Introduction
The D Foundation is founded on the principle that supporting new talent is vital to the UK’s arts and culture industries. We perceive that established creative businesses have become less willing to consistently spotlight a wide range of new, raw talent on their doorstep. As a result, The D Foundation exists to involve more people more effectively in volunteering to help address this challenge, enrich communities, and specifically to support young creatives in every aspect in gaining a foothold within the creative sector.
The D Foundation achieves this by:
- Working with volunteer-involving organizations to improve the diversity and quality of volunteer placements, particularly within the creative and media sectors.
- Providing potential volunteers with the opportunity to hone their skills and talents for the employment market and showcase their skills
- Helping young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds and under-represented groups, who might otherwise have found themselves excluded, to gain skills, employment, and take part in and contribute to their respective communities.
The D Foundation is committed to involving volunteers directly within The D Foundation to:
- Contribute to the delivery of our services, with a specific focus on supporting young creatives, providing work experience on live projects (e.g., through our media partner ASBO magazine), and improving their career destinations.
- Make sure we are responsive to the needs of our users – young creatives seeking opportunities and guidance.
- Provide diverse skills and perspectives, reflecting our core value that “The D is for Diversity,” and our organizational structure made up of people from many protected characteristics and genders.
- Offer opportunities for participation by people who might otherwise be excluded from contributing to the creative sector.
This volunteer policy sets out the principles and practice by which we involve volunteers.
Principles
- The D Foundation recognizes that voluntary work brings benefits to volunteers themselves, to the young creatives we support, to our partners, and to paid staff.
- The D Foundation will ensure that volunteers are properly integrated into The D Foundation’s structure and that mechanisms are in place for them to contribute to The D Foundation’s work, particularly in advancing our mission of supporting diverse new talent in the creative industries.
- The D Foundation will not introduce volunteers to replace paid staff.
- The D Foundation expects that staff at all levels will work positively with volunteers and, where appropriate, will actively seek to involve them in their work.
- The D Foundation recognizes that volunteers require satisfying work and personal development and will seek to help volunteers meet these needs, as well as providing the training for them to do their work effectively, including areas relevant to the creative sector and diversity.
- The D Foundation will endeavour to identify and cover the costs of involving volunteers where agreed in advance.
- The D Foundation recognizes that the management of volunteers requires designated responsibilities within specific posts.
- The D Foundation will endeavour to involve volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities and ensure our volunteering opportunities are as accessible as possible, strongly aligning with our commitment to diversity.
Recruitment
Recruitment of volunteers will generally be from all sections of the community, in line with The D Foundation’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy. We specifically encourage applications from individuals who are passionate about showcasing new talent and contributing to diversity within the creative and media sectors as well as aspiring young creatives.
People interested in becoming volunteers with The D Foundation will be invited for an informal meeting with the appropriate contact person. They will be given an information pack including general information about the organization and specific information on the volunteer post in which they are interested. In general, we follow the principles of our safer recruitment.
Volunteers with The D Foundation are likely to come into contact with vulnerable people (young creatives) and/or be in a position of trust. Every volunteer role will undergo a risk assessment by the Designated Safeguarding Officer.
This information will be dealt with in the strictest confidence and will not necessarily prejudice the person being accepted for voluntary work.
Volunteer Agreements and Voluntary Work Outlines
Volunteers will receive a role description and volunteer agreement containing full information about their chosen area of work and a clear idea of their responsibilities as a volunteer, including how their role contributes to The D Foundation’s mission.
Induction and Training
Volunteers will be given induction and training appropriate to the specific tasks to be undertaken.
Support
Volunteers will be assigned a named contact person who will provide regular support. Support sessions will provide the opportunity for ongoing dialogue about the development of the volunteering role and any advice and guidance as needed.
The Volunteer’s Voice
Volunteers will be consulted in decisions which affect them. The D Foundation is committed to developing consultation and representational procedures for volunteers, ensuring their voices contribute to our work.
Records
Minimum details will be kept on volunteers. This will include the registration form, references, placement details, crisis contact, correspondence, and any other relevant information in accordance with The D Foundation’s confidentiality policy.
Health and Safety
The D Foundation will take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure the volunteers’ health, safety, and welfare while at work in accordance with The D Foundation’s Health and Safety policy.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Volunteers and staff will work in accordance with The D Foundation’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy and will prevent discrimination on any grounds, actively promoting diversity and inclusion in all our activities.
Problems
The D Foundation has a policy to help deal with grievances that volunteers may have. In line with this policy, volunteers have the right to discuss any concerns they may have with their named contact at any time.
If the contact person is unable to resolve the problem, they will refer the matter to The D Foundation Trustees, with the permission of the volunteer.
Endings
When volunteers move on from their role at The D Foundation, they will be asked to provide feedback on the volunteering experience by way of an exit questionnaire. They will also be given the opportunity to discuss their responses to the questionnaire with a member of the leadership team.
On the basis of their voluntary work, volunteers will have the right to request a reference. Volunteers will be supported to move on to other options, particularly those that align with their career aspirations within the creative sector.
The D Foundation has a policy on how it will deal with any disciplinary issue regarding a volunteer.
Monitoring and Evaluation
The D Foundation will systematically monitor and evaluate its use of volunteers with reference to this Volunteer Policy, paying particular attention to their contribution to supporting young creatives and advancing diversity and inclusion in the arts and culture industries.