Volunteers say 'No' to proposed CRB charges

90% of polled volunteers and volunteer managers have rejected government’s plans to make volunteers pay for new portable Criminal Record Checks.

The proposed 'Portable Checks' being considered by the Coalition will enable volunteers to work for more than one charity at a time without having to get multiple checks as their record will be continuously updated by the Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) register. The proposal is in response to calls from volunteers and community groups to reduce the level of red tape that prevents people from giving time. Currently volunteers have to undergo separate CRB checks for each charity that they want to help, even if they apply within the same time period. The resultant delays and level of form filling have been identified as a major obstacle to getting involved.

However the Portable Checks will cost more to administer and the Coalition is considering charging volunteers for the convenience of having one. The existing one off check will continue to be free for volunteers.

Whilst the Portable Check has been broadly welcomed by both volunteers and charities the overwhelming view is that volunteers should not have to pay for them. In a poll run by the social network i-volunteer.org in December, members were asked were asked ‘Do you think Government should charge volunteers for a Portable Criminal Record Check?’ 90% said no, with 6% stating that it would depend on cost. Over 900 members voted in the poll which ran for nearly four weeks.

Reacting to the proposals volunteer member ‘KFLM’ said “Portable CRB checks are long overdue, but volunteers should NEVER have to pay for a background check. The voluntary organisations shouldn't have to pay either. If the Government aren't prepared to put their hands in their pockets for something like this it makes a complete mockery of the 'Big Society.”

Charity member Brent Age UK said “The idea of a portable check is great, but charging for it is not. Many of my volunteers are in receipt of means tested benefits so could not afford it.”

Not everyone was against the idea however with 6% voting in favour. London volunteer ‘LionHeart’ said “If the portable CRB resulted in a kind of secure 'CRB Passport' with a defined expiry date and allowed online management/renewal then I would consider paying a reasonable administration fee.”

National charity Volunteering England are campaigning against the charges. CEO Justin Davis Smith told i-volunteer “We have pushed for CRB checks to be made portable, so that volunteers don’t have to be checked every time they start a new role, and the Government has agreed to that. However, Government would be solving one problem only to create another if they then made volunteers pay for portable checks.”

The Coalition is expected to make its decision on the new charges in the next few months.