London: On 24 March 2025, Representative Tsering Yangkey visited Bristol, 118 miles west of London, and Cardiff, the capital of Wales, over the weekend as part of her official outreach beyond London. The office organised this visit with the close coordination of the Tibetan Community in Britain’s Council member and Regional Coordinator, Tenzin Sangmo.  

On Saturday, 22 March 2025, the Tibetan community members in Bristol (about 40 Tibetans) warmly welcomed Representative Tsering Yangkey at St Werburghs Community Centre, the venue for the weekend Tibetan language and culture school. The school, supported by Tibet House Trust, functions every Saturday for two hours from 3 p.m., and has about 10 Tibetan students with two teachers, one each for teaching Tibetan language (first session) and Tibetan songs and dances (second session). The Representative silently observed the Tibetan language classroom in session. Instead of the next session, the Tibetan community members organised a welcome ceremony for the Representative, led by the President of the Tibetan Community in Britain – Bristol. The students recited Tibetan verses, played dranyen and performed Tibetan cultural dance, highlighting the knowledge gained through attending the school. Representative Yangkey remarked that the weekend Tibetan language schools are important centres for preserving and promoting Tibetan language and culture for communities based in the West and urged the parents to send their children to these schools. 

The Representative expressed her appreciation for the strong community bond among the relatively small Tibetan community in Bristol, which she reasoned proved crucial in delivering successful programs highlighting Tibet in and around the region. She urged the community members to continue the good work thereby serving as a shining example for other regions in the UK and beyond. Afterward, the Representative engaged in a robust interaction with the Tibetans present there discussing Tibet matters frankly. 

The following day, on Sunday, TCB’s Regional Coordinator (current and former) drove the Representative 45 miles west of Bristol to Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, to meet the Tibetan Community in Cardiff. The local Buddhist centre in Cardiff kindly hosted the Tibetan community gathering and welcomed the Representative to the centre and the shrine room. 

Tibetans living in and around Cardiff, about 20, arrived at the centre to meet and greet the Representative, followed by a community potluck lunch. A Tibetan lady performed a couple of melodious songs as a welcome gesture. 

In her address to the Tibetans in Bristol and Cardiff, Representative Yangkey underscored the crucial importance of Tibetan unity, preservation of Tibetan language and cultural heritage, and Tibetan participation in programs and activities of the Central Tibetan Administration. The Representative highlighted His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s selfless contributions, since his childhood, to resolve the just cause of Tibet and reminded everyone that we owe a huge debt of gratitude to His Holiness for his visionary leadership and unparalleled compassion.  

The Representative informed the Tibetans that the Central Tibetan Administration has declared the period from 6 July 2025 (when His Holiness reaches 90 years of age) to 5 July 2026 as the Year of Compassion, and urged everyone to join the 90th birthday celebrations, Ghoton Trungkar, in London at the Tibetan Peace Garden on 5 July 2025 and to also participate in year-round Compassion programs and activities to honour the Life of His Holiness the Great Fourteenth Dalai Lama. 

Tenzin Kunga, Secretary, Office of Tibet, London, accompanied the Representative during the visits to Bristol and Cardiff. In the spirit of working closely with the Tibetan Community in Britain, the Council member with responsibility for Green Book matters, Pema Chodon, joined the delegation and used the opportunity of the visits to interact with the Tibetans in Bristol and Cardiff. Pema Chodon facilitated collections towards the Green book, and encouraged Tibetans to become donors for the Tibetan Refugee Charitable Trust in the spirit of giving to fellow Tibetans in need. 

Last week, Representative Tsering Yangkey and Secretary Tenzin Kunga visited Ku-soom Lhundrub Ling Bonpo Gon-pa [The Yungdrung Bon Study Centre (TYBSC)] in London as part of the official outreach to Dharma centres in England. The centre’s spiritual Master Khyimsar Lama Rinpoche along with the core team extended a warm hospitality to the Representative and then gave a tour of the centre. Over tea and sweetened rice, a brief meeting was held where the Representative shared information about The Year of Compassion and Ghoton Trungkar program and activities and extended an invitation for Khyimsar Lama Rinpoche. Khyimsar Lama Rinpoche appreciated the visit and assured all possible support and participation in the GoThon celebrations. The visit helped strengthen the working relationship between the office and the centre. 

-Report filed by Office of Tibet, London