R scaled

A DBS Check is a Disclosure and Barring Service Check. These are a vital part of safeguarding for an organisation, and help us ensure that only those suitable are in positions of power and trust. It has three key purposes:

  • Preventing (and keeping records of) unsuitable individuals from working with vulnerable groups
  • Check if there’s any reason a potential employee is inappropriate for the role that they’ve applied for
  • To respond to referrals from organisations that are concerned that a candidate may not be suitable for a role due to the reasons above

How to apply for a DBS

A DBS can be applied for through the British Taekwondo My Club Hub system, and will be valid for three years from the date of approval.

Please see our Guide for how to apply for a DBS on My Club Hub to help you in this process.

How often should I renew my criminal record check?

England/Wales: DBS checks must be renewed every three years. If you are subscribed to the DBS Update Service, you must upload your original certificate to your profile on My Club Hub. More information about the DBS Update Service and its benefits can be found here.

British Taekwondo will only accept portability of DBS checks in England and Wales where the member is subscribed to the DBS Update Service. We will no longer accept checks carried out by other organisations. 

Who should apply for a DBS?

From 1 September 2026, the rules around supervision changed. This means that if someone is regularly teaching, training, instructing, caring for or supervising children (more than 3 days in any 30 days), they are likely to be considered as carrying out regulated activity, and will therefore require an Enhanced DBS check with a Children’s Barred List check.

We appreciate that these changes can be difficult to navigate, so we have put together a list of practical examples below to help clubs understand who is likely to require a DBS check and make it easier to identify what applies to your club and its volunteers, coaches and instructors.

An Enhanced DBS with Children’s Barred List Check will be required for:

✅ Lead Instructor and Coaches

  • Anyone who regularly teaches, trains, instructs, or supervises children on behalf of the club will require an Enhanced DBS check with Children’s Barred List check.

✅ Assistant coach

  • A volunteer who assists with children’s classes regularly (more than 3 days in any 30 days), they demonstrate techniques, supervise groups and help manage behaviour.

✅ Parent Helper Regularly Supporting Classes

  • A parent who volunteers every week to assist with junior classes. They help organise activities, supervise children and support coaching staff.
  • Regular instruction or supervision of children is regulated activity.

✅ Junior Leader (16-17 years old) Helping Every Week

  • A cadet or young leader (16+) assists with warm-ups and coaches younger children each week.
  • Because they are regularly instructing or supervising children, they are undertaking regulated activity

✅ Club Welfare Officer Working with Children

✅ Volunteer Attending Competitions with Junior Athletes

  • Anyone who supervises children at events and in changing/rest areas.
  • Regular responsibility for children’s welfare and supervision meets regulated activity criteria.

✅ Accompanying Children Overnight on Trips to Events

  • Anyone accompanying junior athletes on overnight trips to competitions, training camps or other events.
  • Assumes responsibility for children’s care and supervision during the trip and overnight stay.
  • This will require an Enhanced DBS check with Children’s Barred List check.

A DBS is generally not required for these activities:

❌ Parent Watching Their Own Child Train

  • Simply observing sessions from the spectator area.
  • Not teaching, instructing or supervising children on behalf of the club.

❌ One-Off Volunteer at a Club Event

  • Helps with registration for a single competition or fundraiser.
  • No regular teaching, training, instruction or supervision of children.

❌ Maintenance Contractor

  • Visits the club to repair equipment or undertake building work.
  • Presence around children alone does not make the role regulated activity.

❌ Club Treasurer or administrator

  • Manages finances and membership records.
  • No direct teaching, training, instruction or supervision of children.

Borderline Cases Requiring Assessment

⚠️ Parent Occasionally Helping on the Mats

  • If they step in once or twice a year, a barred list check may not be required.
  • If they help most weeks (more than 3 days in 30), supervise groups or assist coaching regularly, they are likely to require an Enhanced DBS with Children’s Barred List check.

⚠️ Senior Student Assisting Junior Classes

  • A black belt who routinely helps teach junior members will likely require an Enhanced DBS with Children’s Barred List check.
  • The fact they are supervised by the lead instructor is no longer relevant after 1 September 2026.

A simple rule for clubs to think about

Ask three questions:

Does the person teach, train, instruct, care for or supervise children?

Do they do so regularly (e.g., more than 3 days in any 30 days)

Are they carrying out that role on behalf of the club?

If the answer is yes, the role is likely to be regulated activity and should be reviewed for an Enhanced DBS with Children’s Barred List check, regardless of whether they are supervised.

We want all our clubs to be compliant with these new regulations, so if you have any queries or concerns regarding this update, please feel free to reach out to our Safeguarding team at safeguarding@britishtaekwondo.org