FWBO Development Team seeks Assistant

The FWBO Development Team

is looking for an Assistant… 

Might you be interested in working for the FWBO Development Team?

 * The Development Team (currently Lokabandhu, Siddhisambhava, and Vajragupta) is making a significant contribution to the FWBO, helping the European FWBO Chairs Assembly maintain the FWBO’s unity and vibrancy.

* Projects that we’ve undertaken, or commissioned and funded, include the new Dharma Training Course for Mitras, a new FWBO website, a forthcoming book on the history of the FWBO, fundraising for Bhante and other projects, the International Urban Retreat, events to help make the FWBO more attractive to young people, and much, much more…

* We’re looking for an Order member to be a part-time assistant working closely with Vajragupta, Director of the Development Team.

* Your main areas of work would be…

a) Helping to run events such as the FWBO International Retreat, International Urban Retreat, or “inspiring young people with the Dharma” weekends. You’d be involved in “visioning” the events to maximise their potential, and then overseeing their organisation, publicity, and so on.

b) Helping with the administration of the charity, keeping the books and preparing charity accounts, banking, paying bills and wages, and overseeing the FWBO Chairs Assembly Fund.

c) Helping to communicate the work of the FWBO Chairs Assembly: preparing and distributing “briefings” of our work, helping to consult chairs and centres on new proposals, collating feedback, keeping a database of chairs, mitra convenors, and centre managers.

* You’d need to be… an Order member who loves the FWBO and wants to help it to thrive! We’re looking for someone who is self-motivated, efficient, with a good eye for detail.  You’ll need to be able to organise big events that require co-ordination between people in different locations. You’ll also need to communicate written information clearly and attractively. Skills such as basic publicity design (web and printed) and book-keeping would be an advantage… but don’t worry, we can also provide training…

* It would be a big advantage, though not essential, if you lived as near as possible to Worcester, UK where Vajragupta lives.

* The job is for 2 ½ days per week, with 6 weeks retreat time, and there is a support package of £6K per year.

* For a full job description and application form, or if you’d like more information, or if you are interested but the details above don’t quite work for you, then please contact vajragupta@fwbo.org (or phone 01905-729683) and we can talk about it! The closing date for applications is Wednesday 21st October and we hope to interview on Thursday 5th November in London.

Centre Manager required for Cambridge Buddhist Centre

The FWBO’s Cambridge Buddhist Centre is at the heart of a large sangha and runs a popular range of courses for newcomers as well as events for the more mature sangha. It also runs a range of courses in bodywork and mindfulness-based approaches.

The Centre is looking for a new Centre Manager. The exact responsibilities will depend on the applicant and the existing team, but are likely to include:

• Managing the office team and volunteers
• Overseeing the administration of the Centre
• Managing the day-to-day finances, including supervising a book-keeper
• Working closely with the Council and those teaching at the Centre

 The ideal candidate would be

• an Order member or mitra [1]
• good with people
• well organised
• be computer literate and able to use Word and Excel
• confident with figures and understand finances
• flexible
• work well with others 

If possible we would like someone with experience of team-based right livelihood and of fund raising. 

Further information about the job and support package is available from Tejasvini at cbcwomensmc@googlemail.com or 01223 273974.

Ruchiraketu will not be available for most of April, so please send all applications also to Tejasvini on the above contact information.

[1] Genuine Occupational Requirement - Section 7(3)(a) of the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 applies.

Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 38 Newmarket Road, Cambridge CB5 8DT

Opportunities for women at Taraloka: Retreat Centre of the Year - again!

Taraloka has been voted ‘Retreat Place of the Year’ twice by The Good Retreat Guide – in 2006 and now again in 2008.

This didn’t happen by chance. It happened because of the inspiration, hard work and commitment of a team of Buddhist women living and working together: to create the very special conditions at Taraloka that enable women, from newcomers to Buddhism to members of the WBO, to explore Buddhism and meditation, and to deepen their practice.

We have opportunities for more women to join our team and help take our vision forward.

Who are we looking for?

We're looking for women who are -

* Committed to the ideals and practice of the FWBO.
* Able to work hard, have fun and co-operate well in a team.
* Willing to be friendly and helpful to retreatants.
* Flexible and self-motivated.
* Interested in living and working as part of a Buddhist team in a retreat centre setting

We need women with skills or experience in cooking and catering, gardening, site maintenance, computing, planning and admin, and to join to our retreat leading teams. We can offer training and mentoring in the skills needed for all these aspects of running Taraloka.

If you would like to further your practice of wholeheartedness, generosity and spiritual friendship in a beautiful and supportive environment, then write and let us know more about you.

Contact : Saddhanandi or Kulaprabha, Taraloka, Cornhill Farm, Bettisfield, Whitchurch, Shropshire, SY13 2LD, UK.