Safe Space Training and DBS Renewals: A Checklist for Unit Leaders
Keep your leadership team's safeguarding training, criminal record checks, first aid and Going Away With qualifications in date with this simple checklist.
As a unit leader you need to know that every adult working with your girls has the right checks and training in place. Expiry dates have a habit of sneaking up — usually just before a trip.
What to track for each adult
- Criminal record check: DBS in England and Wales, PVG in Scotland, or AccessNI in Northern Ireland.
- Safe Space training: Girlguiding's safeguarding training, at the level required for the person's role.
- First aid: where required for their role or for a specific activity.
- Going Away With: for leaders planning or running residential events.
- Activity qualifications: anything needed for specific or adventurous activities.
The checklist
- 1
List every adult.
Include co-leaders, assistants, young leaders and regular helpers.
- 2
Record issue and expiry dates.
Keep them in one place, not in individual inboxes.
- 3
Set reminders well ahead of expiry.
Renewals and training places can take weeks to arrange.
- 4
Check before every trip or residential.
Confirm the adults going have everything they need for that event.
- 5
Review at the start of each term.
Catch upcoming expiries before they become a problem.
- 6
Keep GO up to date.
GO remains the official record of volunteers' checks and training.
Why a traffic-light view helps
A simple green, amber and red view of every leader's status shows at a glance who is in date, who is due soon and who has lapsed. UnitSolutions' Leadership Compliance Matrix does this for DBS, first aid, Safe Space and Going Away With, with alerts before anything expires.
The level of Safe Space training, the type of criminal record check and how often each must be renewed depend on the volunteer's role and where in the UK you are. Girlguiding sets these requirements — check the current guidance and GO for each volunteer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Scottish equivalent of a DBS check?
In Scotland, volunteers working with children are checked through the PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) scheme. In Northern Ireland, checks are carried out by AccessNI.
How often do Girlguiding volunteers renew Safe Space training?
Renewal requirements depend on the training level and the volunteer's role, and are set by Girlguiding. Check the current Safe Space guidance and each volunteer's record in GO.