Is it necessary for buddies/volunteers working on matches to have background checks?

Question

In the UK, there's CRB/Disclosure checks that people need to work with certain groups such as children, vulnerable people etc. where it just confirms a clean criminal record. We don't know if it would be a legal necessity in the case of RW, but a lot of people in the team think it's a good idea. The downside to this is it costs around €40-50 per person.

Answer 1

We don't do that at all. The buddies are usually only in contact via telephone or at a monthly meeting. I think it would be way to much energy to invest the money and the time in these checks of the buddies. A flat share or family which offers a room is much more in contact with the refugee so it would be strange to request the check from the buddies but not from the people who offer rooms.
Anyway, we don't do that and none of the other 7 online countries if I do remember right.
Of course, any training you can offer the buddies or volunteers is great. But: After one year working in the project we didn't need a check like this.

Comments

Checking hosts is something that was also discussed - there is a small hosting scheme that does exist here and they do these checks on the hosts.

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I think the Austrian team is doing that as well in a way.

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Ok, cool. I might send them an email and ask how they're approaching it, do you have a contact? Thanks!

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Sure. Just write to david@fluechtlinge-willkommen.at