What is a volunteer DBS check?
A volunteer DBS check provides information about a volunteer’s criminal record (or lack thereof) to help organisers make an informed decision when accepting volunteers for certain roles.
Due to the nature of volunteering, the DBS waives its normal fee for eligible volunteers. Submitting a check is free, but may carry a small admin fee when carried out by a DBS umbrella body. These checks must be requested by an employer or organisation – volunteers can’t apply for themselves.
Free DBS checks for volunteers can either be Standard or Enhanced. Because Basic DBS checks aren’t a legal requirement, these optional checks come at a cost. To be eligible for a Standard or Enhanced Check, volunteers need to meet specific eligibility criteria. Any volunteers working in regulated activity (around children or vulnerable adults) will need an Enhanced DBS check.
It’s also worth noting that, as of 1 September 2026, the supervision exemption for volunteers working around children has been removed. This means volunteers will require their own full, Enhanced DBS check, and can’t just be supervised by another adult who has already completed their Enhanced DBS check.
Who is eligible for a volunteer DBS check?
To be eligible for a volunteer DBS check, a person needs to be a volunteer as defined by the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) Regulations 2002. A person is a volunteer if they are ‘engaged in an activity which involves spending time, unpaid (except for travel and other approved out-of-pocket expenses), doing something which aims to benefit some third party other than or in addition to a close relative’.
Remember: if a volunteer later goes on to become a paid member of staff, they’ll need a new, non-volunteer DBS check.
An eligibility checklist for volunteer DBS checks
Need a DBS check for volunteers, but not sure if an applicant qualifies? Use our handy checklist to decide.
An applicant will qualify for a volunteer DBS check if they:
- Do not benefit directly from the position for which the DBS application is being submitted
- Do not receive any payment (except for travel and other approved out-of-pocket expenses)
- Are not on a work placement
- Are not on a course that requires them to do this volunteer role
- Are not in a trainee position that will lead to a full-time role or qualification
Roles eligible for volunteer DBS checks
Eligible roles can include:
- Adoptive parents (but not foster parents, as some foster carers receive payment)
- Scouts or Guides leaders
- Parent helpers in schools or nurseries
These roles are entirely voluntary, unpaid and primarily aimed at providing a service to a third party, so applicants in these roles would qualify for a volunteer DBS.
What level of DBS check is required for a volunteer?
Volunteers can gain any level of DBS check if requested. However, only Standard and Enhanced DBS checks for volunteers are free. For Basic checks, you’ll still need to pay any DBS admin fees.
How to apply for a volunteer DBS check online
The process of applying for a volunteer DBS check works the same as for employee DBS checks.
As the employer, you’ll need to specify that the applicant is a volunteer at the relevant point in the process to ensure the application is submitted correctly.
The volunteer will then need to complete a volunteer DBS check application online and provide sufficient supporting identity documents.
Once the process is complete, the DBS will issue a hard copy certificate to the applicant containing the result of the check.
How long does a volunteer DBS check take?
There’s fundamentally no difference in the length of time it takes for volunteer DBS checks to come through.
The only change between volunteers and paid employees is whether the DBS needs to charge a processing fee.
We keep our turnaround times updated each month, with our average times* being:
- Basic DBS checks: 0.6 days
- Standard DBS checks: 4.5 days
- Enhanced DBS checks: 8.8 days
*Average times for this list are calculated by finding the average of the trimmed (1dp) figures from Jan – July 2026
Why should I get DBS checks for volunteers?
- Safeguarding duty: As an organisation/employer, you have a duty to safeguard any vulnerable people your staff and volunteers interact with, and volunteer DBS checks help do this.
- Regulatory requirements: Regulatory bodies like the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Charity Commission, or Ofsted set the standard for who should be checked, and how often – this applies to volunteers, too.
We recommend consulting your organisation’s regulatory body in the first instance to ensure you’re compliant with their requirements, and to establish your applicants’ eligibility.
