Changes to the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 (Disclosure Act)

Last week changes to the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 came into effect.

The new legislation means that, as of 1 April 2025, it is now a legal requirement for individuals to be a member of the PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) Scheme whilst carrying out a regulated role with children or protected adults.

The Disclosure Act has also replaced the concept of ‘regulated work’ with ‘regulated roles’.

Who do the changes apply to?

Examples of regulated roles, previously referred to as regulated work, include teachers, social workers, and sports coaches. Regulated roles are determined by certain criteria, and often involve children or protected adults, or positions of power or influence over those groups. MyGov.Scot provides more information on regulated roles on their roles that need PVG membership webpage.

The changes are relevant to those who are based in Scotland doing a regulated role, those who will be doing a regulated role whilst in Scotland, and those who were recruited in Scotland to do a regulated role elsewhere.

Grace period

There will be a grace period until 30 June for PVG Scheme applications to be submitted for individuals who are currently in a regulated role.

From 1 July it will become an offence for anyone to carry out a regulated role whilst not a member of the PVG Scheme, and for organisations to offer any type of regulated role to an individual unless they have received a PVG Scheme disclosure.

MU members who need to apply to join the PVG Scheme can do so from our Disclosure check page.

Other changes

Among other changes, PVG Scheme applicants and members will notice that the disclosure levels have been renamed. Membership to the PVG Scheme will also now be renewable after five years. More in-depth information about the changes can be found in the FAQ document available on the Volunteer Scotland website.

If you’re a member and you have a question about the changes, please contact education@themu.org.