Volunteer Now – free workshops for Arts Council NI-funded organisations

*Please note that your organisation must be in receipt of Arts Council NI funding to avail of this training*

Creating a Safe Environment

Tuesday 4th November 2025, 10am - 12pm, online

This session is aimed at those planning and managing activities with children and adults. It will look at how to create a safe environment, focusing on safe programme planning, risk assessment, confidentiality, and a code of behaviour for staff and volunteers.

Barring Workshop Delivered by Sean Maskey Regional Outreach Adviser (Northern Ireland) Disclosure and Barring Service

Tuesday 11th November 2025, 10am - 12pm, online

This workshop will focus on the Barring aspects of DBS, with a particular focus on understanding the legal duty to refer. This session will last around 2 hours, with time for questions and answers.

This session is aimed at individuals who are involved in HR, management of those in regulated activity, those who have safeguarding responsibilities and those who would be involved in making referrals to the DBS. The learning outcomes of this session are to:

• understand the three different referral routes

• understand when a DBS Barring referral should be made, including when the legal duty is met.

• understand how to make a good quality referrals.

• have a clear understanding of the consequences of not making appropriate barring referrals and the consequences of being included in one or both Barred Lists.

Keeping Children & Adults Safe: An Introduction

Thursday 13th November 2025, 10am - 1pm, face to face at Volunteer Now training room, Skainos Centre, Belfast, BT4 1AF

This session is aimed at staff and volunteers working with children and adults. It covers the legal and policy context of safeguarding, categories of abuse and potential indicators, dealing with a disclosure, reporting concerns and a code of behaviour for staff and volunteers.

Keeping Children & Adults Safe in a Digital World Delivered by Dr. Deborah Webster, Thrive Academy Monday 17th November 2025, 10am - 12pm, online

AccessNI: What you need to know

Thursday 27th November 2025, 11am-12pm, online

This workshop is aimed at those who process Access NI checks and will provide information on the Access NI service and process and explore eligibility for checks.

Keeping Children & Adults Safe: An Introduction Refresher

Thursday 4th December 2025, 10am - 12pm, online

This refresher session is aimed at staff and volunteers working with children and adults. It covers the legal and policy context of safeguarding, categories of abuse and potential indicators, dealing with a disclosure, reporting concerns and a code of behaviour for staff and volunteers.

To register for any of the above courses, please contact Roisin Timlin at [email protected]