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Supporting Scotland's vibrant voluntary sector

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations is the membership organisation for Scotland's charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. Charity registered in Scotland SC003558. Registered office Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh EH3 6BB.

Safeguarding laws, regulation and guidance


There is no one single law on safeguarding for all voluntary organisations. There are a range of legal obligations and guidance documents you may need to follow. Your legal obligations depend on:

  • What type of organisation you are: there are specific duties and guidance for charities and different rules can apply for other types of organisations
  • Who you work with: there are specific duties and guidance when you work with children or adults at risk
  • What you do: there can be extra rules if you deliver specifically regulated activities like health, social care or education
  • Where you work: you need to follow laws in Scotland but you may have extra or different duties when working elsewhere in the UK or overseas

Wider legal obligations – such as those for health and safety, equality and non-discrimination and data protection - will also affect how you keep people safe.

Find out what's relevant to you

Trustees and leaders of voluntary organisations must identify and consider what laws and guidance are relevant to them. As a starting point, consider:

New laws on disclosure and protection of vulnerable groups (PVG) checks

New law is coming into force in April 2025. Make sure you understand the changes and what they might mean for you by visiting Volunteer Scotland's disclosure information hub.

You can also join us at our webinar on 4th December 2024: New laws on disclosure and safeguarding: make sure you’re ready

Last modified on 13 November 2024
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