International Taoist Society

Awakening the Tao: Building a Sanctuary for Taoist Wisdom and Well-being

Help the International Taoist Society (ITS) establish a permanent home in Leeds (UK), the first such centre in Europe endorsed by Taoist authorities in China. Your contribution will promote holistic well-being and create a lasting legacy for years
£117,452
raised of £150,000 target
by 260 supporters
RCN 1191720

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Story

Our Vision

A life-changing combination of Taoist philosophy and ancient physical exercise makes Tao Practice the perfect antidote to the stresses of modern life. The International Taoist Society (ITS) has been running classes in Leeds from a variety of venues (church halls, parks, community centres and schools) for over sixty years.

It is time to establish our own centre. We want to offer a full range of classes throughout the week (daytime, evenings and weekends) so that more people can benefit from this ancient wisdom, as well as offer a welcoming community space that is open for other local groups to use.

Our Offer

In the West, people live increasingly unnatural lifestyles that lead to physical and mental health problems contributing to the strain on public services. Stress and anxiety are common for people of all ages. Technology is disconnecting us from our true human nature and causing us to lead sedentary, isolated lives.

We can reverse this by providing opportunities throughout the week for people to learn and practise holistic wisdom and approaches to personal health and fulfilment that are fun, enjoyable and rewarding.

We have a unique opportunity to secure the perfect venue, Paxton Hall (see above image), that will:

o Allow more people to explore and benefit from the practice of the Taoist Arts

o Be the European focal point for the transmission of this ancient wisdom to further generations

o Be a welcoming space where people can gather to explore a healthier, more natural way of living.

The Greater Community

We also wish to provide a space for other local community groups to meet. We are keen for existing users to be able to remain in Paxton Hall, and furthermore, given that we will not be using the space all the time ourselves, we would gladly offer other local groups access to the community space when it is available. The ITS is passionate about promoting natural living and connecting to the environment, so there will also be many exciting opportunities to work together with other groups where objectives overlap.

How Can You Help?

To bring this vision to life, we need your support. We are raising an initial £150,000 as deposit on the perfect property we have found in Leeds. Your donation will help us secure a physical space and create something that will greatly benefit the whole community. Our full target is £500,000, which will cover renovations and enable us to make a competitive bid on the hall. If you wish to make a larger donation, please contact the ITS directly (email claire@lishi.org).

Together, we can create a lasting legacy that will resonate for generations to come. With your contribution, we can make this dream a reality, preserving ancient wisdom and empowering individuals to lead fulfilling lives.

Donate today and become a part of our journey!

About the charity

We aim to advance the Taoist cultural arts, science and philosophy for the benefit of the public through community classes and producing and distributing literature on Tao Practice, that is the connection to nature and the cultivation of virtue.

Donation summary

Total raised
£117,451.10
+ £5,629.75 Gift Aid
Online donations
£33,465.80
Offline donations
£82,457.00
Direct donations
£24,648.26
Donations via fundraisers
£10,345.84

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