Blue cards for religious representatives
You will need a blue card if you are a religious representative and your work includes providing services or activities with children.
Employees and volunteers
If you provide services to children as a representative of a religious or spiritual organisation, you will need a blue card.
Examples
A blue card is needed for a:
- religious representative (such as a priest, chaplain, minister, monk, nun) whose role includes, or may include, providing religious instruction to children.
- employee of a religious organisation that runs children's activities. For example, a youth leader running children's worship groups or Sunday school activities.
- employee of a business promoting spiritual beliefs and guidance to children, even if you don't consider yourself to be part of an organised religion.
A blue card is not needed:
- if you are providing a public sermon, not directed solely towards children.
- if you perform administrative tasks within the church, mosque, or other place of worship.
- if you provide bible or other religious studies to adults.
- if you are providing tea or coffee services after a congregation.
If you represent your church or other religious entity as a religious leader (e.g. bishop, reverend, cardinal, imam, rabbi) you may apply for a blue card as a business operator instead of as an employee—see below.
Business owners and operators
If you are a religious representative and the usual activities of your business include providing services to or conducting activities with children a blue card is required.
Examples
A blue card is needed for a:
- a religious leader (such as a priest, chaplain, imam, minister or rabbi) whose role includes or may include providing religious instruction to children.
- a person in charge of a religious organisation that runs children’s activities. For example, if your organisation runs children’s worship groups or Sunday school activities.
- an operator of a business promoting spiritual beliefs and guidance to children, even if you don’t consider yourself to be part of an organised religion.
A blue card is not needed for a:
- person that operates a religious or spiritual organisation that provides services to adults.
- person that operates a religious or spiritual organisation that provides services to the public at large, not mainly involving or targeted towards children. For example, the organisation attends a public community event in which they hand out food parcels to those in need.