Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme

The PVG scheme is important if your community group does paid or unpaid work with children, young people and vulnerable adults. The scheme is designed to make it easier to protect vulnerable groups from people who present a risk to them.

Groups who are protected by the PVG Scheme are:

• Anyone under the age of 18 (children)

• Anyone over the age of 16 who are provided with care, health, community care or welfare services (protected adults)

The PVG scheme applies to anyone doing ‘regulated work’ such as caring, training, supervising or supporting vulnerable people. Community groups carrying out these kind of activities can apply for free PVG discosure checks have a responsibility to register with the scheme.

More information

• Scottish Government information on free disclosure checks

• Information on services provided by Volunteer Scotland

• SCVO’s guide to the PVG scheme

• Youth Scotland’s guide to the scheme in relation to youth work

• Citizen Advice Scotland info

PVG disclosure checks are carried out by Disclosure Scotland