FRIENDS OF BLAKE MUSEUM

STATEMENT ON INVOLVING EX-OFFENDERS IN VOLUNTEERING

As an organisation, Blake Museum is committed to equality and diversity, and recognises the contribution that all people can make as volunteers, therefore we welcome enquiries of interest from everyone. We recognise too that many potential volunteers have criminal records and are reluctant to apply for voluntary work where this would involve the disclosure of their record. We understand that people are often ashamed and embarrassed about their cautions and convictions and/or fear they will not be treated fairly because of them.

Please rest assured that if we do ask about criminal records we will handle the information you provide in confidence. Should you disclose them, we will not take into account convictions deemed spent under the Rehabilitation Of Offenders Act, unless the voluntary position is exempt from the Act.

If the position is exempt from the Act, we will ask for disclosure of both spent and unspent convictions, and also cautions, reprimands, and final warnings. We will also ask you to agree to a Disclosure criminal record check. If a Disclosure confirms what you have already told us, we will confirm your appointment. If the Disclosure reveals information that we were not previously aware of, we will discuss the matter with you before making a final decision. If you require further information about your rights in relation to Disclosure applications, and our responsibilities to you, please ask us for a copy of the Criminal Record Bureau's Disclosure Code of Practice or download this from the Bureau's website: www.disclosures.gov.uk.

We work on the assumption that people applying for voluntary work in order to help others, to meet new people, to develop new skills, to make a difference, etc., have no ulterior motive in seeking such work. With this in mind, we will wherever possible provide opportunities for people, and do so in ways that will not put you or our service users at risk

Date _______________________________________________________________

(to be given to volunteer enquirers/applicants)