This form must be completed by all applicants. The information disclosed on this form will not be kept with your application form during the application process. The information will be treated as confidential and held securely.
We recognise the contribution that ex-offenders can make as volunteers and welcome applications from them. A person’s criminal record will not in itself prevent that person from being appointed to a role. Suitable applicants will not be refused roles because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying.
Bankside Open Spaces Trust has a duty of care towards staff, other participants of whom some are vulnerable and to children and other vulnerable people that use our sites. The priority is the safety of all staff, volunteers and the public and as a result there are some people with serious violent and sexual un-spent convictions (Schedule 15 offences under the Criminal Justice Act 2003) who we cannot offer employment, volunteering or training opportunities.
All other unspent conviction cases will be examined on an individual basis and will take the following into consideration. The final decision on whether to recruit will be made jointly by the Chief Executive Officer, Operations Director and Head of Parks and Community.
• Whether the conviction is relevant to the position/role applied for.
• The seriousness of any offence revealed.
• The age of the applicant at the time of the offence(s).
• The length of time since the offence(s) occurred.
• Whether the applicant has a pattern of offending behaviour.
• The circumstances surrounding the offence(s) and the explanation(s) offered by the person concerned.
• Whether the applicant’s circumstances have changed since the offending behaviour.
• The applicant’s behaviour since the offence was committed, including any proactive, positive steps they have taken to attempt to avoid repeated offending behaviour (training, support groups etc.)
Failure to disclose all unspent convictions will be dealt with using the volunteer problem solving policy and procedure; and could result in a volunteer being asked to leave the organisation.
This volunteer role is not exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. We only ask applicants to disclose convictions which are not yet spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.