--- title: The Disclosure Act 2020 comes into force on 1 April 2025 – what does this mean for your church or organisation? date: 2025-03-27T13:18:00+00:00 author: Chris Ringland canonical_url: "https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/the-disclosure-act-2020-comes-into-force-on-1-april-2025-what-does-this-mean-for-your-church-or-organisation" section: Articles --- Share [](https://www.facebook.com/dialog/share?app_id=1769260916495219&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Fthe-disclosure-act-2020-comes-into-force-on-1-april-2025-what-does-this-mean-for-your-church-or-organisation) [](https://x.com/intent/tweet?text=The%20Disclosure%20Act%202020%20comes%20into%20force%20on%201%20April%202025%20%E2%80%93%20what%20does%20this%20mean%20for%20your%20church%20or%20organisation%3F&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Fthe-disclosure-act-2020-comes-into-force-on-1-april-2025-what-does-this-mean-for-your-church-or-organisation) [](https://www.facebook.com/dialog/send?app_id=1769260916495219&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Fthe-disclosure-act-2020-comes-into-force-on-1-april-2025-what-does-this-mean-for-your-church-or-organisation&link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Fthe-disclosure-act-2020-comes-into-force-on-1-april-2025-what-does-this-mean-for-your-church-or-organisation&display=popup) [](mailto:?subject=Shared%20from%20Evangelical%20Alliance&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Fthe-disclosure-act-2020-comes-into-force-on-1-april-2025-what-does-this-mean-for-your-church-or-organisation) According to the [Scottish Government](https://www.disclosure.gov.scot/disclosure-act-summary), the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 had two key aims: - Focus on protecting the public, while balancing the need for people to move on from offending; - Simplify the process for disclosing criminal history information. The act makes several changes in this regard, but they key changes to be aware of that come into force next week are in relation to the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme. From 1 April 2025, anyone who carries out a regulated role in working or volunteering with a child or protected adult (see [guidance on regulated roles here](https://www.mygov.scot/pvg-scheme-regulated-roles-guidance)) will legally be required to be on the PVG scheme. Sponsored[](#) [ ![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](https://www.oakhill.ac.uk/admissions/open-days) There are also changes to the offence lists; various offenses have been added that will be disclosed as part of the process, such as theft and fraud. Applicants can also now request a review regarding their disclosure information before it is issued to their countersignatory. We were delighted that the Scottish Government decided to continue to provide [free PVG scheme membership for volunteers](https://www.volunteerscotland.net/news/relief-as-pvg-fee-waiver-for-volunteers-is-retained) in Qualifying Voluntary Organisations (QVOs). We were signatories on a joint letter from the Cross-Party Group on Volunteering to the Scottish Government asking for the retention of the current fee waiver and responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the issue. The government’s Disclosure Scotland team are happy to be contacted if you need any clarifications – their contact email is and the Disclosure Scotland helpline is 0300 020 0040. For further information, please visit the [Disclosure Scotland website](https://www.disclosure.gov.scot/about) or get in touch with us at [scotland@​eauk.​org](mailto:scotland@eauk.org). --- ### About Chris Ringland ![]()Chris joined the Evangelical Alliance as public policy officer for Scotland in 2021. In this role he represents our membership of churches, organisations and individuals to the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament, seeking to make Jesus known. He has also completed the Evangelical Alliance's Public Leadership programme. Previously, Chris worked in the Scottish Parliament. He is originally from Northern Ireland and completed degrees in both Geography & Politics and Public Policy in Scotland, and is a massive West Ham United fan (champions of Europe 2023). He is married to Eilidh. [See more from Chris Ringland](/author/chris-ringland)