Sangha Support Networks

Sangha Support Networks is the new name for the Local Care Network project, to underline the nature of these networks and avoid connotations of the word ‘care’, including medical care. Sangha Support emphasises that Triratna’s Sangha Support Networks are not intended to replace professional health services but to supplement them with human values such as metta and kalyana mitrata.

The aim is for these Sangha Support Networks to connect into the untapped reservoir of skills, knowledge, experience, time and desire to contribute that exists within local sanghas, and provide a meaningful opportunity for members of a local sangha to collaborate in a coordinated manner; in a different way to involvement in Centre classes for example. Contributions can range from offering advice on accessing local authority support services, to accompanying someone to a medical appointment, helping organise a DIY project, shopping, gardening and more.

Interest in sangha to sangha support is growing within our international Order and Movement, partly due to the increasing awareness of the ageing demographic within the Order.

For more information about Sangha Support Networks, including guidance and advice on setting one up in your local sangha, please contact mahasraddha@abhayaratnatrust.org.

another step in our encouraging a consistent culture of care in the Triratna Communit.

Why do we need such networks?

Between 1976 and 2017, the average age at ordination doubled to the mid-fifties. As we age, we become more susceptible to infirmity, illness and disability. Mahasraddha, director of The Abhayaratna Trust, says: ‘The Order is, and has been, good at responding to individual Order members in need on an ad hoc basis, but when you look at our demographic time bomb, this approach may well not meet the expected increase in support needs of Order members in the near future. Added to this is the fact that many members, including pioneers who devoted most of their working lives to building the Order and Movement, have few financial resources.’

Video interviews on sangha support

Maniprabha on caring for a friend

Aryasuri in New Zealand on local care

In this video, Aryasuri, one of the Abhayaratna Trust’s representatives in New Zealand, gives a vibrant account of her thoughts about care in the Order, partly drawn from her experience as a healthcare professional. An impetus for local care initiatives comes from the ageing demographic of the Order and the anticipated increase in support needs which means we may need to be more organised than relying solely on local friends.

‘It’s a great project’ - Dhammadinna

In this video Mahasraddha talks with Dhammadinna about how care is part of the natural fabric of sangha and how something a bit more organised, such as a Sangha Support Network (previously called Local Care Network) might help us be more proactive in anticipating people’s needs.

Next of kin & the UK National Health Service

Despite widespread use of the phrase, ‘next of kin’ the word is not defined by the law. So an Order Member can be your ‘next of kin’ despite the fact that your friendship is not legally recognised.

However, in practice hospitals have generally recognised only spouses and close blood relatives as next of kin and have sometimes excluded cohabiting partners, let alone a community member or close Order friend. To read more and download a ‘next of kin card’ click here.

Conversations with those living with disability, neurological degenerative diseases and mental health difficulties

An inspiring interview with Vajrin

To watch more of our interviews with Order members living with disability, neurological degenerative diseases and mental health difficulties and links to resources, click on this link.