27th January 2025
Scottish Government to continue PVG fee waiver for volunteers
Following our public consultation on fee waivers and discounts, we are delighted to announce that we will continue to provide free Protecting Vulnerable Group (PVG) scheme membership for Qualifying Voluntary Organisation (QVO) volunteers.
This decision by Scottish Ministers recognises the vital role volunteers play in Scotland’s society with roles in care, health, sports, community and children’s recreational activities.
Membership of the PVG scheme provides assurance to employers and the public that a person can work safely with children and protected adults. By continuing with the fee waiver, volunteers and charities can continue to consider new opportunities by accessing PVG membership without encountering any financial barriers in doing so.
For organisations, it will also provide many smaller charities a crucial lifeline in recruiting and retaining new staff and will help eliminate the barriers some people may face when applying for jobs because of affordability.
Disclosure fee levels
As well as retaining the QVO fee waiver, fees for the new Level 1 and Level 2 disclosure products will remain at their broadly equivalent levels in 2025.
Our decision to retain existing disclosure fees was taken after balancing several factors, including affordability for customers – particularly those on the lowest incomes. This decision intends to support organisations providing vital services to children and protected adults by maintaining disclosure fee levels at the broadly equivalent levels they have been at since 2011.
The disclosure fees from 1 April 2025 are detailed below.
Current product/equivalent product with current and future cost:
| Current product / Equivalent product | Current | Future |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Disclosure / Level 1 | £25 | £25 |
| Standard Disclosure / Level 2 | £25 | £25 |
| Enhanced Disclosure / Level 2 with barred list check | £25 | £25 |
| PVG scheme record / Level 2 (PVG) (Join) | £59 | £59 |
| PVG scheme record / Level 2 (PVG) (Existing) | £59 | £18 |
| PVG short scheme record / Level 2 (PVG) (Existing) | £18 | £18 |
| Statement of scheme membership / Confirmation of PVG scheme membership | £59 (Join) / £18 (Existing) | £59 (Join ) / £18 (Existing) |
Note: This communication is being published on behalf of Disclosure Scotland. If you have any enquiries regarding this information please contact them via one of the available options on their website.