Compassion in action at the LBC – latest news!


	LBC past present and future: click to see photo albums

The project
To coincide with our 30th anniversary, the London Buddhist Centre (LBC) is to embark on the biggest building project since we opened in 1978. This is part of our Compassion in Action project, which seeks to reach out to more people, especially those who might not think of coming to the LBC. The building project will create a new venue for our Breathing Space health and wellbeing programme and make major improvements throughout the centre.

Centre Closed: Monday 7th April
The LBC will be closed from 10am - 5pm for building works. There will be no lunchtime class. Phone lines will be open.

Latest news! Early start to the building programme!
The exciting news is that the beginning of the project has been brought forward – it’s now due to start on 25 February. This phase will be the conversion of the flat on the first floor into a new office space for the centre support team, which is currently based in the basement. This early start to the project will give us vital extra time to do preparatory work in the basement – clear of staff and furniture – before building work starts there to create the new Breathing Space.

All classes, courses and events will be going ahead as normal during this work – but during daytime activities there may be some noise! We don’t yet know how much: there may be none, there may be just a bit, or there may be a lot (depending, for example, on whether the builders are drilling or painting!). So please accept our apologies in advance if there are any disruptions to classes.

In order to make access to the courtyard as easy as possible for the builders and the public we would like not to have bikes in the courtyard during the day between 10am-5pm, Monday-Saturday.

The phases of the building project
The entire building programme is scheduled to be completed by the end of November 2008 in these phases:

Phase 1: First floor flat conversion to office (also creating a new study room for the Sangha)

Phase 2: Basement converted to new venue for our Breathing Space health and wellbeing programme (meditation courses for people who have suffered from depression and addiction); plus renovation of 3rd, 4th and 5th floors

Phase 3: Ground floor refurbishment (including new reception room and disabled toilet)
Sudana Charity Shop will close when the building project starts and will reopen in the new location of Jambala – on two floors – when the building project is complete. Replacing Sudana will be a new entrance for Breathing Space (with disabled access) and an exhibition space for Breathing Space/LBC in general

Fundraising
This a major project with a high price tag. We’ve already been successful in getting investments – a £265,000 loan and £25,000 grant from Futurebuilders, and a £50,000 grant from the City Bridge Trust. And we’re applying for more from Veolia Environmental Trust (£40,000), Heritage Lottery Fund (up to £50,000) and Awards for All (£10,000).

We set the Sangha fundraising target at £150,000. Thanks to the great generosity of the Sangha, we’ve raised more than £100,000 so far. This means we need to raise another £5),000 by the beginning of April. So if you haven’t already given, please give now – whatever you can afford.

Watch this space!
We aim to keep disruptions to events, classes and courses to a minimum – and for there to be two shrine rooms throughout the project. But we’ll keep you updated of all developments throughout the project on this web page.