CHARITIES: Police Bill may ruin youth groups
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Small youth charities could be forced to close down if the Government refuses to pay for criminal records of volunteers to be checked, the Voluntary Youth Sector warned yesterday.
The Police Bill, which would establish the Criminal Records Agency, is due to be discussed in committee this week. The Government is seeking to overturn Lord Weatherill's amendments which would exempt volunteers from paying fees for criminal record checks.
The VYS, which represents over two million young people, says it would cost charities who work with young people and voluntary adults around pounds 40m in the first year and about pounds 8m annually thereafter. A spokesman for the Scout Movement said: "This would be a major financial burden on large charities but totally intolerable for many of the smaller ones."
"What is being proposed at the present time amounts to no more than a tax on volunteering," he added. "We want to see free criminal record checks for volunteers included in a wider package of vetting and sharing information as recommended by Lord Cullen in his report. Police checks alone would not have identified Thomas Hamilton as a danger."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments