{"alias":"contentPage","byline":null,"standfirst":null,"content":{"layouts":[{"type":"sidebar","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EAt Scouts, we welcome people from all backgrounds to join the movement. Asylum seekers and refugees often bring their own unique skill sets that we can all benefit from at Scouts.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHowever, we\u2019re aware they often face some challenges when applying to become volunteers. In particular, when applying for criminal record checks, which is required for lots of our volunteers.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAsylum seekers and refugees are allowed to volunteer in the UK.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAccording to the \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/983283/permission-to-work-v10.0ext.pdf\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Permission to work and volunteering for asylum seekers (Home Office)\u0022\u003EHome Office permission to work and volunteering for asylum seekers guidance\u003C/a\u003E, \u2018volunteering can be undertaken at any stage of the asylum process\u2019 and \u2018asylum seekers can volunteer whilst their claim is considered without being granted permission to work\u2019.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe should be mindful there\u2019s a difference between the terms \u0027volunteering\u0027 and \u0027voluntary work\u0027. Asylum seekers aren\u2019t allowed to do voluntary work. This means that volunteers can only give their time freely and shouldn\u0027t be paid for their volunteering time with Scouts. \u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EVolunteering can often be a lifeline for asylum seekers and refugees, offering them meaningful ways to spend their time, meeting people in their community, and building skills for a CV for working in this country. Although it\u2019s worth remembering many asylum seekers and refugees often have a wealth of experience already.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EHow to apply for a criminal record check\u0026nbsp;\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAsylum seekers and refugees can have criminal record checks (DBS, AccessNI or PVG), however they might find it difficult to provide the right documents and their address history. There are \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines/id-checking-guidelines-for-standardenhanced-dbs-check-applications-from-1-july-2021\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022ID checking guidelines for standard/enhanced DBS check applications (gov.uk)\u0022\u003Ethree routes they can follow\u003C/a\u003E, which each use different documents. For those who aren\u2019t UK nationals, they\u2019ll need to use Route 1. They\u2019ll need to show:\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EOne document from Group 1 (Any current and valid passport, biometric residence permit, a current driving licence photocard, birth certificate, or an adoption certificate).\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ETwo further documents from Group 1, Group 2a or 2b.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou can find the \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines/id-checking-guidelines-for-standardenhanced-dbs-check-applications-from-1-july-2021\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022ID checking guidelines for standard/enhanced DBS check applications from 1 July 2021 (Gov.uk)\u0022\u003Efull list of documents on gov.uk\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAt least one of the documents must show their current address.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf the potential volunteer doesn\u0027t have any of the paperwork for these routes, they can still get a criminal record check by providing their fingerprints at a local police station. However, please be mindful when exploring this option, as some people may find this an intimidating and intrusive process. The Volunteer Centre Sheffield has made some \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.vas.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/DBS-Checks-for-Asylum-Seekers.pdf\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022DBS Checks for Asylum Seekers (Volunteer Centre Sheffield)\u0022\u003Eguidance on the fingerprint method\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003ETips on creating a welcoming environment\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAt Scouts, we want to create a welcoming environment for every volunteer. There are some particular aspects you should be mindful of when welcoming refugees and asylum seekers, such as potential cultural differences and language barriers.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETo avoid miscommunications, try to be as clear as possible about everything, and explain things in detail. Remember that something that might be obvious for you, might not be obvious for someone coming from another cultural background. Be mindful that using sarcasm and acronyms might be a barrier for people who have English as their second language.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETry not to make assumptions about what an asylum seeker or refugee will think, understand, or know about any given situation. What we think we know may be based on inaccurate, cultural stereotyping and may cause barriers for them feeling accepted and welcome into Scouts.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003ESupport organisations\u003C/h3\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"Learn more about asylum in the UK","body":"\u003Cp\u003EUNHCR has information about the difference between a refugee and an asylum seeker, and statistics about asylum seekers and refugees in the UK.\u003C/p\u003E","link":{"name":"Asylum in the UK (UNHCR)","id":null,"url":"https://www.unhcr.org/uk/asylum-uk","newWindow":false,"target":"_blank"},"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"UNHCR: The UN Refugee Agency","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"Find support for young refugees","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Red Cross offers a range of services for young refugees and teenagers or young adults seeking asylum aged 15 to 25.\u003C/p\u003E","link":{"name":"Help for young refugees and asylum seekers (Red Cross)","id":null,"url":"https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/get-help-as-a-young-refugee-or-asylum-seeker","newWindow":false,"target":"_blank"},"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"The British Red Cross","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"Learn more about refugees, asylum seekers and migrants","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u0027re unsure about the differences between the terms \u2018refugee\u2019, \u2018asylum seeker\u2019 and \u2018migrant\u2019, Amnesty International explains the different terms.\u003C/p\u003E","link":{"name":"Refugees, asylum seekers and migrants (Amnesty International)","id":null,"url":"https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/refugees-asylum-seekers-and-migrants/","newWindow":false,"target":"_blank"},"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"Amnesty International","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":"Find information for Lead Volunteers and Team Leaders on supporting asylum seekers and refugees with criminal record checks.","pageType":null,"location":null,"browserTitle":"","versionDate":"15 July 2023","reviewDate":"01/01/0001","redirectUrl":"","id":47104,"nodeName":"Supporting asylum seekers and refugees with criminal record checks","title":"Supporting asylum seekers and refugees with criminal record checks","type":"contentPage","image":{"url":"/media/12108/fdl-hp.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dab8e1b20252a0","caption":"Scouts purple logo","type":"jpg","size":93039,"width":1268,"height":664,"altText":"An image of a purple background showing the white Scouts logo"},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Supporting asylum seekers and refugees with the criminal record check process","headerSubTitle":"Find information and considerations for Lead Volunteers and Team Leaders","headerCta":"","headerCtaText":"","headerCtaLink":"","headerBackgroundColour":"ffe627","showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"International crises","url":"/volunteers/running-your-section/programme-guidance/global-scouting/international-crises/","newWindow":false}]},"subHeader":"Find information for Lead Volunteers and Team Leaders on supporting asylum seekers and refugees with criminal record checks.","silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80NzEwNCJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/criminal-record-checks/supporting-asylum-seekers-and-refugees-with-criminal-record-checks/"}