PVG and Live Literature for organisers: how PVGs work for author events

When organising a Live Literature event, especially one that may have children or protected adults in the audience, it’s important that you consider your duties with regards to the PVG Scheme. If you are inviting an author into your place of work or community space, there are some instances where you should be asking them for a PVG Disclosure.

What is the PVG Scheme?

The Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme is a system of checks managed by Disclosure Scotland(this link will open in a new window). It is designed to ensure that the people who are carrying out regulated work with vulnerable groups, including children and protected adults, are suitable.

What is regulated work?

There are two types of regulated work: work with children and work with protected adults. The assessment of what counts as regulated work is determined by a few different factors, such as who you’re working with, the kind of activities you undertake as part of your work, and the establishments you work in. There are other types of disclosures for un-regulated work.

Some Live Literature events might become regulated work, as teaching, training, coaching and mentoring are all outlined as regulated activities by the PVG Scheme.

Get more information on the Disclosure Scotland website(this link will open in a new window).

How do I know if I need to ask an author if they have a PVG Disclosure?

Many Live Literature events won’t need to check the PVG status of the authors involved. However, if the event is targeted at children and/or protected adults – for example, you are inviting an author to give a workshop or talk to a group of children (under 18s) – you should be asking the author you’ve chosen for a PVG Disclosure.

If your Live Literature event is, for example, a talk for anyone to attend in a library or book shop, you will not need to ask the author if they have a PVG Disclosure.

If you’re not sure whether your event is one that requires a PVG Disclosure from the author, you can get in touch with us at [email protected](this link will open in a new window)

Do authors need to join the PVG Scheme to be on the directory?

Authors can’t join the PVG Scheme solely to be on the author directory. Authors may be on the directory and never work with vulnerable groups, therefore it is the responsibility of the person organising the event to carry out the appropriate Disclosure checks.

What are the types of PVG disclosures?

There are several types of PVG Disclosure. You can find more information on them on the myscot.gov website(this link will open in a new window).

• Scheme Record -– this is for members who are new to the scheme. It is countersigned by organisation who will then be notified of any changes to PVG status. Cost: £59
• Existing Scheme Membership – existing members who want to apply to work with new vulnerable group, for example, someone who has a membership for working with protected adults, who now wants to carry out an event with children. This is also countersigned by organisation who will then be notified of any changes to status. Cost: £59
• Scheme Record Update – existing members who start working for a new organisation, allowing the new organisation to countersign so that they will be notified of any changes to PVG status. Cost: £18
• Scheme Membership Statement – for those who are self-employed so not countersigned by organisation. £18 existing, £59 new members

What kind of PVG Disclosure will be needed for my Live Literature funded event?

The kind of disclosure required depends on the nature of the event that you’re carrying out. Here are a few likely scenarios:

You’re running a one-off event in a school with young children

For one-off Live Literature events, you will only need to ask to see a Scheme Membership Statement from an author. This is a statement for self-employed individuals doing regulated work. A newer Statement offers more recent assurance that the author hasn’t been barred or placed under consideration since their last check.

You’re hosting a Schools Residency

If you’ve been selected to run a Schools Residency in your school, Scottish Book Trust will work with the author chosen from the Live Literature directory to ensure they have the appropriate PVG Disclosure. We will countersign a new Scheme Record or a Scheme Record Update and decide if the individual is suitable for the residency based on the information on their disclosure. This means that we will be notified if the author is barred or placed under consideration during their time working with us.

Will Scottish Book Trust carry out PVG check for the authors on the Live Literature directory?

Scottish Book Trust can’t carry out PVG checks for Live Literature, as we do not organise individual events. As the organiser, it is your responsibility to ensure you have carried out the appropriate PVG Disclosure checks, if they are carrying out regulated work in your setting.

For Schools Residencies, Scottish Book Trust will countersign a Scheme Record for the Live Literature authors chosen. That’s because for these residencies, we are co-organisers.

Authors don’t have to join the PVG Scheme to be on the author directory. Authors may be on the directory and never work with vulnerable groups, therefore it is the responsibility of the person organising the event to carry out the appropriate Disclosure checks.