Broker of volunteer career speakers for education, Growing Ambitions, has welcomed the government’s rethink on the proposed vetting and barring scheme for those working with children or vulnerable adults.

The scheme as it was originally proposed caused an uproar in both the education and voluntary sectors, who described the move as draconian and extreme. This led to the review by Sir Roger Singleton, whose report "Drawing the Line", released yesterday, suggests some fundamental changes to the scheme. The government has accepted all of the recommendations.

Of particular relevance to volunteers with Growing Ambitions, ‘frequent’ contact with children is to be defined as ‘once a week or more’, rather than ‘once a month or more’.

Sally Davis is MD of Growing Ambitions: ‘Whilst we were geared up to change the functionality of our online brokerage service to accommodate the more stringent requirements that were originally proposed, we welcome this change as far more reasonable. We want our volunteers to be able to accept as many invitations as they wish without impedence. We want to benefit as many young people as possible with their wisdom.”

ENDS