Free PVG scheme membership opens doors for Scotland's volunteers

Disclosure Scotland is highlighting its commitment to supporting Scotland's voluntary sector by continuing to provide free Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme membership to volunteers. 

The waiver has been in place since 2011 and is a continued comittment to support volunteers carrying out regulated roles with children and protected adults. Removing financial barriers to volunteering, whilst supporting action to address child poverty, and recognising the vital contribution volunteers make across care, health, sport, communication and recreational activities for children. 

PVG scheme membership provides assurance to voluntary organisations, employers, and the public, that a person can work safely with children and protected adults. Without the waiver, first-time members would ordinarily pay a fee to join the scheme. 

The waiver is particularly significant for smaller charities, helping them to recruit and retain volunteers without facing financial barriers. It also ensures that affordability is never an obstacle for individuals wishing to give their time to their communities. 

Volunteers Week, which runs from 1 – 7 June 2026, is an annual celebration of the millions of people who give their time across the UK. Disclosure Scotland is proud to play its part in ensuring volunteering remains accessible to all. 

About Disclosure Scotland  

Disclosure Scotland are an executive agency of the Scottish Government. They help organisations make safer decisions when they are recruiting people. They manage the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme, which helps to ensure that people who are unsuitable to work with children and protected adults cannot carry out a regulated role with these vulnerable groups. The Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 will make the PVG scheme a legal requirement in Scotland from 1 April 2025, for those individuals who are to carry out a regulated role.