Nonprofits: volunteer onboarding and safeguarding
For volunteer coordinators, charity managers and trustees who recruit, check and induct volunteers. No prerequisites. The course covers writing a volunteer role description and agreement, choosing the right criminal record check for a role (including the change to regulated activity with children from 1 September 2026), handling DBS information lawfully, planning a safeguarding induction, and responding to a concern. Jurisdiction: England and Wales (Charity Commission and DBS guidance; Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own checking schemes), with a short US section on National Service Criminal History Checks for AmeriCorps-funded positions (45 CFR 2540). Safeguarding law and DBS eligibility are detailed: use the DBS eligibility guidance and take advice for your own roles. This is not legal advice and doesn't make you a qualified safeguarding practitioner; follow your charity's safeguarding policy and your local authority's procedures.
- Level
- Beginner
- Length
- About 110 minutes
- Contents
- 5 lessons · final exam
- Status
- Published · updated 10 Oct 2026
Skills you'll practise
- Write a volunteer role description and agreement that set out supervision, training, insurance and expenses
- Choose the criminal record check level a volunteer role is eligible for, including the 1 September 2026 change to regulated activity with children
- Handle DBS check information lawfully: free volunteer checks, storage and retention, and an ex-offender policy
- Plan a safeguarding induction that covers the code of conduct, the safeguarding lead, online safety and how to raise concerns
- Respond to and record a safeguarding concern, following the charity's procedure and referral routes
Course outline
- 1.Writing a volunteer role description and agreementLesson · 18 min
- 2.Choosing the check level a volunteer role is eligible forLesson · 24 min
- 3.Handling DBS check information lawfullyLesson · 16 min
- 4.Planning a safeguarding inductionLesson · 20 min
- 5.Responding to and recording a safeguarding concernLesson · 16 min
- 6.Nonprofits: volunteer onboarding and safeguarding: knowledge checkKnowledge check · 14 questions
- 7.Nonprofits: volunteer onboarding and safeguarding: practical exerciseKnowledge check · 1 question
- 8.Final exam10 questions · passing it completes the course, so people who already know the material can test out
Sources it draws on
The lessons and questions are written from these references, so learners can go back to the original.
- Charity Commission: Safeguarding and protecting people for charities and trustees (last updated 8 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Volunteer opportunities, rights and expenses: volunteers' rights
- GOV.UK: Checks you can make on someone's record (types of DBS check)
- DBS: DBS checks guidance for employers, voluntary organisations and third parties
- DBS: DBS check application process for volunteers
- DBS news story: Change to the definition of regulated activity with children from 1 September 2026
- 45 CFR 2540.201: Which individuals require a National Service Criminal History Check? (Cornell LII)
- 45 CFR 2540.204: What are the components of a National Service Criminal History Check? (Cornell LII)
- 45 CFR 2540.205: By when must the National Service Criminal History Check be completed? (Cornell LII)
- 45 CFR 2540.206: Procedural steps required in addition to the National Service Criminal History Check (Cornell LII)
See it with your own jobs and topics
Tell us about your team and we'll walk you through setup, from choosing jobs to your first skills check.