Volunteers under the age of 18
Should a child under 18 want to volunteer for any church project you are working on, here are some things to consider:
Because the volunteer is classed as a child themselves, there would need to be an “appropriate adult” who would be responsible for their welfare.
An adult over 18 should be present all the time they are volunteering, so they are never left alone in sole charge of any aspect of the project.
A consent form should be signed by the child’s parent or guardian giving permission for them to volunteer.
The parent/guardian should also be asked to provide appropriate details like emergency contacts, medical needs etc.
When you are completing the overall risk assessment for the activity, you should mention any volunteers under the age of 18 and specially consider which activities they will be undertaking.
You should aim to obtain 2 references for anyone volunteering. Who acts as referee would depend on the context in which the young person is volunteering. For instance, if they are known to the church then it would make sense for the minister or youth worker to write a reference. However, if they are offering to volunteer through a scheme like Duke of Edinburgh and are not previously known to the church then a reference from a teacher would be the most obvious.
If they are going to be working with children or vulnerable adults, they may need to undertake some Safeguarding training. Depending on the age of child, you need to consider whether the Foundation module is appropriate or whether individualised bespoke training would be more appropriate to ensure they know how to recognise abuse and what to do (i.e. report). This could be just by way of a thorough and appropriate safeguarding briefing by the event organisers.
You can apply for an Enhanced DBS certificate (if the role is relevant) for anyone over the age of 16. If the volunteer is under 16, this is not an option.
Please do not hesitate to contact the District Safeguarding Team if you have any questions.