Over the past few months your generosity and hard work have transformed 175 Maldon Road into a warmer, more welcoming home for Vipassana meditation and mindful community life.
Below is a brief round-up of the milestones we have reached together.
Arrival of the Thai Buddha Statue
Heart-felt gratitude to Hemamalie and Suwina for leading the search and liaising with the Royal Monastery in Bangkok that donated our beautiful standing Buddha.
A warm bow to our Thai donors for their boundless dāna, which now blesses everyone who enters the Centre.
Community effort honoured: thanks to your swift fund-raising we covered all import duties and the specialist transport from Southampton to Colchester. The statue will be safely installed in the Meditation Hall on the 6th of Aug 2025, radiating calm and heartfelt inspiration.
Double-Glazing Completed (23 windows!)
Cosier, quieter practice space – the new units drastically reduce heat-loss and outside noise, creating a serene atmosphere year-round.
Funded entirely by donations – your contributions made it possible to replace every outdated single-glazed window in the Lobby, Meditation Hall, Social Room and Kitchen.
Environmental impact – better insulation means lower heating bills and a smaller carbon footprint, aligning with our commitment to compassionate stewardship of the planet.
New Paving & Manhole Upgrades (ongoing)
Unearthed and secured – old, hidden manholes have been exposed and fitted with durable, metal covers for easy maintenance.
Future-proof plumbing – a brand-new manhole at the rear now connects the planned monk’s accommodation to the main sewage line.
Accessible pathway – fresh paving stones lead from the car park to the office entrance, offering safer footing for visitors with limited mobility.
What’s Next?
Accommodation block fundraiser – £10,000 still to go
Planning applications have been launched for the proposed work. Work on the self-contained monk’s quarters can begin as soon as we close the remaining funding gap. Every pound brings us closer to providing on-site accommodation for resident teachers(s).
Exterior repaint & weatherproofing
A full repaint of the Centre’s façade will seal chronic water-ingress points, treat moisture damage, and give the old church a fresh, uplifting appearance in keeping with the calm within.
Kitchen refurbishment – design work under way to cater for retreats of up to 80 people.
Garden landscaping – planting plan finalised to create year-round colour and quiet seating areas.