DBS expands Faith in Safeguarding campaign nationally
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is expanding its Faith in Safeguarding campaign with free pop-up clinics across England.
Following a successful pilot in the听South East听of England in autumn 2025, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is expanding its Faith in Safeguarding campaign nationally.听The campaign raises awareness of the legal duty to refer听-听the process organisations must follow by law when there are safeguarding concerns about individuals in regulated activity.听
Faith organisations are currently among the lower-referring sectors for barring referrals to DBS, despite the thousands of people working and volunteering in regulated activity roles across churches, mosques, gurdwaras, mandirs, synagogues, and faith charities. This suggests many organisations may be unaware of their legal obligations under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.听
This campaign aims to close that gap by increasing understanding of when referrals must be made, how the process works, and why it matters.
Pop-up clinics
DBS will be hosting free, in-person pop-up clinics across England this spring, offering practical guidance tailored to faith settings. Each session will include:
- an introduction to DBS and eligibility for DBS checks听
- what the legal duty to refer means for your organisation听
- practical scenarios applying the legal duty in faith settings听
- a walkthrough of the Barring Referral Service听
- Q&A and networking
Where and when?
- Greater London, Wednesday 25 March 2026, 9:30am鈥�1:00pm, The Chesterfield Mayfair, 35 Charles Street, Mayfair, London, W1J 5EB听
- Liverpool, Wednesday 15 April 2026, 9:30am鈥�1:00pm, Hilton Liverpool City Centre听
- Leeds, Wednesday 22 April 2026, 9:30am鈥�1:00pm, Radisson Blu Hotel听
- Birmingham, Tuesday 28 April 2026, 9:30am鈥�1:00pm, Clayton Hotel听
- Bristol, Wednesday 6 May 2026, 9:30am鈥�1:00pm, Holiday Inn City Centre听
- Newcastle, Tuesday 12 May 2026, 9:30am鈥�1:00pm, Leonardo Hotel听
- Peterborough, Tuesday 19 May 2026, 9:30am鈥�1:00pm, Park Inn by Radisson
Further sessions in Wales and Northern Ireland will be confirmed听at a later date.听
All sessions are free to attend. To register, visit the听听to secure your place.
Who should attend?
These sessions are open to anyone with safeguarding responsibilities in a faith setting, including:听
- clergy, imams, granthis, pandits, and rabbis听
- trustees and organisational leaders听
- safeguarding leads and HR professionals听
- volunteers and youth group leaders
Learn more听
To support organisations, DBS has published a range of materials on 扒哥吃瓜, including:听
- guidance on听the legal duty to refer to DBS听
- leaflets such as Barring Referrals听-听听
- a step-by-step听flowchart explaining the referral process听
Need help?听
For any questions, or if you require more information, contact听your听DBS Regional Outreach Adviser.听
Follow the campaign on DBS social media and use the hashtags: #FaithInSafeguarding #DutyToRefer
- 听
- 听
- 听