TVF’s unique set-up is based on the vision that everyone should have a ‘social career’ which is run in parallel with their paid job. The day job pays your rent or mortgage. This is not something people do for a week or a month but on a long-term basis, with an opportunity to change roles to keep their personal development and interest alive. This phenomenon will be known as Personal Social Responsibility. The world is made of people who “have” and those who “have not”. TVF has created a unique platform enabling those people who “have” to give their time to empower others. People in the future will realise that they have a responsibility to society and need to give something back to empower others less fortunate.

True Volunteers engage themselves in one of three roles:

• A functional role – this is within the main True Volunteer Organisation in functions such as accounts, legal, marketing and other roles that you would find within any conventional organisation
  
  
• Project based roles – True Volunteers support a specific charity project. This could be working as part of a team to build a school in Africa for example.
  
  
• Event based roles – True Volunteers support specific events such as the organising of exhibitions and TVF’s Annual Party.
  

The top 5 reason True Volunteers said they gain from True Volunteering were:

• Be part of a unique fast-growing international NGO
  
  
• Gain new skills
  
  
• There is ample opportunity to mix, rub shoulders and share experiences with like-minded people from diverse and unique backgrounds
  
  
• Once you build up a good relationship internally, you can have access to CV and cover letter checks, interview tips and talk to a seasoned professional about your career path
  
  
• There is a satisfaction in being a True Volunteer, giving something back to the community

Volunteering 5 or even 10 hours per week does not sound a lot. However, if you have to volunteer at specific times and be in specific places the model breaks down as time is too scarce in modern society.

TVF has created a unique model where people can donate between 5 and 35 hours per week (depending on their role and responsibilities). However, TVF Management do not micro-manage True Volunteers. Tasks are set at the start of each period and review sessions are arranged. During this period it is up to you when you complete the work. The work can be completed from home or from the office.

TVF has a purpose-built secure Extranet, to which all True Volunteers can connect to and utilise. It is also a centralised platform connecting all corporate donors, charity partners and True Volunteers. Secure access means that True Volunteers can access all materials remotely from anywhere in the world. This purpose-built platform enables True Volunteers to work remotely and saves the charity thousands of people hours per annum.

TVF’s organisation consists of different age groups, skill-sets and experience levels. The common bond being their dedication to the cause. True Volunteers include company staffs who are allowed to work for TVF during allocated hours, full-time staff funded by grants from the European Union, part-time professionals, full –time industry professionals, students, migrant workers, housewives, the unemployed and the retired. True Volunteers work together through a next generation Extranet from countries as far afield as China and the Philippines.

Becoming A True Volunteer	A Social Career	Why I True Volunteer
Human Resources Department In Q1 2010, TVF signed an agreement with Emperor HR, an HR outsourcing company. In this agreement, Nana Akyaa joined the management team of TVF and Emperor HR provided two other members of staff to senior positions within TVF’s HR Department. HR will take volunteering to another level in the United Kingdom with a formalised recruitment process, inductions, and training plans. Additionally, certain True Volunteers will be provided with development plans and annual appraisals. TVF has a strategic partnership with the Grenfell Housing Association and hence has access to their fully equipped training centres in London. These centres are used for induction of True Volunteers and Departmental meetings. True Volunteer Spirit TVF Stakeholders used the following words to describe True Volunteers: Able to exceed expectations, ultra-professional, a fun bunch, dedicated, slightly crazy, no egos, doers not talkers, thrive with responsibility and empowerment. Learning & Development TVF provides training for all True Volunteers and for selected True Volunteers provides structured Development Plans to ensure these True Volunteers grow with the organisation. There is a focus on Practical on-the-Job training and this will be reflected in a new qualification to be launched: The Diploma in True Volunteering (DITV). True Volunteer Agreement Each True Volunteer is expected to commit to a certain number of hours per week, agree to confidentiality terms and other standard terms & conditions which can be downloaded below. For certain positions, the True Volunteer will be expected to sign a Consultant’s Agreement. Management Expectations TVF has a unique model. However, it would break down without discipline, commitment and a strong internal culture defining how True Volunteers work. The attached presentation highlights what is expected of True Volunteers. If this commitment cannot be adhered to then unfortunately you will not be able to become a True Volunteer. Human Resources Department A Manager's Expectations
TVF believes in supporting its True Volunteers and Beneficiaries by empowering them through education. This is TVF’s primary purpose. TVF has not met Sir Ken Robinson but has been inspired by his views and values, which are perfectly captured in this video, taken at the TED Conference. Videos from TVF’s Projects across the globe can be viewed by clicking here Extraordinary People: Sir Ken Robinson Video
Downloadable Documents
Become a True Volunteer 10 Reasons To True Volunteer 3 Ways To True Volunteer Responsibilities of a True Volunteer True Volunteer Agreement