Health Check - Strengthening Faith Institutions (SFI)

SFI Health Check

As a place of worship, it is vital to have good governance through sound policies, such as safeguarding young people and financial accounting. This allows you to:

> Serve and protect your members better
> Build your institution’s strength and resilience for the future
> Access funding for your projects

This on-line health-check will help you identify key areas for improvement and avoid bigger issues down the road.

Once you have entered your email you can fill in the form in your own time, and return to the health-check as often as you need before submitting. Your answers will generate a menu of bespoke template policies based on your responses and sent directly to you.

All the information on this form will be treated in strictest confidence and will never be shared with any third parties without your permission. For more information on how we handle the data collected please see our Privacy Policy

Institution Details

Institution Name*
Institution Email*
Institution Website
Address*
Street Address City ZIP / Postal Code
Phone*
Name of Trustee(s) or Senior Manager(s) Completing this Health-Check:*
Position (in relation to your institution)*
Email Address*
Mobile Number*
Landline Number
Governance

Are you a registered Charity or Company? If so, please provide the charity or company number*
- Yes
- No
Registered Charity Number / Company Number*
If not, please state your legal status
Do you have a constitution, rulebook or any other governing document?
- Yes
- No
Click here for a constitution, rulebook, and other governing documents templates
Is this kept under review
- Yes
- No
When was it last reviewed
DD slash MM slash YYYY
Is there any process for investigating the background of individuals wishing to join the trustee board?
- Yes
- No
Are there elections to the trustee board?
- Yes
- No
How often are elections held?
Do you have a code of conduct policy for trustees?
- Yes
- No
Click here for a code of conduct policy template.
Are there any procedures for removing trustees for unsatisfactory conduct?
- Yes
- No
If so, what are these?
Are any trustees paid for their services?
- Yes
- No
Do you have a policy for trustees to receive expenses? i.e. travel, food, etc
- Yes
- No
Click here for a template expenses policy template.
Are all trustees at least 18 years old?
- Yes
- No
As far as you know, do any trustees have an unspent conviction for dishonesty or deception, such as fraud?
- Yes
- No
- I don't know
As far as you know, have any trustees been declared bankrupt or entered into an arrangement with a creditor?
- Yes
- No
- I don't know
As far as you know, have any trustees been removed as a company director or charity trustee for wrongdoing?
- Yes
- No
- I don't know
How is the chairperson of the trustee board chosen? i.e. election via members / trustees or appointed by spiritual leader, etc
How often is a chairperson chosen?
How is the trustee board accountable to the wider congregation? i.e. through an Annual General Meeting (AGM) or publishing of minutes
How are groups which may be underrepresented on your trustee board (such as women, young people, ethnic minority groups) involved in your decision making?
What support do you need in relation to improving your governance?
Risk

Do you carry out risk assessments for events and activities?
- Yes
- No
If no, click here for a risk assessment policy and form template
Would you like training in COVID-19 Compliance for Places of Worship?
- Yes
- No
Do you have guidelines for internal and external speakers?
- Yes
- No
If yes, what is the process?
If no, click here for an internal and external speakers policy template
Do you have insurance for your institute?
- Yes
- No
From the list below, which areas are covered by your current insurance / insurer?
- Buildings
- Contents
- Terrorism
- Employers / Volunteer
- Event Liability
- Public Liability
- Trustee Liability
Would you like SFI to pass your contact details to their preferred broker Anami for an insurance quote?
- Yes
- No
Would you like another insurance quote to compare against your existing one?
- Yes
- No
Would you like SFI to pass your contact details to their preferred broker Anami to provide a quote to compare?
- Yes
- No
Do you have a health and safety policy?
- Yes
- No
If no, click here for a health and safety policy template
Would you like Health and Safety training for your staff?
- Yes
- No
Would you like First Aid training for staff?
- Yes
- No
Do you have a safer recruitment policy?
- Yes
- No
If no, click here for a safer recruitment policy template
Do you have an accident/injury log book?
- Yes
- No
Do you have a food safety policy?
- Yes
- No
If no, click here for a food safety policy template
Do you have a literature distribution policy?
- Yes
- No
If no, click here for a literature distribution policy template.
Do you have an external fundraising policy?
- Yes
- No
If no, click here for an external fundraising policy template.
What support do you need for managing risks?
Staff

Do you have a volunteering policy?
- Yes
- No
If no, click here for a health and safety policy template
Do you employ paid staff?
- Yes
- No
If so, are they registered with HM Revenue and Customs?
- Yes
- No
Do you offer a workplace pension for staff? (This is now mandatory)
- Yes
- No
Is there an appraisal and incentive system for staff?
- Yes
- No
If no, click here for an appraisal and incentive policy template.
Is there a staff/volunteer complaints procedure?
- Yes
- No
If no, click here for a staff/volunteer complaints policy template.
Do you offer training for staff and volunteers?
- Yes
- No
What support do you need for developing your staff?
Finance and Planning

Do you use Gift Aid for donations?
- Yes
- No
Do you utilise Council Tax charity subsidy on your building?
- Yes
- No
Are you up to date with your charity annual return sent to the Charity Commission?
- Yes
- No
Do you own freehold or leasehold land or other property?
- Yes
- No
Do you keep annual financial accounts?
- Yes
- No
Are your accounts independently examined?
- Yes
- No
Do you have a bank account?
- Yes
- No
If yes, how many signatories? Are they updated?
Do you have an external accountant?
- Yes
- No
Do you prepare and issue an annual report?
- Yes
- No
If yes, how is your annual report issued to the public?
Do you have a forward business plan or strategy?
- Yes
- No
If so, if this kept under review?
- Yes
- No
Do you keep records of your accounts for the last 6 years?
- Yes
- No
Do you keep paper files or electronic records of your accounts?
Do you do your own bookkeeping?
- Yes
- No
If so, what software do you use to manage your accounts?
Community Engagement

Have you been engaged in any activities with other faiths in the last 3 years?
- Yes
- No
Are you in regular contact with (select appropriate)?
- The Local Authority
- Police and /or other uniformed services
- Local press or broadcast media
- Local charities, voluntary, or community groups
- All of the above
Do you offer support to members of your congregation or the wider community wishing to learn English?
- Yes
- No
If no, would this be of interest to you, provided funding is available?
- Yes
- No
Do you have a website?
- Yes
- No
If so, please provide the web address
Would you like support in creating your institute website?
Do you have a presence on social media? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat etc)?
- Yes
- No
Do you run any groups or activities for? (select appropriate)?
- Local Homeless People
- Refugees and Other Migrant Groups
- Unemployed People
- Elderly People
- All of the above
Are any of these groups or activities open to people of other faith backgrounds or people of no faith?
- Yes
- No
Are you registered with your Local Authority as a Place of Worship for the registration of marriages?
- Yes
- No
What support does your organisation need for Community engagement?
Safeguarding and Child Protection

Do you have written child protection safeguarding policies?
- Yes
- No
If no, click here for a child protection safeguarding policy template.
Do you have written vulnerable adult safeguarding policies?
- Yes
- No
If no, click here for a vulnerable adult safeguarding policy template.
Have you appointed a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO)?
- Yes
- No
Have you appointed a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer?
- Yes
- No
Is at least one of these a woman?
- Yes
- No
Do you know how to make a referral/complaint with Children’s Social Care/Police?
- Yes
- No
Would you like safeguarding training for your trustees and staff?
- Yes
- No
Have you carried out DBS checks for all trustees, staff and volunteers who are in direct contact with children and vulnerable adults?
- Yes
- No
Do you provide a crèche or other facilities for young children under 5?
- Yes
- No
Do you have any provisions for mothers and/ or toddlers?
- Yes
- No
Do you run a faith supplementary school? i.e. Madrassa or Sunday school
- Yes
- No
If yes, would you like safeguarding training for supplementary school teachers and staff?
- Yes
- No
Have you carried out enhanced DBS checks including barring list check for supplementary school teachers and staff?
- Yes
- No
Would you be interested in teaching qualification courses for your supplementary school staff?
- Yes
- No
Do children have access to internet at your premises?
- Yes
- No
If yes to the above, what filtering and monitoring processes of software do you use?
Are teaching resources used to help children keep themselves safe online?
- Yes
- No
If yes to the above, what filtering and monitoring processes of software do you use?
Do you offer sporting or other activities for young people?
- Yes
- No
If yes, tell us about the age breakdown
- Ages 0 – 5
- Age 6 – 11
- Age 12 - 18
What further support do you need in regards to Safeguarding?
Fundraising

Has your organisation applied for grants from government within the last 3 years?
- Yes
- No
Has your organisation applied for grants and funding from private foundations within the last 3 years?
- Yes
- No
If yes, please list the programmes and projects funded.
Would you be interested in partnering with neighbouring faith institutions, to apply for an interfaith community integration grant?
- Yes
- No
Have you applied for a Government funded Security Grant for places of worship?
- Yes
- No
Would a fundraising and grant writing course be of interest to your trustees and senior management team?
- Yes
- No
May SFI forward your name and contact details to your local Near Neighbours coordinator to discuss interfaith cohesion projects and potential funding opportunities near you?
- Yes
- No
SFI Evaluation

SFI receives public funding, and thus our work with each faith centre is evaluated by Coventry University. The questions below will only be used anonymously for the sake of the Coventry Evaluation of SFI.
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being “Not at all” and 10 being “Extremely”, how important does the current leadership believe that having more representative and inclusive leadership would help the centre to prosper?
- 1 - Not at all
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10 - Extremely
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being “Not at all” and 10 being “Extremely”, how strong is your institution's understanding of their abilities, roles, responsibilities and legal duties?
- 1 - Not at all
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10 - Extremely
As an institution are you aware of how to report concerns around safeguarding and/or extremism issues?
- Yes
- No
- Don't know
- Prefer not to answer
Are there any women or young people involved on governance boards in your institution?
- Yes- Both
- Yes- Women but not young people
- Yes- Young people but not women
- No
- Don’t know
- Prefer to not answer
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being “Non-existent” and 10 being “Very strong”, how strong is your institution's online presence? for example, active website, facebook, twitter, etc
- 1 - Non-existent
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10 - Very strong
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being “Non-existent” and 10 being “Very strong”, how strong is your institution's offline presence? for example, partnerships with the local authority, other faith centres nearby, other charities, neighbours, etc
- 1 - Non-existent
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10 - Very strong
Has your institution ever undertaken any form of community outreach work
- Yes
- No
- Don't know
- Prefer not to answer
8. Is the Faith Centre aware of and actively working to comply with current, relevant COVID-19 government guidelines?
- Aware and actively working to comply
- Aware and not actively working to comply
- Unaware and not actively working to comply
Phone
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Save and Continue Later

Thinking of supporting those affected by the crisis in Ukraine? Read our latest safer giving guidance here.

SFI Health Check

This on-line health-check will help you identify key areas for improvement and avoid bigger issues down the road.

Institution Details

Governance

Risk

Staff

Finance and Planning

Community Engagement

Safeguarding and Child Protection

Fundraising

SFI Evaluation

SFI receives public funding, and thus our work with each faith centre is evaluated by Coventry University. The questions below will only be used anonymously for the sake of the Coventry Evaluation of SFI.

Sign up to our newsletter

Contact us to find out more:

020 7724 0823

info@sfitogether.org