Youth charities should welcome people with criminal records as they can make some of the best youth workers, says the chief executive of Step up to Serve.

Speaking at the Hay Festival, Charlotte Hill said that charities and voluntary groups should be more open about taking on those with criminal records as they have valuable life lessons to share. She also said that these organisations should worry less about Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.

Reported in The Telegraph, Hill said: “Some of the people who make the best youth workers do have criminal records.They have been there and done that. In the past we have done criminal records checks but that didn’t stop us employing them.

“Yes you may have crossed over the line at times. But we need to do a better job of communicating to people that just because you have done something in your past it doesn’t mean you can’t get involved.”

She added that it is important to get people from every walk of life.

In January 2013, Criminal Record Bureau checks were replaced with Disclosure and Barring Service checks which include more rigorous police screening.

Step up to Serve is a youth volunteering organisation which was launched by the Prince of Wales and backed by the Cabinet Office in November 2013.