East Sussex CVS Partnership Basis 2 Project
Date
East Sussex CVS Partnership Funding and Financial Support
Organisational Health Check for voluntary and community groups
When a group is applying for funding, there are often criteria they need to meet to be
eligible for consideration. This could include having a robust governing document (e.g.
constitution), a decision-making body (e.g. management committee) and clear financial
management systems.
To help us assess what stage of development your group is at, please complete the
following questions with your funding adviser. We will use your answers to create an
action plan so that we can support you in the most effective way.
Name of Contact:
Name of Group:
Address:
Tel Number:
Email:
Is your group a member of the local CVS?
Action:
Yes/No
Is your group a member of the local Community Network?
Action:
Yes/No
About Your Group’s Governance
Does your group have a governing document (e.g. constitution, rules, terms of
reference)?
Yes/No
Action:
What kind of group are you?
Unincorporated group
Registered Charity
Co Ltd by Guarantee
Community Interest Company
Branch of a national org using their legal entity
Unconstituted
Other (please specify)
Action:
East Sussex CVS Partnership Basis 2 Project
Does your group have a clear understanding of its aims and objectives and the
activities/services it provides?
Yes/No
Action:
Has your group clearly identified its members/users/beneficiaries?
Action:
Yes/No
Does your group have a decision-making body (e.g. management committee, Board of
Directors) that understands its legal responsibilities?
Yes/No
Action:
Does your decision-making body have clear officer roles e.g. Chair, Treasurer,
Secretary?
Yes/No
Action:
Are regular, quorate committee meetings held to agree and review group actions?
Yes/No
Action:
Do you keep minutes of all committee meetings that are formally agreed and signed?
Yes/No
Action:
Do you have an AGM where you have an open election process and inform your
members of the work you do ?
Yes/No
Action:
About Your Group’s Finances and Policies
Do you prepare an annual budget against which the decision-making body regularly
reviews income and expenditure?
Yes/No
Action:
Does your group have a bank or building society account, in its own name, with at least
3 signatories who are unrelated?
Yes/No
Action:
Do you have clear systems in place for handling and banking income?
Yes/No
Action:
Do you have effective systems in place for recording income and expenditure?
Yes/No
Action:
Do you produce annual accounts that are independently examined or audited?
Yes/No
Action:
East Sussex CVS Partnership Basis 2 Project
Do you have relevant policies e.g. Health and Safety?
Equal Opportunities?
Child Protection and/or Vulnerable Adults Policy?
Action:
Yes/No/NA
Yes/No/NA
Yes/No/NA
Do you have relevant employment policies in place or policies for recruiting and
managing volunteers?
Yes/No/NA
Action:
Does your group have insurance to cover its legal responsibilities?
Do you have public liability insurance?
Yes/No
Yes/No
Action:
About Your Group’s Fundraising
Do you have a fundraising plan?
Action:
Yes/No
Do you have a person responsible for fundraising or a fundraising group?
Action:
Yes/No
Do you keep a record of your funding applications and any correspondence (good or
bad) with funders?
Yes/No
Action:
Does your group identify a named person to act as a point of contact when submitting
funding bids and if necessary an independent referee?
Yes/No
Action:
Do fundraising activities through events, raffles etc. meet legal requirements?
Yes/No
Action:
About Planning and Monitoring Your Group’s Project/Service
How do you know if there is a need for your project/service?
processes for evidencing this need?
Action:
Do you have
Yes/No
How do you know you’ve done a good job? Do you monitor and evaluate the
differences you’ve made?
Yes/No
Action:
How do you ensure that your project/service compliments rather than duplicates
other provision? Do you have any joint working relationships with other groups
or networks?
Yes/No
Action:
East Sussex CVS Partnership Basis 2 Project
About Your Group’s Training Needs
What training opportunities does your organisation take part in?
None
Training from CVS
Training from another organisation.
In-house training
Please state main training provider
Please state type of training
Is there any specific training members of your organisation would like to take part in?
None
Preparing a budget
Committee roles and responsibilities
Bookkeeping
Charity Law and accounting practice
Financial Controls
Fund raising sources/ideas
Employing and paying staff
Writing funding bids
Recruiting and managing volunteers
Contract law and negotiation
Meeting quality standards
Writing a fundraising plan
Writing an Equal Opportunities policy
Writing a business plan
Writing a Health and Safety Policy
Social Enterprise – legal structures
Writing a Child Protection or
Vulnerable Adults Policy
Providing evidence of need for
funding
Monitoring and evaluating the
difference your group has made
Social Enterprise – generating
income
Risk management
Please specify any other training needs …………………