Archive for March, 2012

Planning application submitted for the Beaufoy Institute

Posted on: March 27th, 2012

Following local community consultation, the planning proposal to bring the historic Beaufoy Institute and Annex back to life has been submitted by Diamond Way Buddhism. The plan will:

  • Fully renovate the Beaufoy Institute, with minimal changes to the listed building
  • Provide space for community living including common dining and children’s areas.
  • Include a contemplation garden, exhibition room and facilities for events and meetings.
  • Provide accommodation for the Buddhists living at the centre and visitors.

The community consultation has highlighted interest in the history of the building and in the transformation of the derelict site. The renovation will provide opportunities for local people to be involved in the project and also visit and use the building for different events and community activities.

The primary activity in the institute will be Buddhist meditation and an associated program including art exhibitions and classes on wellbeing. Funds have been raised for the project from within the Buddhist community and have come from many activities in the last 10 years both in the UK and in Europe.

A message from the architects working on the Beaufoy Institute renovation project

Posted on: March 25th, 2012

The Beaufoy scheme ensures the long term benefit of the local communities by regenerating the site and bringing a much loved building back to the community and Lambeth as a whole, following the vision set for London’s developments.

The careful architectural scheme proposes retaining the D1 class use for the Beaufoy Institute, with a residential component in the annex and a garden at the rear. The proposal deals with a sensitive building that is currently at risk and slowly becoming more damaged and less viable to repair. The design is attentive, and considerate to the historic building, making use of the existing historical layout and at the same time responding to modern needs. The juxtaposition of modern contemporary spaces, overlapping with the historical building will offer a rich context for people to meet.

No major alterations are proposed to the historic part of the building, maintaining the original halls, main rooms, windows details, plaster works, etc. The new developments address the rear of the property, connecting internal social spaces with the rear garden and 2 new extensions are proposed at the sides the building on both Black Prince Rd and Vauxhall St.

In the context of the planning law and the conservation area constraints, this application is appropriately renovating the listed building, bringing it back to the community by a dynamic and socially engaging charity.

Group planning meeting, 18th March

Posted on: March 18th, 2012

Internal planning for the Beaufoy renovation project took a step forward this weekend, with a next steps action planning day. More than 40 members of the Diamond Way group came along to the Buddhist centre to learn the latest about the project, share ideas and take responsibility for new elements of the project.

The main portion of the day was devoted to discussing our vision for different users of the Beaufoy Institute when it is fully restored. Members brought out the sticky notes and brainstormed how we would like it to be for different types of visitors and residents to use the centre in the short term and long term.

Some interesting and creative ideas came out… from the straight-forward – “make sure everyone can get a nice cup of tea” to the more elaborate “statue exhibitions and fundraising concerts for local groups“. Certainly some great ideas to build on!

As always a team kept us well fed and watered during the day, rewarding our many hours of hard work and discussion with a fine spread of nibbles and flapjacks.

Thanks to all who were involved!

 

Community Volunteering Recruitment event with the Kennington, Oval & Vauxhall (KOV) Forum

Posted on: March 17th, 2012

A very pleasant afternoon on Saturday 17th March was spent at St Anselm’s church with a host of other community groups of the Kennington, Oval & Vauxhall (KOV) Forum searching for extra helping hands for their projects. The Diamond Way Group set up shop with some details about the Karma Kagyu lineage and details of the Beaufoy renovation project, along side other local groups ranging from the Lambeth Autistim group, to the Vauxhall Society, to the local Girl Guides.

Once again, the local people we gathered feedback from were eager to see their beloved Beaufoy building being brought back to life and we reassured them that we too wish to see it restored to its former glory as quickly as possible. It’s wonderful to get more and more information about the building from people who have lived in Lambeth for many years – one man’s father had actually attended the old ragged school at the Beaufoy Institute. And one woman has lived locally for 40 years and has seen the Beaufoy go from thriving school, to empty shell. Let’s hope she’ll join us to celebrate the reopening of the building in the not-too-distant future.

What strikes us ever more about the Lambeth community is how welcoming everyone is, how active the locals are with community activities. Now more than ever, we’re looking forward to becoming a part of it.

Letter of support from Lama Jigme Rinpoche for the Beaufoy Project

Posted on: March 10th, 2012

We were delighted to receive this letter of support from Lama Jigme Rinpoche, the General Secretary of the Karma Kagyu School

 

Letter from Lama Jigme Rinpoche, March 2012

Letter from Lama Jigme Rinpoche, March 2012

Regarding Diamond Way Buddhism and the Beaufoy Institute, London

Since the time H.H. 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, appointed me as his representative in Europe in 1975, I have watched how interest has grown in genuine Buddhist spiritual methods, and how they can be applied to our modern societies.

It has been my experience in working with communities that Buddhism can have significant benefit. Indeed we have had programmes to support teachers, business people and young people and many have found the application of Buddhist methods such as developing mindfulness, compassion and clarity of thought useful in their daily lives.

In the United Kingdom, Diamond Way Buddhism, a lay Buddhist organisation, started in 1994 at the University of Cambridge with the visits of H.H. 16th Karmapa’s closest Western students, Lama Ole Nydahl and his wife Hannah. Since that time, through the teaching and practice of the traditional methods of the Kagyu School, and the endeavours of many British people, the organisation has grown and benefitted many people.

It is with great joy, now as General Secretary of the Karma Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism, that I support the redevelopment of the Beaufoy Institute as a place for the practise of Buddhism. It is my wish that it will benefit the local and wider community and become a place where many can learn, enjoy, and use the Buddha’s teachings to develop the great qualities of compassion and wisdom.

Lama Jigme Rinpoche

Interested in Volunteering to Renovate the Beaufoy?

Posted on: March 9th, 2012

Coming Up:

Interested in becoming a volunteer to help in the restoration of the Beaufoy? Join us on 17th March to learn more about how you can get involved with the project:

KOV Forum Volunteer Matching Event

17th March 3-5pm
St Anselm’s
Kennington Cross
286 Kennington Rd
SE11 5DU