Confirming your Status
Some people are automatically entitled to
volunteer in the
United Kingdom. Others may have
restrictions on how long they can stay, whether they can volunteer
or the type of work (or volunteering) they can do.
On 29 February 2008, the United Kingdom
Government introduced some changes to the law on preventing illegal
working (including certain types of volunteering). As a result, SHAD
has adapted its recruitment process for both staff and volunteers.
From 1 March 2008 SHAD must carry out more
extensive checks to confirm the eligibility of workers (including
volunteers) to work in the United Kingdom
before a post or
volunteer placement can be taken up. These enhanced checks will be
carried out in respect of all
applicants. Similarly, any necessary permits, visas,
registrations, permissions or other documentation
must be in place before a
post or volunteer placement can be taken up.
In the first instance, SHAD will seek evidence
of available documents from one of two lists. Documents provided
from List A establish that the person has an ongoing entitlement to work
(or volunteer) in the
United Kingdom. Documents from
List B indicate that the person has restrictions on their
entitlement to be in the
United Kingdom.
Original documents must be produced. Copies
will not be accepted.
In the event of checks establishing that a
prospective Worker (or volunteer) is not permitted to work (or
volunteer) in the United Kingdom then by law SHAD
will refuse to offer a post (or volunteer placement) to that person.