Apply for a chaperone licence to accompany a child performer

About chaperone licences 

A chaperone is an adult who accompanies another person or group of people, to ensure their safety and wellbeing. 

A chaperone licence applies to an adult who accompanies a child when they perform. 

When you need a licence

You need a chaperone licence if you’re not the child’s parent or legal guardian and want to accompany them while they take part in a performance. 

Children who need a child performance licence must have a chaperone. 

Performances include:

• filming
• modelling
• sporting activities
• theatre
• television 

Your responsibilities

A chaperone makes sure the child: 

• knows what is expected of them
• is happy and in good health
• follows health and safety procedures
• receives tutoring
• is kept occupied during downtime
• has breaks and meals 

Read our information for chaperones:

Licence types

There are 2 types of chaperone licence, professional and voluntary. 

Both types of licence: 

• require an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• last for 3 years 

Professional licence

You can only be paid as a chaperone if you have a professional licence. 

Voluntary licence

A voluntary licence is suitable for friends or family who will not be paid. 

Licence fees

For a professional licence: 

• the licence fee is £40.90
• an Enhanced DBS check costs £49.50 

For a voluntary licence there is no licence fee or charge for an Enhanced DBS check. 

How to apply

You should apply for a licence at least 3 months before you need it. This allows time for all the necessary checks. 

There are several steps in the application process. 

1. Contact us to request an application pack, which includes a chaperone licence application form and a disclosure and barring service form.
2. Complete the application form and state whether you want to apply for a professional or a voluntary licence.
3. Complete your DBS form.
4. Contact us to arrange a time to get your DBS form witnessed and countersigned by our Child Employment Officer. You must do this in person at the Woolwich Centre and you’ll need to show 2 forms of proof of address and 1 photographic ID, such as a passport.
5. Contact us to arrange an appointment.
6. Bring the documents listed below to your appointment.

Required documents

You need to provide:

• your completed chaperone licence application form
• your completed and witnessed DBS form
• 1 passport-size photo
• 2 items as proof of address 

After you've applied

We’ll assess your application and if you’re successful, we’ll grant you a licence.

If you're not successful we'll let you know the reason.

Completing the training

You must undertake child protection training within 1 year of the date we issue your licence. 

We run annual child protection training sessions and we'll contact you with training dates. 

If you do not complete the training, you could lose your licence. 

DBS update service

For an annual subscription of £16 (free for volunteers), you can have your DBS certificate kept up to date. 

To use this service, once you receive your DBS certificate, register on the GOV UK website with your certificate number. You must do this within 10 days of the receipt of your certificate being issued. 

You need to resubscribe each year for your DBS certificate to remain valid. You’ll receive an email reminder 1 month before its expiry date. 

Keep your original DBS certificate somewhere safe, as you will need it for verification purposes.