So much is rightfully said today about the importance of taking care of our own health and wellbeing, and we have become increasingly aware of the signs that tell us that all is not well; whether that relates to our physical health or our mental health. We are always encouraged to talk about those early signs and to seek help as quickly as we can.

Well, so it is with the groups and organisations that we are part of – they too have their own health that we need to take care of. The Bolton CVS Development Team has created an interactive and easy to use assessment tool for you to use to check out the health of the group or organisation that you help to run, and we are here, ready to support you with it.

The Initial Health Check can be used by new groups who are starting up as well as by established groups of all sizes. It covers all of the important and key aspects of your group’s life; its practices, its planning, and its funding. Completing an Initial Health Check will support you to:

• Discover your strengths and weakness
• Create an action plan to prioritise your next steps of development
• Improve the safety, effectiveness and sustainability of your group or organisation
• Improve your appeal to volunteers
• Improve your prospects for future funding
• Celebrate the good that you are doing and get you ready for whatever comes next.

Whatever comes next might be to take the Initial Health Check to the next level, to gather the evidence, and to apply for our ‘Bolton Mark (Community)’; a quality mark awarded to your organisation after an external assessment; it is an award recognised across Greater Manchester.