Safeguarding training for employers and volunteers in England
There is no single legal safeguarding course for volunteers in England. Here is what the Charity Commission, DfE and NSPCC Learning say about role-based training, refreshers and DBS checks.
In England there is no single national safeguarding course that every volunteer must take, and the guidance we checked sets no fixed refresher interval. What the Charity Commission expects is that all staff and volunteers receive regular child protection training (or training on working with adults at risk) that suits their role. NSPCC Learning says what is required differs by role, sector and UK nation. This post covers England; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements.
What the Charity Commission expects
The Charity Commission's guidance on safeguarding duties for charity trustees (GOV.UK, updated October 2026) applies to England and Wales. It says trustees must take reasonable steps to protect from harm people who come into contact with the charity. The guidance explains that "must" means a legal or regulatory duty, while "should" means good practice the Commission expects trustees to follow.
On training, the guidance uses "should". According to the Commission, charities should make sure that all staff and volunteers receive regular training on child protection or working with adults at risk. Trustees should also:
- set training plans for trustees, staff and volunteers;
- evaluate that training regularly so it stays current and relevant; and
- make sure the charity has enough trained people to handle safeguarding.
The Commission also expects safeguarding policies to be kept up to date, reviewed at least yearly and after any serious incident, and to cover how concerns are raised and how allegations are handled.
Statutory guidance for organisations working with children
The Department for Education's statutory guidance, Working together to safeguard children, was reissued in March 2026. According to GOV.UK, the 2026 edition applies to organisations and agencies with functions relating to children, and NSPCC Learning notes that it replaces the 2023 edition and covers children under 18 in England. GOV.UK describes statutory guidance as guidance you must follow unless there is a good reason not to.
The GOV.UK page for the guidance does not set out a training requirement for volunteers, so do not treat it as a volunteer training syllabus. Read the full guidance if your organisation has formal functions relating to children, for example as a safeguarding partner, school or childcare provider.
For community groups, the Department for Education also publishes non-statutory guidance for out-of-school settings such as after-school clubs, community activities and tuition (February 2026 edition). It says all staff and volunteers should be appropriately trained in safeguarding and child protection. It also says providers should keep a clear record of the training given and the schedule of refresher training, and ideally hold proof of training completed.
Training by role
NSPCC Learning says child protection training should be part of induction for all new staff and volunteers, whatever their role or sector. It also says requirements differ depending on a person's role and whether they have a specific safeguarding responsibility. It points out that training "levels" (it mentions levels 1 to 5) vary by sector and UK nation, so two organisations can use the same label for different things. Check the aims and learning objectives of any course against what your organisation needs.
The table below is a practical way to plan. It reflects the Commission's and NSPCC Learning's general direction, not a legal list of required courses.
| Role | Sensible starting point | Where this comes from |
|---|---|---|
| New volunteer with no previous experience | Introductory safeguarding course at induction: recognising, responding to and reporting concerns | NSPCC Learning (induction; introductory courses) |
| Volunteer or member of staff working directly with children or adults at risk | Induction training, then regular training as set by your plan | Charity Commission ("regular training") |
| Designated safeguarding lead or nominated person | Specialist lead training, covering topics such as safer recruitment and information sharing | NSPCC Learning |
| Trustees | Included in the charity's training plan | Charity Commission |
| People who recruit staff and volunteers | Safer recruitment training | NSPCC Learning |
How often should safeguarding training be refreshed?
There is no single figure we can give you. NSPCC Learning says there is different guidance on how often training should be refreshed, depending on a person's role, the sector and which UK nation you are in, and advises following the guidance from your regulatory body, local authority and nation. The Charity Commission asks for "regular" training without specifying an interval. The Department for Education's out-of-school guidance expects a schedule of refresher training to exist and be recorded, but does not set the interval in the sections we checked.
In practice, that means you set a refresher schedule yourselves, write it down, and check it against any regulator, funder, insurer or local authority requirements that apply to your sector. If you work in schools, our guide to Keeping Children Safe in Education annual staff training covers that sector's specific expectations.
DBS checks are separate from training
A DBS check tells you something about a person's record. It does not train them. The Charity Commission says to risk-assess each role and to get a standard, enhanced or enhanced with barred list check when a role is eligible for one. GOV.UK describes a DBS check as a snapshot in time that should not be relied on indefinitely or if a person's role changes.
Two points matter for volunteers:
- Cost. According to GOV.UK, applicants do not pay a DBS fee for standard, enhanced or enhanced with barred lists checks for volunteer positions, provided they meet the definition of a volunteer. Basic checks cost £20 for everyone, including volunteers. The organisation may add its own administration fee.
- Supervision exemption removed. GOV.UK says that from 1 September 2026 the supervision exemption for regulated activity with children no longer applies in England. Unpaid teaching, training, instructing, caring for or supervising children becomes regulated activity if it is frequent or happens on more than three days in a 30-day period, or overnight. GOV.UK says the main group affected is volunteers, and that volunteers in regulated activity need an enhanced DBS check with children's barred list information. Parents who help out occasionally are generally not affected.
Building a simple volunteer training plan
- List your roles and note who works directly with children or adults at risk, who works alone, and who has lead responsibilities.
- Match training to each role and check course content against your needs, not just the course level label.
- Train at induction before volunteers start unsupervised work.
- Set and record a refresher schedule that you review at least when your policies are reviewed.
- Keep records of who has been trained, on what, and when.
- Review after incidents and after changes in guidance, such as the 2026 edition of Working together to safeguard children.
Our CPD hub lists professional development resources if you want to add safeguarding to a wider training record.
Frequently asked questions
Is safeguarding training a legal requirement for volunteers?
The Charity Commission says trustees must take reasonable steps to protect people from harm, and that charities should ensure staff and volunteers receive regular training. We did not find a single law that prescribes one named course for all volunteers. Sector rules, such as those for schools and childcare, can be stricter, so check yours.
Does safeguarding training expire after a set time?
None of the official pages we checked sets one universal expiry. Refresher timing depends on role, sector and nation, so set and record your own schedule and follow any regulator's rules.
Do volunteers need a DBS check?
Only if the role is eligible. The Charity Commission says to risk-assess each role. Volunteers in regulated activity with children need an enhanced check with children's barred list information.
Do trustees need safeguarding training too?
The Commission's guidance says training plans should cover trustees as well as staff and volunteers.
Do these rules apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
No. This post covers England. The Charity Commission guidance applies to England and Wales, but statutory guidance, safeguarding systems and training expectations differ across the UK nations.
In summary
Match training to the role, put it in place at induction, set and record a refresher schedule, and keep your policies and DBS decisions under review. Always check the current guidance from your regulator or funder.
This article is general information, not legal, regulatory or compliance advice. Check current guidance from the Charity Commission, the Department for Education and your own regulator before making decisions.
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