CRB checks hinder young volunteers

The problem is acute for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, who may struggle to find the information needed for the checks.

Lee McDaid, mentoring project manager for the South East London to South Africa scheme, said: "If the government wants to increase the number of young volunteers, they need to resolve this issue."

The government wants to inspire a million more 16- to 25-year-olds to volunteer, and established youth volunteering charity v to lead the work.

Anna Day, volunteering development officer at Volunteering England, said her organisation was putting together a group to look at issues around safeguarding, young people and CRB checks.

The government's volunteering champion, Baroness Julia Neuberger, said she was aware of the problems around CRB checks. Neuberger is leading the Commission on the Future of Volunteering, which is preparing a report for government.