Community Health Initiative

The Community Health Initiative (CHI) was founded to create a network of accredited and recommended healing services for communities across the British Isles. This leading-edge project brings together the knowledge, expertise and remedies needed for us to heal ourselves, protect our natural repair systems and maintain a healthy lifestyle in harmony with Nature.    

Practitioner Accreditation

The CHI provides a new opportunity to assess and verify the quality of natural health provision as an independent service using an assessment and monitoring system recognised by City and Guilds, London Institute. This is being led by John Gilbert, a founding Member of the Community Assembly of the British Isles (CA British Isles) who is a fully qualified City and Guilds Assessor and Verifier.

Initially, John will take on the role of 'Assessor' until we have allocated other qualified assessors to fill this role. John will then become our lead 'Verifier' for new applications approved by the assessors. This recognised assessment process will ensure everyone on our Health Directory is fully supported to deliver the best service to their clients and the wider community. In terms of service delivery, concessions will be made for anyone with special needs or limited access to funding through our Emergency Health Fund. 

The important thing to note is that the CHI assessment process does not involve failing anyone. Rather, it helps natural health practitioners, healers and suppliers identify where improvements can be made and provides them with opportunity to become fully accredited or recognised as a recommended supplier.

Practitioner Directory

Having achieved the required standards, CHI practitioners and practices showcase their expertise, services, protocols and remedies on the CA British Isles website through our Health Directory for accredited practitioners, practices and recommended suppliers. We also publish natural health information and articles on our blog.

As part of CA British Isles, CHI will benefit from being fully supported with administration, assessment and monitoring processes, data collection and protection, concessions and donations, associated services, dedicated website pages, directory listings, blog articles and mentions in updates which are sent out to CA British Isles Members on a regular basis.

Emergency Fund

Our Emergency Health Fund is supported through our member's kind donations. Contributors can submit one-off donations or a set amount every month in support of those with limited means so that they can receive essential treatments when in need.

CHI will provide accredited practitioners with a certificate with letters after their name and ongoing support. This will provide CA British Isles Members and website visitors with access to leading-edge knowledge and services in natural health.

Our how to get help page will provide further information for those in need of help with health issues.

[Updated on 25 February 2026]

Our formalised accreditation process supports

natural health practitioners to become fully accredited and to identify where improvements can be made in providing quality healing services to our Members and the wider community.

John Gilbert MD (AV), MHA, SAC Dip, FGAV, MBCS, MIET, C.Eng., LCGI

Community Assembly of the British Isles

The main page of the CHI Health Directory is set out in categories relating to the type of treatment or practice so that you can select a practitioner, practice or supplier for the service required.

Each category on the main directory page links to an introductory page with a description of the type of treatments or practices listed under that section. A table on the same page lists all the accredited practitioners and practices with a link to individual profiles with information about consultations, treatments and services together with contact details.

Some of our CHI practitioners work from home or have premises to treat clients in person for those who live in the loca area. Many offer a remote service through online consultations and therapy sessions. This is identified by 'Local' and 'Online' options noted on the listings on the main directory page.

For anyone feeling vulnerable, distressed or in need of help, go to how to get help to find out how to get in touch and for other helpful information.

[Updated on 25 February 2026]

Community Health Initiative

Accreditation Certificate

There are various ways for a natural health practitioner to prove their competence to the administrators of the Community Health Initiative (CHI).

LEVELS OF ASSESSMENT
Levels of assessment are defined by the recognised amount of learning, practice and delivery required to achieve recognition in a certain specialisation or field of practice. The following qualifications are taken into consideration:

• Level 1 - Foundation
• Level 2 - Equivalent of 'O' level
• Level 3 - Equivalent to 'A' level
• Level 4 - HND or HNC National Diploma, Licentiate with practical knowledge and experience
• Level 5 - Degree Level
• Level 6 - Masters Degree Level
• Level 7 - Over 10 years as a highly skilled and experienced practitioner

For the purposes of joining CHI, we also take into consideration other criteria including terms of service, level of experience and testimonials which, together with the above, are assessed using a standard points system used by CHI Assessors and Verifiers.

LEVELS OF MEMBERSHIP

Associate - 5 - 9 points

Licentiate - 10 - 14 points

Member - 15 - 19 points

Fellow - 25 points and over

Practitioners without any recognised qualifications or those who are still in training, are invited to submit an application with a request in the message for guidance on how to achieve the required level and points.

COST OF MEMBERSHIP

There are no costs to join CHI and practitioners and practices are encouraged to showcase their services and treatments with their normal costs, associated expenses (if not included in costs) and agreed concessions made for those requiring support for special needs or limited access to funding. Our intention is that any agreed concessions will be supported as far as possible through our Emergency Health Fund.  

STAGES OF APPLICATION

STAGE 1 - BECOMING A MEMBER OF CA BRITISH ISLES

The first stage is to register as a member of CA British Isles so that you can become part of our network and receive regular updates and notifications. This requires reading and agreeing to abide by our collective declaration to do no harm and serve humanity for the highest good of all.

STAGE 2 - APPLICATION TO JOIN THE COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVE

To request your application, please complete and submit the dedicated form below. Completed forms are sent securely and directly to us, at which point our qualified assessor and verifier, John Gilbert, will contact you directly by phone or email as soon as possible.

STAGE 3 - CONFIRMATION OF APPLICATION

Following your conversation with John, arrangements will be made to complete your application and, if required, guidance will be given to assist you in understanding how to achieve the required level and points.

STAGE 4 - PRE-ASSESSMENT INTERVIEW

A pre-assessment interview is arranged online with John to go through your application and answer any questions you may have about the CA British Isles and the Community Health Initiative.

STAGE 5 - SUBMISSION OF AGREED CRITERIA

Having agreed on required criteria and next steps, arrangements will be made for you to make a submission for the next phase of your assessment process.

STAGE 6 - REFERENCES

To become an accredited Member of CHI requires two references as follows:

• Reference 1 
  A lay person who is able to testify to your general character and length of experience.

• Reference 2
  A qualified health professional who can attest to your professional competency and depth of experience.

STAGE 7 - FINAL ASSESSMENT INTERVIEW 
If required, John will arrange a second interview where an independent health professional who has experience in the relevant field/s may be invited to attend. This part of the assessment is relaxed and friendly, never confrontational and designed to help you understand how best to meet the required criteria.

STAGE 8 - CONFIRMATION OF MEMBERSHIP

On becoming a successful Associate, Licentiate, Member or Fellow, we will send a welcome email together with your CHI Certificate. You will then be asked to provide details about your service so that we can create a profile for our Health Directory.

[Updated on 16 February 2026]