Volunteer DBS Checks with EasyDBS

Free DBS Checks

Q: How much am I saving with a Free DBS Check?

For Enhanced DBS Checks, it is a saving of £49.50For Standard DBS Checks, it is a saving of £21.50

Free DBS Check For Volunteers Within 48 Hours

Your organisation can register quickly with our platform for free and start benefiting from our superior Volunteer Free DBS Check services

Fast Free DBS

The fastest Volunteer DBS Checks available from anywhere. Super modern & intuitive Platform makes processing without delays a breeze

Cost Effective

Our Platform makes the Volunteer DBS Check process easy, which minimises our costs. This means we are up to 70% cheaper than other providers

Established

We have over 18 years of experience providing Free DBS Checks. This makes us trusted and proven. Thousands of customers value our long history

What is the Volunteer DBS Check?

A Free DBS Check is a criminal record check. The Disclosure and Barring Service offers it. It’s for individuals in unpaid volunteer roles. A DBS check must be legally required for that role.

These Free DBS Checks are available only for Standard and Enhanced DBS checks, which are typically necessary for roles involving “regulated activities” with children or vulnerable adults. It is important to note that Basic DBS checks are never free; they always incur a fee.

The provision of a Free DBS Check for eligible volunteers is crucial. It ensures that the cost doesn’t become a barrier to volunteering or lead to organisations, particularly those with limited budgets, being less diligent in their safeguarding practices. This helps to maintain high safety standards in the voluntary sector without imposing financial burdens on individuals or the organisations they support.

How are Free DBS Checks different from Paid Positions?

The fundamental distinction with a Volunteer DBS Check is that the base DBS fee is zero.

Beyond this cost difference and specific eligibility criteria for the Free DBS Check, the actual process, including identification requirements and the method of certificate issuance by the DBS, is identical to that for a paid position.

Volunteer DBS checks are differentiated from those for paid roles solely by their cost and the applicant’s eligibility for the fee waiver. For volunteers, Standard and Enhanced DBS checks are provided free of charge by the Disclosure and Barring Service. This financial exemption acknowledges the unpaid, voluntary nature of the role and plays a vital part in promoting safer volunteering practices in sensitive areas involving vulnerable individuals.

So it is completely Free DBS Check?

While the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) does indeed waive their application fee for eligible volunteer Standard and Enhanced DBS Checks, meaning the DBS fee itself is £0, it’s important to understand that the check is not always entirely Free DBS Check.

Most umbrella bodies, like EasyDBS, charge an administrative fee for processing the application. This covers their costs for providing the online platform, ID verification assistance, guidance, submission, and tracking services.

At EasyDBS, these administrative fees start from £4.00 per application.

Therefore, while the DBS reduces the cost of an Enhanced DBS Check for a volunteer by the full £49.50 (the usual fee for a paid Enhanced check), you will still typically pay the umbrella body’s administrative charge.

Does the Organisation involved have to be a Charity or CIC?

While charities frequently utilise Free DBS Checks due to their reliance on unpaid workers, other non-charitable organisations are also eligible. This includes a wide range of groups such as:

Community groups
Schools (for parent helpers, governors, etc.)
Sports clubs
Social enterprises
Faith groups

The crucial determining factor for a Free DBS Check is that the role is genuinely voluntary and that it meets the specific eligibility criteria for a Standard or Enhanced DBS check, not the charitable status of the organisation itself.

So as long as the role is unpaid, it will qualify as a Volunteer?

The Free DBS Check for volunteers has very specific criteria, and ALL of the following conditions must be met for an individual to qualify:

The applicant must NOT benefit financially from the position for which the application is being submitted.
The applicant must NOT receive any payment (except for travel and other approved out-of-pocket expenses).
The applicant must NOT be on a work placement.
The applicant must NOT be in a trainee position or undertaking a course of study that will lead to a full-time role/qualification.
The applicant must NOT be a paid foster carer or a member of a foster care household.

These strict conditions ensure the Free DBS Check system applies only to genuine volunteer roles, as the Disclosure and Barring Service defines them.

Is there a definition of Volunteer from DBS?

Yes, for a Free DBS Check, the DBS define a Volunteer as:

‘A person 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.’

Do Volunteer DBS Checks take more or less processing time than paid Checks?

No, Volunteer DBS Checks do not generally take more or less processing time than paid DBS Checks.

The processing time for any Standard or Enhanced DBS check depends on the check’s level (Standard vs. Enhanced). It also depends on factors in the applicant’s history and the efficiency of the various process stages. The payment status, whether paid or a Free DBS Check, does not determine the processing time.

The only difference for a Free DBS Check for volunteers is that the DBS waives its fee. This financial aspect has no bearing on the speed at which the Disclosure and Barring Service or police forces process the application.

Will I know if I have received a Volunteer DBS Check?

Since 2024, all Standard, Enhanced, and Enhanced with Barred Lists DBS certificates explicitly state whether the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) charged a fee. Applicants can therefore easily tell if their certificate was for a paid role or a Free DBS Check.

Do I have to provide proof of this Volunteer status for a Free DBS Check?

No, not usually. To qualify for a Free DBS Check, applicants must make several declarations confirming they meet the specific requirements for Volunteer DBS Check status.

We will only request additional evidence if there’s any uncertainty or if circumstances require further clarification regarding these declarations.

How to start volunteer Free DBS Checks?

EasyDBS: Streamlining Your DBS Checks

EasyDBS is an advanced, AI-driven online platform. It simplifies managing DBS checks for organisations. This includes Free DBS Checks for volunteers. The system guides you smoothly. It uses smart automation and support.

Getting Started

Getting started is simple. Register your organisation for an account. You will then receive a secure login. Add team members like HR or safeguarding staff. Assign them permissions to manage Free DBS Checks. This is done on your organisation’s behalf.

Initiating a Volunteer DBS Check

To begin a new Free DBS Check, enter the volunteer’s name. Also, add their email address. The platform sends them an invitation. This accesses their application form.

Applicant Completes Form with AI Guidance

The volunteer sets up their password. They then start the form. AI-powered validation helps prevent common mistakes. This includes invalid National Insurance numbers. It also covers missing address details.

Organisation Verifies ID

The volunteer completes their section. You will then be notified. Perform the ID verification. Confirm the documents you reviewed. The system checks combinations for legal standards. It alerts you when everything is correct.

Selecting Check Level and Making Declarations

Next, select the DBS check level. Choose Standard or Enhanced. Specify the job role. Indicate if Barred List checks are needed. Confirm if it’s a voluntary position. State whether the role is home-based. The AI flags eligibility issues. This helps reduce errors. Declare if this is a Volunteer DBS Check. Make declarations for a Free DBS Check.

Submission and Tracking

After confirmation, the application is securely submitted. It goes to the Disclosure and Barring Service. You and the volunteer receive notifications. These include a unique reference number. A direct link tracks progress in real time.

Receiving Results

The check is completed. The volunteer receives their paper certificate by post. Your organisation accesses an electronic summary. This is available through the platform. The AI system keeps everyone updated. It provides timely information. This ensures full transparency.

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 Free DBS Checks and Volunteer DBS Checks

How much am I saving with a Free DBS Check?

For Enhanced DBS Checks, it is a saving of £49.50

For Standard DBS Checks, it is a saving of £21.50

Can I get a Free Basic DBS Check?

No, the Volunteer DBS Checks are only available for Standard and Enhanced DBS Checks.

Which identification documents are required for a Volunteer DBS Check?

All applicants must provide identification documents to an authorised ID checker within the client organisation. This applies whether they are getting a Free DBS Check for a volunteer role or a paid DBS Check. The specific documents needed depend on what the applicant has available. However, all presented identification must be valid and up to date. The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) establishes these stringent requirements. They guarantee accurate and robust identity verification for all checks.

For the most current guidelines on accepted documents, visit here

Can I get Adults' Barred List or Children's Barred List with a Volunteer DBS Check?

Yes, absolutely. Barred List checks are processed the same way for both Free DBS Checks (for volunteers) and paid DBS Checks. The role must meet legal eligibility requirements. The fee exemption for volunteers does not alter the rigorous process. The Disclosure and Barring Service undertakes checks against the Children’s and/or Adults’ Barred Lists. The purpose and method of verifying prohibitions remain identical. This applies regardless of whether the role is paid or voluntary.

How do I get a Free DBS Checks for my Volunteers?

If you an organisation looking for Free DBS Checks, then you first need to register with us by clicking here

Upon registration, you will receive client login details for our portal within one working day. This grants you access to begin adding individuals who require DBS checks.

Each individual will then receive their own applicant login to access the portal and complete their portion of the DBS application. Once they have finished, you’ll be notified. You can then log into the client side of the portal to carry out the ID checks and select the appropriate DBS check type. Following this, we will submit the application electronically to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

After processing is complete, the applicant will receive their physical certificate by post. Crucially, within one day of the certificate being issued, you will be able to view an electronic snapshot of the Enhanced DBS certificate within the portal.

The entire process is designed with clear steps at every stage, and the tracking system is user-friendly and easy to understand.

How do I track a Volunteer DBS Check application?

For a Volunteer DBS application, all tracking details are easily accessible to both employers and applicants by simply logging into our platform.

You’ll be able to clearly see the application’s progress at each stage. Once the application reaches the Disclosure and Barring Service, a dedicated button is available to take you directly to their official tracking system for real-time updates.