Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG)
All individuals carrying out a regulated role with a protected group, children or protected adults, are required to have valid membership of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.
It is the responsibility of each club/rink/development group to ensure all persons (paid/voluntary) who look to carry out a regulated role are suitable to do so and should follow the Scottish Curling Safe Recruitment Guidance.
Scottish Curling facilitates the PVG application process for its members and clubs and acts as the suitability decision maker.
Getting started with PVGs:
- Clubs must have a Safeguarding Officer in place, who can act as a PVG ID checker, this role and the person carrying it out should be registered with Scottish Curling via the membership database.
- Clubs can identify more than one person to act as the club ID checker, each person must be noted on the membership database.
- Clubs/Rinks/Development Groups will be required to agree to the appropriate handling and sharing of the PVG data of any individuals that they submit through the process via am agreement -issued by Scottish Curling.
- If you are unsure how to register a safeguarding officer/ID checker or need support on completing PVG forms please contact Scottish Curling PVG administrator: pvg@scottishcurling.org
- If you have any queries on the PVG process including: eligibility or what constitutes a regulated role, please contact Scottish Curling PVG administrator: pvg@scottishcurling.org
Who Needs a PVG?
Following the implementation of the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 on 1st April 2025, Scottish Curling has identified a list of roles within curling which are considered as regulated and therefore require the appropriate PVG membership.
Regulated Roles within Curling effective April 2025 and Scenarios
Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 Guidance
General Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 Guidance April 2025
PVG Guidance for Clubs April 2025
PVG Guidance for Coaches and On Ice Volunteers April 2025
PVG Guidance for Safeguarding Officers April 2025
PVG Guidance for Officials April 2025
PVG Guidance for ID Checkers April 2025
Completing a PVG Application
There are four components to a PVG application which are required before it can be submitted to Disclosure Scotland.
| Application and Self Declaration | ID Check | Individual Consent | Organisation Agreement |
| This form should be completed by the applicant at the same time as the ID check is completed. | An ID check must be carried out by an ID checker within a club/rink or by Scottish Curling | The applicant must provide their consent for their PVG data to be shared. Consent can be provided via the RCCC Membership Database. | All organisations that an applicant will be carrying out their role on behalf of, must agree to safe handling of PVG data.
This only needs to be completed once per organisation. |
| Application Form | ID Check Form | Guidance on this process can be found here | The agreement can be found here |
Submitting a PVG Application
- Step 1: Applicant completes PVG Application Form and submits their consent via RCCC Membership Database. ID checker completes ID Check Form.
- Step 2: Scottish Curling checks application and submits to Disclosure Scotland
- Step 3: Disclosure Scotland process application and issue link to applicant via email. Email is sent from disclosurescotland@notifications.service.gov.scot
- Step 4: Applicant accesses link via their ScotAccount and completes form within 14 days (the link will expire 14 days after issue)
- Step 5: Disclosure Scotland carry out final checks
- Step 6: Disclosure Scotland issue outcome of application to applicant via email
- Step 7: Applicant must share the result with Scottish Curling via share option in order to continue process.
- Step 8: Scottish Curling confirm outcome of PVG application to applicant and recruiting organisation
Additional Training
Those carrying out regulated roles are also required to complete training to support their role. While Adult Wellbeing and Protection training is still under development by sportscotland, all those carrying out regulated roles should complete the relevant Child Wellbeing and Protection training.
- Coaches, On Ice Helpers, Umpires (whose roles are regulated) and those involved in delivering junior curling activity should complete Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport (CWPS) training. Scottish Curling courses | sportscotland courses
- Club Committee Members should complete Child and Wellbeing and Protection in Sport: Board and Committee training. sportscotland website
- Safeguarding Officers should complete Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport (CWPS) training and Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer (CWPO) training. sportscotland courses
PVG Resources
Application Links and Templates
Additional Resources
- PVG Guidance for ID Checkers
- PVG Guidance Sheet for Applicants
- Online PVG Guidance Pack – this is a full guidance pack produced by Disclosure Scotland and includes information about each section of the PVG and also includes screenshots and step by step instructions for the new online PVG portal that coaches/volunteers (applicants) will use to complete their PVG
- Change of Regulated Roles Form – should be used when an individuals regulated roles change in any way to allow Scottish Curling to update our records
- Removal of Interest Form – for those who have stopped their regulated role(s) within curling
- Making a Referral – There is a legal obligation to refer an individual to Disclosure Scotland when the behaviour of a person who works with vulnerable groups (children or protected adults) is harmful and they are removed from their role. For more information or to make a referral, please contact pvg@scottishcurling.org
Additional Guidance for Transgender Applicants
Disclosure Scotland operates a special application process for transgender persons to assist in ensuring discretion is afforded to such individuals who do not wish their previous gender (and names) to be disclosed to the person or organisation requesting the PVG.
You can find out further information here.
