Scotland PVG checks, feeling like a feminist issue?

[SueKeeper]

I was wondering if anyone else is starting to resent the criminal record checking system in Scotland (PVG)? I think it's reached the point where women (who make up the vast majority of volunteers) are bearing a disproportionate financial burden to prevent crimes almost exclusively committed by men. I was wondering if anyone had heard of any kick back or feedback about it now that the rules have changed to be so extremely strict?

I now have 6 PVGs, 2 with schools to accompany my own kids on trips, even the walking bus, 3 with sports clubs and one to be able to help at scouts - I'm never in charge, one on one with kids or taking them to the toilet or anything, just an extra pair of hands. The PVG system has made £350+ checking me this year, taking this from schools and charities.

Now I'm trying to organise a sports event and normally we'd have marshals from the adult arm of the club helping out. They just stand there in a high Vis vest saying "go left." The tighter legislation means we aren't allowed to "offer them the role," without first doing a PVG check on them or I could be in legal trouble. It's just so unrealistic when trying to recruit volunteers, you are almost begging people, not making them jump through hoops. This is financially and legally too much that the event will just not run. The schools are also limiting school trips, nothing spontaneous like going to the local bookshop 5mins away can happen now, bike ability cancelled.

I think it's a feminist issue as kids and women are missing out on enriching experiences and paying money because nobody will ever point out it's to solve a male problem, or even if there was a problem under the less strict guidelines (which matched England). More than 90% of volunteers at our school are women.

I know it's the same government who think men in female prisons is A-OK safeguarding wise - the irony isnt lost on me - but I'd like not to derail to that, if okay.

P S not a new poster but name changed as I've ranted about it a bit locally and within our club!

In theory, yes. In practice the system is a shambles. And that is before you even consider the issues either changing name or falsifying your sex.

PTA isn’t the same as school. And the library is coordinated through the parents so it’s different again. The thing is I am never alone with children in any of these contexts so it’s still confusing.

It really is a shambles. I volunteer as a judge for a sport. In my judging capacity I have zero direct contact with children, at all. I attend the sporting event and might chat to the kids from my/DD’s team, but when I’m judging I am sitting at the judges table surrounded by 8 other adults, and all competitors are accompanied by coaches. These are public events, so although I could encounter children in the toilets etc, so could any random who buys a ticket. There is no need for me to have a PVG, and the process to get it was ridiculously slow and convoluted. Apparently even though I had had one before and provided a photo of my old certificate, they couldn’t find it so my original application to update was cancelled and I had to start again. Oh, and at one point I was on hold on the helpline and it hit 3.45 on a Friday and the phone line went dead automatically. FFS.

You haven’t mentioned the 3 hour Child Welfare and Protection course you may need to do if helping out at a club.
So sometimes the course is longer than the volunteering stint.
How to put off volunteers!