DBS Checks for Volunteers
If you volunteer with children or vulnerable adults, you will almost certainly need a DBS check. Here is how volunteer DBS checks work, what level of check applies, and how the process differs from the route available to paid self-employed workers.
What Is a DBS Check for Volunteers?
A DBS check is a criminal record check carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service. It shows whether someone has a criminal history that could make them unsuitable for certain roles. For volunteers, these checks are a standard part of safeguarding, particularly in roles involving direct, unsupervised contact with children or vulnerable adults.
The level of check a volunteer needs depends on the role. Most volunteers working in regulated activity will need an Enhanced DBS check, which searches for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and relevant police intelligence. In some cases, an Enhanced check will also include a search of the Children’s Barred List, the Adults’ Barred List, or both.
The key difference between a volunteer DBS check and a paid worker’s DBS check is who arranges it and who pays for it. Volunteers do not apply for their own DBS check. The organisation they volunteer with handles the application and, in most cases, pays no DBS fee at all.
Do Volunteers Need a DBS Check?
Yes, in most cases. If you volunteer in a role that involves working with children or vulnerable adults, particularly in a supervised or unsupervised setting, a DBS check is standard practice. It is not always a legal requirement, but the organisation you volunteer with will almost certainly request one before you start.
Common volunteer roles where a DBS check is expected include youth group leaders, volunteer mentors, school governors, hospital visitors, charity support workers, sports club coaches, and anyone helping in settings where vulnerable people are present.
Whether you need a Basic, Standard, or Enhanced volunteer DBS check depends on what your role involves. If you have regular, direct contact with children or vulnerable adults as part of your volunteering, an Enhanced check is the norm.
If you are a paid self-employed worker, not a volunteer, the route is different. Since January 2026, self-employed individuals in paid roles can apply for their own Enhanced DBS check online through a registered platform. Read more about DBS checks for self-employed workers to find out if this applies to you.
The process for a volunteer DBS check is handled by the organisation you are volunteering with. You do not apply directly to the Disclosure and Barring Service yourself, and you do not need to find a third-party provider.
Your organisation, or the body that oversees it, will ask you to complete a DBS application form. They will verify your identity, countersign the application, and submit it on your behalf. The DBS certificate is then sent directly to you, and a copy of the result is shared with the organisation.
This is different from the route now available to paid self-employed workers. Since 21 January 2026, a change in UK law means self-employed individuals in paid regulated activity can apply for Enhanced DBS checks themselves, through a registered platform. Volunteers are not covered by this new route because they already have an established process through their supervising organisation.
Are Volunteer DBS Checks Free?
Yes. Volunteers in England and Wales are entitled to a free DBS check. The standard DBS fee that applies to paid workers (£21.50 for a Standard check or £49.50 for an Enhanced check) is waived for volunteers. The organisation requesting the check may still charge a small administration fee, but the government’s statutory fee does not apply.
To qualify for the free check, you must be genuinely volunteering. That means you are not receiving payment for the role, other than reasonable expenses. If you are being paid for the work, even on a self-employed basis, you are not classed as a volunteer and the fee waiver does not apply.
For a full breakdown of DBS fees for paid self-employed workers, see the DBS check costs page.
What Type of DBS Check Does a Volunteer Need?
The type of DBS check a volunteer needs depends on the nature of the role and the level of contact with vulnerable groups.
A Basic DBS check shows only unspent convictions. It is the minimum level and is sometimes used for lower-risk volunteer roles. Basic checks are not processed through an organisation; they are applied for individually through GOV.UK.
A Standard DBS check shows spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings. It applies to certain regulated roles but is less common for volunteers.
An Enhanced DBS check includes everything on a Standard check plus any relevant police intelligence held locally. This is the most common level for volunteers working with children or vulnerable adults. It may also include a check against the Children’s Barred List or Adults’ Barred List, depending on whether the role qualifies as regulated activity.
Your organisation will determine the correct level for your role. If you are unsure which check applies, ask the volunteer coordinator or safeguarding lead at the organisation you are joining.
Volunteers vs Paid Self-Employed Workers
The distinction between a volunteer and a paid self-employed worker matters because it determines how you get your DBS check and whether you pay for it.
As a volunteer, your organisation handles the application and you pay no DBS fee. As a paid self-employed worker, you now have the right to apply for your own Enhanced DBS check through a registered platform, but you pay the statutory fee yourself.
This distinction became more important after the January 2026 law change. Before that date, self-employed individuals had no route to an Enhanced check at all. Now they do, but only if they are in paid work. The volunteer route has not changed.
If you do both, for example you volunteer at a youth club and also work as a self-employed tutor, you may need a DBS check through each route. The volunteer check covers your volunteering. The self-employed check covers your paid work.
For more detail on how the self-employed route works, see the full guide to self-employed DBS checks.
Can Volunteers Use the DBS Update Service?
Yes. The DBS Update Service is available to volunteers, and it is free. Paid workers pay £16 per year, but volunteers pay nothing.
The Update Service lets you keep your DBS certificate current without reapplying from scratch each time. Once subscribed, any organisation you volunteer with can run an instant online status check against your certificate, which saves time for everyone.
You must subscribe to the Update Service within 30 days of your DBS certificate being issued. If you miss that window, you will need to apply for a new check before you can subscribe. For more information, visit the FAQs page.
This guide applies to self-employed workers in England and Wales only. Self-employed workers in Scotland should apply through Disclosure Scotland. In Northern Ireland, the equivalent service is AccessNI. This page is for guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have questions about your specific circumstances, contact our support team or consult a qualified legal adviser.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about DBS checks for volunteers, answered.
Do all volunteers need a DBS check?
Not all, but most volunteers working with children or vulnerable adults will need one. The organisation you volunteer with will tell you whether a check is required for your role and will handle the application on your behalf.
Do volunteers pay for a DBS check?
No. The standard DBS fee is waived for genuine volunteers in England and Wales. You must not be receiving payment for the role, other than reasonable expenses, to qualify for the fee waiver.
Can I apply for a volunteer DBS check myself?
No. Volunteer DBS checks at the Standard or Enhanced level must be submitted by the organisation you are volunteering with. You cannot apply for an Enhanced volunteer DBS check as an individual. If you need a Basic check, you can apply for that yourself through GOV.UK.
What if I am both a volunteer and a paid self-employed worker?
You may need a DBS check through each route. Your volunteering organisation handles the check for your volunteer role. For your paid self-employed work, you can apply for your own Enhanced DBS check through a registered platform like self-employed-dbs.co.uk.
What level of DBS check do volunteers need?
Most volunteers working with children or vulnerable adults need an Enhanced DBS check. Some roles may also require a Barred List check. The organisation you volunteer with will determine the correct level based on the role you are doing.
Is the DBS Update Service free for volunteers?
Yes. Volunteers can subscribe to the DBS Update Service at no cost. Paid workers pay £16 per year. You must subscribe within 30 days of your certificate being issued.
How long does a volunteer DBS check take?
Timescales are the same as for paid DBS checks. A Basic check typically takes up to 14 days. An Enhanced check usually takes around 6 weeks, though it can be faster or slower depending on the police forces involved. There is no guaranteed fast-track for any check type.
Can a self-employed person get a free DBS check as a volunteer?
Only if the check is for a genuine volunteering role. If you are being paid for the work, you are not a volunteer for DBS purposes and the fee waiver does not apply. Self-employed workers in paid roles should apply through the self-employed DBS route instead.