Corporate Volunteering

If your organisation relies on volunteers to work with children, there is an important safeguarding change coming into force on 1 September 2026 that you need to be aware of. The Department for Education has confirmed that the supervision exemption for volunteers working with children is being removed . This means some volunteers who have previously been able to work with children without a DBS check will now require an Enhanced DBS check with Children's Barred List information . See their guidance on the new changes here . The change is particularly important for organisations that recruit volunteers to support their activities and services for children and young people, including schools, childcare and holiday club providers, youth organisations, sports clubs, community groups and other settings where volunteers work with children. What is changing? Previously, some volunteers could work with children without being classed as undertaking "regulated activity" if they were appropriately supervised by someone who was already in regulated activity. From 1 September 2026, that exemption is being removed . This means that activities such as teaching, training, instructing, caring for or supervising children can now count as regulated activity when the volunteer carries them out: On more than 3 days in a 30-day period , or Overnight If you currently recruit volunteers that support with these activities, the change means that they will now need an enhanced DBS check prior to being able to support your organisation. Why does this matter to organisations recruiting volunteers? For many organisations, the change won't mean that every volunteer suddenly needs a new DBS check. Instead, it means you need to look carefully at what your volunteers actually do, how often they do it and whether they work with children overnight . For example, a volunteer who comes into a school every week to listen to children read, support classroom activities or help with interventions may previously have relied on the supervision exemption. From September, if they volunteer on more than three days in a 30-day period, they will generally be undertaking regulated activity and will need the appropriate DBS check. Another example could be a football coach who supports a team once a week, so four times a month. As above, it may have been avoidable to require them to have an enhanced DBS check as they were supervised by someone with an enhanced DBS check, however now they will need the appropriate check themselves to continue to volunteer their time and support. The same principle applies to volunteers in other children's settings. What about occasional volunteers? This is an important distinction. The change is not intended to mean that every parent, carer or occasional helper needs a Children's Barred List check . For example, a parent who helps at an occasional PTA event or accompanies children on a non-overnight day trip will generally not be caught by the new requirements. However, organisations should still consider their wider safeguarding responsibilities and may choose to request other types of DBS check where appropriate. Overnight volunteering is different One important change is around overnight activities. Volunteers who help on overnight school trips will be now be classed as undertaking regulated activity and will therefore need an Enhanced DBS check with Children's Barred List information. This means organisations planning residential trips, camps or other overnight activities should make sure they identify this requirement well in advance. What if a volunteer helps more than one organisation? The rules also take account of volunteering across different settings. For the "more than 3 days in a 30-day period" test, each relevant day counts - even if the volunteering takes place within different settings. For example, someone who volunteers at four different schools on four separate days during the same 30-day period could meet the threshold for regulated activity. The Department for Education encourages organisations to work together where appropriate to avoid unnecessary duplication of DBS checks. Volunteers can also consider joining the DBS Update Service , which can make it easier for organisations to check whether an existing certificate remains current. What should organisations do now? With the change coming into force on 1 September, now is a good time to review your volunteer agreements and policies. 1. Review your volunteer roles Don't just look at job titles or role descriptions. Consider what your volunteers actually do: Do they teach, train, instruct, care for or supervise children? How frequently do they volunteer? Will they volunteer more than three days in a 30-day period? Do they take part in overnight activities? Are they currently relying on the supervision exemption? 2. Audit existing DBS checks Make a record of what DBS checks your existing volunteers already have, if any. Identify volunteers whose role will be considered a regulated activity from September and determine whether they need an Enhanced DBS check with Children's Barred List information . 3. Review your recruitment process Make sure your volunteer recruitment process clearly explains any DBS requirements. It is also worth checking your volunteer application forms, safeguarding procedures, volunteer policies and induction materials so that they reflect the updated Act. 4. Plan ahead for residential activities If your organisation runs residential trips, camps or other overnight activities involving children, it's worth reviewing your volunteer arrangements now. The overnight provision is particularly important because volunteers involved in these activities will be in regulated activity. 5. Supervised no longer means "no DBS required" From September, simply having a member of staff supervising a volunteer will no longer automatically mean that the volunteer is outside regulated activity. The focus is now on the nature, frequency and timing of the volunteer's role , rather than simply whether they are supervised. 6. Allow time for the changes to happen Start planning now, rather than waiting for the change on the 1st September. Enhanced checks can take up to 12 weeks and with an influx of applications this time may increase. If your services and support for children and young people rely on volunteers, take action now to limit the impact to your organisation and service users. What does this mean for volunteers? For volunteers, the change shouldn't be seen as a barrier to supporting your chosen organisation. In fact, the DBS check for volunteers undertaking regulated activity is free of charge . The purpose of the change is to strengthen safeguarding and putting children's safety and care at the forefront of volunteer activity. Organisations should therefore communicate the change positively and clearly. Volunteers may have questions about why a check is now required when one wasn't previously necessary, particularly if they have been volunteering for some time. A simple explanation is that the rules are changing, rather than there being a concern about the individual volunteer . Volunteers are hugely important to organisations working with children. The removal of the supervision exemption doesn't mean that organisations need to stop using volunteers, it simply means that organisations need to be clear about which volunteer roles constitute regulated activity and make sure the appropriate checks are in place . If your organisation relies on volunteers, don't wait until September for the changes to take place to review your processes. Start by identifying which volunteers work with children regularly or overnight, check what DBS arrangements are already in place and make sure your recruitment and safeguarding processes are ready for when the change happens and you can limit the impact the change will have on your services. This article is based on Department for Education guidance published on GOV.UK . The guidance applies to England. Organisations should refer to the latest official guidance when making decisions about individual roles.

Each volunteer that supports Herts Welcomes Refugees, does so with their own story to share. Some are inspired by personal experiences, others by their studies, their values, their family or simply a desire to make a positive difference in their local community. But with each of their volunteers is a common thread: that welcoming refugees isn't just about offering practical support, it's about building human connection, challenging misconceptions and reminding people that everyone deserves kindness, dignity and a sense of belonging. Two of Herts Welcomes Refugees newest volunteers, Soha and Steph , beautifully capture what motivates so many people to get involved. For Steph, volunteering grew naturally from her academic interest in migration and human rights. After studying Geography at Durham University and focusing her dissertation on the UK asylum system, she wanted to use that learning in a practical way to help tackle these issues. Steph explains, "I wanted to help in any way that I could to improve the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers and show that they are welcome and valued in our community." Inspired by the work of Herts Welcomes Refugees, Steph became part of the weekly hotel drop-in group, helping new arrivals navigate everything from understanding Home Office letters to accessing education opportunities and local activities. While the work is varied, Steph really enjoys seeing people begin to build friendships, grow in confidence and find moments of normality despite living and navigating difficult circumstances. "The positive impacts of HWR's work are so inspiring," she says. "Seeing residents enjoy activities together, forming friendships and feeling empowered is my favourite part of volunteering." For Soha, volunteering is also rooted in a long-standing belief that our communities are strengthened by people from different backgrounds and cultures. Having studied History, Politics, Economics and International Relations at university, she became increasingly interested in refugee issues through following organisations supporting people fleeing conflict. Having returned home after university gave Soha the opportunity to volunteer with Herts Welcomes Refugees, using her skills to create graphics, communications and campaigns that raise awareness of the charity's work. One of the most powerful things volunteering has given Soha is the opportunity to meet people seeking asylum face-to-face. "When you interact with refugees and asylum seekers," she reflects, "you learn human stories which are so important in helping dispel harmful myths." Those conversations have reinforced something she already believed; that behind every headline is a person with a story, with hopes, talents, families and ambitions. Listening to individual experiences helps replace assumptions with understanding and reminds us how much we all have in common, deep down. This is something many Herts Welcomes Refugees volunteers talk about. Whether they're teaching English, helping children with homework, running activities, sorting donations or simply sharing a cup of tea and conversation - volunteering becomes a two-way exchange. While volunteers are the ones that offer practical support, they often find they receive just as much in return through new friendships, fresh perspectives and a deeper understanding of the resilience and courage shown by the people they meet and the stories they share. Steph has a simple message for anyone wondering whether to get involved: "Just go for it!" To find out what roles Herts Welcomes Refugees has available:

Volunteering is a great way to contribute to a cause that is close to your heart; it's also a way to explore new opportunities you might not have thought of. Below we hear from Samuel Fagar, a volunteer at Bright Futures UK , a charity supporting children and young people who have had to take time out of education due to serious and long-term illness. Volunteers offer their support to those aged 5-24 through befriending, mentoring, tutoring and workshops. Despite having not wanted to get into education - and claims he still doesn't! - Samuel shares how volunteering has been an important part of his life and why working at Bright Futures has changed his perspective... 1. How did I get into volunteering? My first experience of volunteering was in 2019. At the ripe age of 14, I was eager to do my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award and within that, I started volunteering at Monkton Nature Reserve in Kent. Once finishing my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award, I continued to volunteer at Monkton Nature Reserve until 2020 – that pesky Covid-19 always finds a way into people’s stories! Once the pandemic and lockdowns were over, during the summer of 2021, I decided to go back to volunteering at Ramsgate Tunnels. Whilst I enjoyed it, I would end up shelving my volunteering experiences in late August of that year as I was to start my A-Levels! A couple of months afterwards, however, despite doing my studies and securing a part time job at Ask Italian in Westwood Cross, Thanet, I would re-enter volunteering, but in a different capacity. As someone who was deeply fascinated in history and politics, I become a Kent Youth County Councillor, Secretary to my Sixth Form’s Eco-Committee, a member of the British Youth Council (alongside the UK Youth Parliament scheme as a Deputy Member) and an Ambassador for the Holocaust Educational Trust. From then, at the age of 16, my volunteering opportunities proliferated. Before starting university, I had volunteering experiences around a variety of things, from leading public speaking workshops, chairing meetings and working with Kent police as a Youth councillor, helping form the Thanet Youth Council and even organising my first event as Regional Ambassador for the Holocaust Educational Trust. After joining university, eager to carry on my volunteering experiences, I would join other organisations such as the WWF, Bright Futures UK, the mentoring organisation, Business Education and Events (BEE) Network, Herts Young Homeless, Shoutout UK, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and even going to Calais to help volunteer with refugees. At the age of 21, I look back on a strong history of volunteering with happiness and excitement, but at the heart of all of the things that I have done, I can trace it to my early days of 14 when I started my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. 2. What attracted me to this role? I had always found teaching fun and exciting. Although I never wanted to be a teacher, nor do I still want to now, I still thoroughly enjoyed sharing knowledge with people. When I started at the University of Hertfordshire as young fresher, there was a part time careers fair ran by the university’s careers team and among the members of staff, was Bright Futures UK. As I was eager to know what each stand was offering, I went over. In this discussion, I learnt I could make a real difference in someone’s life just by simply talking to them about Geography! I was really eager to join, but as a first-year student, adjusting to university at first was quite difficult. It wouldn’t be until mid-way through the year, after learning the ropes, I realised I had time and the ability to start doing online tutoring. From then on, I began to email Bright Futures UK and they told me they were holding an online information session about the charity and what I could do as a tutor – I was hooked straight away. As someone who passionately believe in the power of education, I knew I needed to do something and from then on, I would join. 3. What do you enjoy about it? Honestly, I love everything about it! The young people you get to meet are incredible. Despite the things they have gone through, they are beyond inspiring. They constantly ask questions, they make you think and adapt and it is a wholly amazing experience. The thing I enjoy most however, is the connection you make with the young people and watching them grow. They begin to open up to you and they bring you into this exciting world of their own and it is terrific to be a part of. As they let you in, you help them with more than just the education side. You help them develop as young person and it is honestly an incredible thing to be a part of! 4. What has it brought you? It has brought me to understand the value of connecting with young people and believing in them. People can often dismiss students because of the ‘low’ grade they got and in reality, it is more than they just didn’t revise or don’t care. Bright Futures UK is a great way to bring young people back into education and I think being a part of that has be the most rewarding thing that I can think of. 5. What would you say to someone who is thinking about volunteering? At the risk of sounding like a Nike advert, ‘Just do it!’. It is an incredibly rewarding experience. You develop so much and you really begin to learn a lot about yourself. It is amazing the things that you end up doing, it pushes you so much and the impacts that you end up doing are incredible. You get to meet amazing people, whether fellow volunteers or staff, along the way and honestly it just makes the experience even better. I can never describe, nor put it into the words the feelings you can get or why you should do volunteering – I think partially that is because I change my answer every time someone asks me why should I volunteer. But the one thing that never changes no matter who the person that's asks me, the first three words that come out my mouth are ‘just do it!’.