Application to Volunteer

Application to volunteer
Please complete all sections of this form. Where questions do not apply to you, please leave them blank, as opposed to entering answers like not applicable or N/A.

We are still on the lookout for minibus drivers this Summer. If you are 21+ with a minimum of 3 years regular driving experience and are keen to drive on our projects, please contact recruitment@freetobekids.org.uk.

We will resume interviewing applicants from 29th September 2025 onwards, as we've closed our application window for the summer season. Whilst the window is closed for now, we would still encourage you to complete your application, as we have spaces available on residential projects later this year.

We look forward to reading your application, and will be in touch with you in September. Should you have any questions in the interim, you can get in touch with us at the email address listed below.

Thank you!
The Volunteering Team
recruitment@freetobekids.org.uk

Your first name:*
Your last name:*
Is this the name you would like to use on our projects? If you would prefer to be known by a shortened version of your name or a different name, please let us know:*

Yes, this is the name I'd like to be usedNo, I would prefer to be known by a different name
If you would like to be known by a different name or a shortened version of your name whilst volunteering with us, please let us know what it is here:
Date of birth:*

DayMonthYear
Date
Gender:*

ManWomanOther/not listedPrefer not to say
Other Gender
As you selected "Other" above, please describe your gender identity in your own words
Occupation:
If you are currently a student, please tell us which university or college are you studying at:
When do you expect to finish your studies?
Email address:*
example@example.com
Contact telephone number:*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Address:

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

DBS Checks

Given the role you are applying for involves regular contact with and responsibility for children and/or their sensitive personal data, you will need a valid Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate before working with us. This provides Free to Be Kids with details of any criminal convictions you have and includes a barred list check.

Unless you are currently signed up to the DBS Update Service (see below), we will arrange a DBS check as part of your application process. The charge for this is covered by Free to Be Kids, so you do not need to pay for it.

DBS Update Service

This is an additional service that you must sign up for within 30 days of receiving a DBS check and renew on an annual basis. If you are unsure about whether you are a member, more information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-update-service-applicant-guide/dbs-update-service-applicant-guide#dbs-reference-numbers-and-unique-subscription-id
Are you currently registered with the DBS Update Service?*

YesNo
What is your 12 digit DBS certificate number? (This can be found at the top of your DBS Certificate)
Are you happy for us to run a status check on your DBS certificate?

YesNo
At any point in the last 5 years, have you spent more than 3 months living/working/holidaying/travelling anywhere other than England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man (NB this includes Scotland)?*

YesNo
If you have spent time outside of the above locations in the last 5 years, we may also need to complete checks in the other countries where you have resided. Please provide details of where else you have lived/travelled and how long for.

Next of kin details

Please provide details for a next of kin, who we could contact in the event of an emergency while you are volunteering:
Name:*
Relationship to you:*
Telephone number:*

References

Please give details of two professional or academic referees. We cannot accept referees who are personal friends or family members. You must have known the referee for a minimum of two years.

Referees will only be contacted after you have attended an interview with us and we will confirm with you first if you are happy for us to contact them.

If you are currently in, or have ever been, in employment, one of your referees must be your current or most recent employer.
Reference 1: Name*
Position*
Telephone number
Email address*
example@example.com
Reference 2: Name*
Position*
Telephone number
Email address*
example@example.com

Background safeguarding checks

All information you provide will be treated as confidential and managed in accordance with relevant legislation and Free to Be's Data Protection Policy and Privacy Statement.
Please let us know which of the following statements are applicable:*

I am known to any children’s services department or to the police as being a risk or potential risk to childrenI have been the subject of a disciplinary investigation and/or sanction by an organisation due to concerns about my behaviour towards childrenI have been suspended or barred from working with children or vulnerable adults, for any reason or by any organisationI have a conviction, caution, reprimand or final warning, (apart from those defined as “protected” by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974)None of the above statements apply to me
Applicable statements output
Please tell us the nature of the incident(s). Where the incident involves offences, please list the specific offences you have been warned, cautioned, reprimanded or convicted of:
Please explain when it/they happened:
Please provide a brief summary of what happened, (we're happy to talk the through over the phone or in person if you feel this would be more appropriate):

Your data

As a charity working with vulnerable children, we need to collect and hold a range of data about you, to fulfil our operational and safeguarding responsibilities. This includes the information you have provided in this form, that supplied by your referees, the contents of your Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check, information from your interview and training with us and information regarding which of our projects you volunteer on.

In order to ensure we are fulfilling our responsibilities. We store all data securely, and do not give it out to any other organisation, unless a safeguarding investigation (e.g. a concern about a child's welfare), requires it. If you would like to read further information about how Free to Be manages your data you can find our full Privacy Statement here: https://www.freetobekids.org.uk/privacystatement.
Do you consent to Free to Be processing and storing your data in line with the purpose and process described above?*

YesNo
If you selected "No" above, please also contact us by email at recruitment@freetobekids.org.uk so that we can think together about the implications of this.
Communicating with you

Our Communications Code

This is an agreement between Free to Be and our volunteers to respond to each other's emails and phone communications within three working days. Upholding this means that:
- As a small charity, with limited resources we can focus more of our time on our children and young people by keeping the time spent on chasing emails and other admin tasks to a minimum.
- As a volunteer, you only receive information from us when necessary and we are not filling your inbox with unnecessary emails.
Whilst it is not always possible to give final answers within three days, we agree to always acknowledge messages within this time frame and to proactively keep each other up to date with any changing information or plans.
Please tick the box to confirm that you have read about and are willing to agree to our Communications Code
Communications code output
Our Volunteer and Supporter mailing lists

These are the primary ways that we share important information about forthcoming projects, training, social events and other opportunities. On completion of your application process, we will add your email address to these lists in order to keep you updated. If you decide to stop volunteering with Free to Be and no longer wish to receive information from us, you can unsubscribe at any point using the unsubscribe button in the footer of each email.
Please tick the box to confirm that you give permission to be added to our Volunteer and Supporter mailing lists.
Mailing list output

Thank you for completing this form. Once you submit it, you will receive confirmation that we have received it safely and we will be in touch with information on next steps. Please bear with us - depending on where we are in our recruitment cycle, it may take us a little bit of time to get back to you, but in the meantime, if you have any questions, you can contact us at recruitment@freetobekids.org.uk.

If you are applying to volunteer on our projects with children, as part of the next stage of your application, you will be offered a place on one of our New Volunteer Training sessions, and a 10 minute interview with a member of our team. You must successfully complete both of these in order to be offered a place on your project of choice.

Prospective volunteers interested in office based roles will be interviewed and provided with training based on the specific role.
Should be Empty:

Application to volunteer

How would you like to volunteer with us?

Support Needs

Dietary Needs

DBS Checks

DBS Update Service

Next of kin details

References

Background safeguarding checks

Your data

Diversity and Lived Experiences