Criminal Records Disclosures 

The RYA can help clubs and centres to access Criminal Records checks on volunteers or staff who will work with young people or vulnerable adults. 

In Scotland the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme has replaced Disclosures for people undertaking 'regulated work' with children or protected adults.  Please see the guidance document on the right for more information. 

There have been changes to the eligibility criteria for AccessNI Disclosures and Barred List checks, please see the guidance on the right which has been updated to refer to the new forms.  Any old forms must reach the RYA by 21 June as they will no longer be accepted by AccessNI after 30 June.

In England and Wales, the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority have now merged to become the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). 

The DBS process is undergoing numerous changes, please keep checking this page as we will keep it updated as information is received:

• we are no longer able to submit any forms printed with the old CRB logo
• the eligibility criteria for Disclosures and Barred List checks have changed
• the way the applicant's role should be described on the form has changed, please see the DBS Guidance on the right
• from 17 June 2013, when an applicant applies for a DBS check, they will also have the option of joining the online Update Service within 14 days of their certificate being issued. Future employers or voluntary organisations will be able to confirm online that no new information has been added and they will not have to fill in another form, provided that the original check was at the right level and for the same vulnerable group.  Registration for this service will be free for volunteers and cost £13 per year for paid staff, in addition to the initial Disclosure fee.  This is not the completely ‘portable’ Disclosure we were hoping for, but should be useful for people who work for several organisations. We will provide more information as soon as it is available.
• from the same date, only one Disclosure Certificate will be issued, to the applicant.  The RYA will not receive a copy.  Please see the Flow Chart in the Downloads on the right of the screen for guidance on handling certificates. 

For more information call 023 8060 4104 or e-mail disclosure@rya.org.uk