All children taking part in entertainment performances and modelling assignments must be supervised. Such supervision can be undertaken by the child’s own parent, a registered voluntary chaperone or for professional paid performances the production company must provide an approved registered professional chaperone.
The chaperone’s role is to ensure the welfare of the child and is the person to whom the child looks to for guidance, protection and support within the entertainment industry.
Chaperones are licensed by the local authority in which they live and pay their Council Tax to. The licence is issued for 3 years and there is no charge (other than the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) fee).
What do I need to do?
All applicants must complete the online application form and attach the required supporting documents (please check the specific lists of documents for Voluntary and Professional Chaperones below).
At the end of the application form you then need to complete the chaperone questionnaire. This document was created to provide sufficient supplementary information, please answer in as much detail as possible. Once an application is valid the link to the DBS application form will be sent (if required).
Voluntary Chaperone Application
You must have the following documents ready to upload before you start the chaperone application process. There is no option to save and return to the application later.
- Passport style photo - plain background, well lit, no accessories/hair obscuring the face (a selfie is fine)
- Safeguarding Children Level 2 or higher training. If you do not have this, visit our online training portal (external link)
- A letter of recommendation from the principal/manager of the dance school/organisation which includes the name and safeguarding qualification level of the safeguarding lead
You will need to meet the principal/manager of the dance school/organisation for a DBS ID verification check. They will submit the DBS ID verification form on your behalf.
Professional Chaperone Application
- Passport style photo - plain background, well lit, no accessories/hair obscuring the face (a selfie is fine)
- Safeguarding Children Level 2 or higher training. If you do not have this, visit our online training portal (external link)
- NSPCC Protecting children in entertainment training for chaperones
You will need to attend a face-to-face DBS ID verification check at our office in Wigan Life Centre South.
What happens next?
- After you have submitted the above information and it has been checked, we will email you a link to carry out the DBS check. You will need to complete the online DBS application and pay the fee - £13.52 for a voluntary chaperone DBS and £63.02 for a professional chaperone DBS
- Voluntary applicants - The principal/lead of the organisation, you will be chaperoning for, will check your ID documents (see ID checking guidelines (external link) for further details)
You will receive a paper copy of your DBS certificate through the post. When you receive the certificate, please email child licensing with a photograph for verification
After a final check of all documents we will issue your licence. This will be sent to you via a secure email. You must open the email and download the licence as soon as possible. Licenses are valid for 3 years.