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DBS launches national campaign to raise awareness of legal duty to refer

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) launches targeted outreach in the South East, with focus on the faith sector.鈥�

From:
Disclosure and Barring Service
Published
23 October 2025

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)听has launched a new national campaign to raise awareness of the legal duty to refer - the process organisations must follow by law when there are safeguarding concerns about individuals in regulated activity.鈥�

The first phase of the campaign is being rolled out across the听South East听of England, with a particular focus on engaging faith-based organisations. In the past seven years, referrals from the faith sector have accounted for just 0.51% of all submissions, highlighting significant gaps in safeguarding reporting.鈥�

This campaign aims to close that gap by increasing understanding of when referrals must be made, how the process works, and why it matters.鈥�

Events, resources, and outreach听

The campaign will run over听12听weeks, and includes a series of听free, virtual workshops听delivered by DBS鈥櫶齋outh East听Regional Outreach Adviser. These sessions will explain the barring process and the legal responsibilities of organisations and employers to refer.鈥�

There are two types of workshops:听听

Meet your Regional Outreach Adviser drop-in session听听

  • 20th听November, 1pm:听register here:听听

  • 19th听December 2025, 10am:听register here:听听听

  • 19th听November, 10am: register here:听听

Pop-up clinics

In addition to the workshops, DBS will also be听hosting听pop-up clinics听across the听South East, offering free, in-person advice and practical guidance. These sessions will include:听

  • myth-busting around the referral process听

  • real-world referral threshold scenarios听

  • peer-led discussions听

  • live walk-throughs of how to make a referral听

  • opportunities to ask DBS staff questions directly听

Where and when?听

  • Reading, Thursday 6 November, 09:30-12:00pm and 13:00-15:30pm.听

  • Tonbridge (Kent), Tuesday 18 November, 09:30-12:00pm and听13:00-15:30pm.听

  • Brighton,听Wednesday听3 December, 09:30-12:00pm and 13:00-15:30pm.听

  • Southampton, Wednesday 17 December, 09:30-12:00pm and 13:00-15:30pm.听

These are in-person events, with morning and afternoon slots available.听To register,听visit听听to secure your place.听听听

Explainer videos

A 60-second explainer series will also be launched on DBS social media channels, covering key topics, including:听

  • what is the legal duty to refer?听

  • what is regulated activity?听

  • when must a referral be made?听

  • what happens after a referral is听submitted?听

  • what are the consequences of not referring?听

Keep an eye out on the听l, as these explainer videos will be launching soon.听听

Learn more听

To support organisations, DBS has published a range of materials on听听扒哥吃瓜, including:听

How to get involved听

You can take part in the campaign in several ways:听

  • attend a virtual workshop听听

  • visit a pop-up clinic听听

  • watch our 60-second explainer听videos hosted on听our YouTube channel, and social media platforms听

听Need help?听

For any questions, or if you require more information, contact:听

Kelly Matthews,听DBS听South East听Regional Outreach Adviser听

E-mail:听kelly.matthews@dbs.gov.uk Phone:听+443001046630听听

Follow the campaign on DBS social media, and use the hashtags:听#FaithInSafeguarding听#DutyToRefer听

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Updates to this page

Published 23 October 2025