jewel that we have been entrusted with to care for and we thank you for the generous support you provide us in this shared endeavour.

Trustees of The Krishnamurti Foundation Trust

Viswanath Alluri, Gisèle Balleys, Alastair Herron, Derek Hook, Gary Primrose,

Wendy Smith

“Brockwood must be a place of integrity, deep honesty and the awakening of intelligence in the midst of confusion, conflict and destruction that is taking place in the world. And this in no way depends on any person or group of people, but on the awareness, attention and affection of the people who are there. All this depends on the people who live at Brockwood and on the Trustees of the Krishnamurti Foundation. It is their responsibility to bring it about.”

J.Krishnamurti 1983

Actual Financials for Financial Year 2015-16Krishnamurti Foundation Trust (including all departments at Brockwood)

THE 2015 - 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

* Voluntary income includes income which is given to the charity on a voluntary basis such as gifts, donations and legacies. Incoming resources from charitable activities include any resources arising from activities promoting the charity’s objects.

Incoming Resources* £2.08m

Voluntary Income £0.6m

Income from Charitable Activities £1.48m

Resources Expended £1.97m

The Krishnamurti Foundation TrustIn 2016, the Trustees appointed Nasser Shamim as Director of the Foundation, responsible for its direction and operation. He also joined the Management Team responsible for the overview of Brockwood Park. In addition to the ongoing and valuable archival, publications and media work of the Foundation, one recent exciting initiative has been the ‘Free to the World’ project, which sees the creation of the Complete Krishnamurti Video Collection online, consisting of many newly produced recordings never before seen. The Foundation is also making the teachings available in an ever-growing number of languages, as volunteers worldwide are recruited to subtitle the Collection. The Foundation is pleased to be able to report on the upgrade of the website, jkrishnamurti.org. A new contractor was recently appointed to complete this mammoth project and the new version of the site will be available in the second half of 2017. The internet and social media are becoming the main channel of dissemination of the teachings and given their potential to reach an immense global audience, raise awareness of the teachings and make them freely available, the Foundation intends to invest more in this area. In the light of this, an integrated strategy of dissemination, outreach and development within the Foundation and Brockwood as a whole, is currently being devised.

The Krishnamurti CentreThis has been a year of consolidation for The Krishnamurti Centre, following the changes brought about by the recent review. The six members of the new Centre Working Group, which helps formulate policy and manage the Centre, have a combined experience of almost a century

of working in Krishnamurti centres and schools. Part of their role is to ensure that the Centre does not stray from its intent to provide an excellent space for people wishing to seriously study Krishnamurti’s teachings. How to generate the best ambience for this to happen is a regular topic of discussion for the Group.An important aim of the Working Group is to get the Centre to a break-even point in terms of operational costs, without compromising on its integrity. This has meant a reduction in staffing and related

expenditure, but despite this, and partly due to generous donations, the redecoration of guest rooms and public spaces continued. With the introduction of new monthly public video and dialogue events, an increase in the number of events offered by the Centre, and expanded online advertising, it is expected that attendance will grow. Guests continue to comment on what a special place the Centre is to retreat to and visit.

Brockwood Park SchoolThe first week of school saw staff engaging in a challenging in-house teacher education course, looking together at Krishnamurti’s teachings and questioning assumptions about school, teaching and learning. New staff, former students and teacher apprentices joined this year, bringing vibrancy and renewal, but also requiring a look again at the intentions of the school and what it means to learn and live together. Generous donations enabled the school to continue providing more bursaries than most independent schools, ensuring the retention and addition of students who are serious about what Brockwood stands for. As many students finished school in the previous year, there was a large influx of new students. Throughout the year, students explored new areas of learning and deepened existing interests and skills through projects, field trips, visitor presentations, and the annual Workshop Week (facilitated by visiting professionals). Parents Weekend saw around 60 parents come and stay to explore questions around education and the significance of life, and gave the opportunity to meet with academic advisers, teachers and tutors. The ongoing focus of the school is to keep addressing not only academics but the fundamental issues around being human. This is what makes Brockwood Park School tick.

Inwoods Small School Towards the end of 2015, a decision was made to raise the fees at Inwoods in a phased and careful manner over three years, with the added option for parents with higher incomes to pay a little more. This has naturally resulted in a request for more bursaries for children already enrolled, whose parents see the value of the education and ethos of Inwoods and who want to have their child continue there. Despite the fee increase, the school is receiving many new enquiries and a full school is predicted for the coming year, thus ensuring Inwoods will financially be a little stronger. Staff training to better support children who have specific learning needs has been another important development in the past year. 2016 finished on an exciting note, with the Inwoods teachers taking a trip to visit sister schools in India. This was a very enriching experience, as it was both reconfirming and enlightening with respect to the school’s approach and endeavours. It was particularly helpful in better understanding the role that awareness plays as a key aspect to uncovering one’s own conditioning. The staff returned feeling that this needed to be brought to the forefront of all that happens at Inwoods Small School.

A Brief Summary of Activities

THE 2015 - 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

Brockwood Park Bramdean Hampshire SO24 0LQ England

Home to:

Krishnamurti Foundation Trust, Ltd. Registered Charity No. 312865T: +44 (0) 1962 771525E: info@kfoundation.orgwww.jkrishnamurti.org

The Krishnamurti CentreT: +44 (0) 1962 771748E: info@krishnamurticentre.org.uk www.krishnamurticentre.org.uk

Brockwood Park SchoolT: +44 (0) 1962 771744E: admin@brockwood.org.uk www.brockwood.org.uk

Inwoods Small SchoolT: +44 (0) 1962 771065E: info@inwoods.org.uk www.inwoods.org.uk

Photographs by Jennifer Kowalewski, Dan Ball