DBS Checks for Children's Activities
Looking to do DBS Checks for Employees or Volunteers?
Children's Sports and Activity Providers
Sports and Activity providers will usually need an Enhanced DBS Check to stay complaint. Find out all you need to know here.
DBS Checks for Children's Recreation & Activities Services in 48 Hours
Your business can register quickly with our platform for free and start benefiting from our superior DBS Check services
DBS Checks for Children's Activity Providers
Types of businesses this might be relevant to
When Is an Enhanced DBS Check Required?
My staff member already has a DBS from another job, can I use that?
The Children's Barred List Explained
If your staff will work at locations where children take part in activities such as sports clubs, music schools, holiday camps or after-school programmes, you will almost certainly need to obtain an Enhanced DBS check. Depending on how frequently your staff are onsite and the times they work, you may also need to include a Children’s Barred List check.
A Children’s Barred List check is usually required if your staff are likely to:
Be onsite for more than three days in any 30-day period, or
Be onsite between 2am and 6am when children are present.
The Children’s Barred List is an official register in the UK that lists individuals who are legally barred from working with children. It plays a vital safeguarding role by preventing unsuitable individuals from holding positions involving direct and unsupervised contact with children, such as those in children’s activity settings. Anyone on this list is prohibited from taking part in regulated activities with children.
People are added to the Children’s Barred List following thorough investigations triggered by concerns about their behaviour or conduct. The Disclosure and Barring Service manages the list to ensure that only those who pose a genuine risk are prevented from working in environments with children.
When recruiting for roles involving children’s activities, employers must carry out an Enhanced DBS check with a Children’s Barred List check. This screening provides detailed criminal record information and confirms whether a candidate is barred from working with children. This helps maintain a safe and trustworthy environment for all participants.
Including a Children’s Barred List check within the Enhanced DBS check offers a strong safeguarding measure, adding an important layer of protection for children attending your activities. It ensures compliance with legal safeguarding requirements and reassures parents, carers and regulators that only suitable people are entrusted with children’s safety.
How to get for DBS Checks for Children's Activity Staff
EasyDBS: AI-Powered DBS Checks for Children’s Activity Settings
EasyDBS is an advanced AI-powered web platform designed to make the DBS check process simple and fast for staff, volunteers, and contractors working in children’s sports and activity settings. The platform automates each step, providing intelligent support from registration through to receiving the final results.
Getting Started
After your organisation registers, you will receive secure login details. You can then add internal users — such as HR managers or safeguarding officers — and assign them the necessary permissions to manage DBS checks for your staff and volunteers.
Starting a DBS Check for Activity Staff
To begin a DBS check for a staff member or volunteer, simply enter their name and email address into the system. The individual will receive an email invitation to access and complete their application.
When the applicant clicks the link and sets up their password, they are guided through the form step-by-step, with AI-assisted validation that helps avoid common mistakes — such as incorrect National Insurance numbers or incomplete address histories.
ID Verification and Submission
Once the applicant completes their section, you will be notified to verify their identification documents.
You confirm the IDs provided, and the platform’s smart validation ensures all legal requirements are met, alerting you if anything is missing or incorrect.
At this stage, you will also specify:
The required level of DBS check (Basic, Standard, or Enhanced)
The applicant’s role within the activity setting
Whether a Barred List check is required
Whether the role is voluntary
The AI system further reduces errors by checking eligibility based on this information and flagging any issues.
Payment Options
After finalising the application details, payment can be made using one of three flexible options:
Pay as you go
Prepaid credit bundles
Delegated billing, where the applicant is invoiced directly — ideal when applicants pay for their own DBS checks.
Submission and Results
Once payment or credits are confirmed, the DBS application is submitted securely and quickly to the Disclosure and Barring Service. Both your organisation and the applicant receive notifications, including a unique reference number and a link to track progress in real time.
When the check is complete:
The applicant receives the official DBS certificate by post
Your organisation receives an electronic summary of the results via the platform
Throughout the entire process, EasyDBS’s AI keeps everyone informed with timely updates, ensuring transparency, confidence, and compliance every step of the way.
Need to ask a question before registering…?
If you are already a customer, please login and use the regular support channels on the platform
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most popular questions we get about DBS Checks for Children’s Activity Businesses
How much does a DBS Check cost for a Children's Sports provider?
When arranging DBS checks through an Umbrella Body for staff or volunteers working with children, the total cost typically consists of two parts.
The first part is the fixed fee payable to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for each application. This fee is the same regardless of how many applications you submit. The current DBS fees are:
Basic DBS check: £21.50
Standard DBS check: £21.50
Enhanced DBS check: £49.50
Enhanced DBS check with Children’s and/or Adults’ Barred List check: £49.50
The second part is the administration fee charged by the Umbrella Body to process and submit the application on your behalf. These fees vary between providers and are often lower if you submit a higher volume of applications. For example, EasyDBS’s administration charges start from as little as £4.00 per DBS application.
This two-part cost structure helps clubs and organisations budget effectively for safeguarding checks while ensuring compliance with child protection requirements.
Can I fast-track or pay for a faster DBS Check?
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) processes all applications in the order they are received and does not prioritise any individual application. This means that neither EasyDBS nor any other Umbrella Body can influence or speed up the process once your application has been submitted.
At EasyDBS, we understand how important it is for children’s sports and activity providers to recruit staff and volunteers promptly while ensuring safeguarding compliance. Our goal is to make the DBS checking process as smooth and efficient as possible for your organisation. We provide a user-friendly platform designed to minimise applicant errors and simplify every step — from completing the form to submission — so that your applications are accurate and ready for processing without unnecessary delays.
What is fastest way to get a DBS Check?
For Standard or Enhanced DBS checks, use a DBS Umbrella Body such as EasyDBS, which offers a modern platform and supports online e-bulk DBS check submissions.
Register for Free Organisation Account Here
For Basic DBS: apply directly to Disclosure and Barring Service
Can anyone get a DBS Check?
Anyone can apply for a Basic DBS check, but Standard and Enhanced DBS checks are restricted to roles that meet specific legal eligibility criteria.
For children’s sports and activity providers, it’s crucial to understand which level of check is appropriate. Eligibility for Standard and Enhanced checks is defined in law, primarily under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 and the Police Act 1997. Although most will, not every role within your club or organisation will always qualify for these higher-level checks.
To ensure compliance, employers and organisers should use the official GOV.UK eligibility tool to determine the correct level of DBS check for each role. Requesting a higher-level check than the law allows can breach data protection rules and may be unlawful.
They provide an eligibility tool.
The DBS also provide detailed eligibility guidance here.
What is a DBS Umbrella body?
A DBS Umbrella Body — sometimes called an umbrella company — is an organisation officially registered to access the DBS service and submit checks on behalf of employers and organisations.
EasyDBS is a trusted, well-established DBS Umbrella Body.
For children’s sports and activity providers, an umbrella body acts as the intermediary between your club or organisation and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This arrangement is ideal for most sports clubs, charities, and small businesses, as registering directly with the DBS is typically only practical for organisations processing thousands of checks each year.
By working with an umbrella body, you can focus on safeguarding and running your activities while the provider handles the administrative side of the process. This includes supplying a secure online application platform, counter-signing applications, submitting them to the DBS, and providing ongoing support and guidance to ensure everything runs smoothly and in line with legal requirements.
How long does a DBS Check take for Children's Activity provider?
Most DBS checks are completed within 48 hours, although the exact processing time varies depending on the type of check. Basic DBS checks are usually the fastest and can be returned within a few hours. Standard DBS checks typically take up to five working days, with many completed between 24 and 48 hours.
Enhanced DBS checks are processed through local police forces and may occasionally be returned on the same day. However, they generally take longer than Basic or Standard checks. Most Enhanced checks are usually completed within ten working days.
Which identification documents are needed for an DBS Check Application
When applicants undergo a DBS check, they are required to present original identification documents to a designated ID checker within your organisation. The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) specifies that a particular combination of valid and current ID documents is necessary, depending on what the applicant can provide.
For the most up-to-date list of acceptable ID documents and requirements, please refer to the official DBS guidance here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines
How long is a DBS check valid for Children Recreation purposes??
A DBS check does not have an official expiry date; it records an individual’s criminal history as of the certificate’s issue date.
The information shown is only accurate up to that time. Unlike passports or other documents, DBS certificates do not expire, but they will not include any convictions or cautions received after the issue date. Employers should always check the issue date and decide if a new check is necessary based on how old the certificate is.
In many sectors, regularly renewing DBS checks is regarded as best practice and may be required by regulatory bodies. Typically, checks are updated every three years, although some organisations, particularly those with higher safeguarding responsibilities, may require annual or two-yearly renewals.
How do I track a DBS Check application?
A DBS check does not have an official expiry date. It reflects an individual’s criminal history only up to the date the certificate was issued.
For children’s sports and activity providers, this means the information shown on a DBS certificate is accurate as of its issue date but does not include any convictions or cautions received after that point. Unlike passports or other documents, DBS certificates never technically expire — but employers should always check the issue date and decide whether a new check is necessary based on how much time has passed and the level of safeguarding risk.
In the children’s sector, it is considered best practice — and sometimes required by governing or regulatory bodies — to renew DBS checks regularly. Many organisations choose to update checks every three years, though some, particularly those with heightened safeguarding responsibilities, may opt for renewal every one or two years to ensure ongoing confidence in the suitability of their staff and volunteers.