Volunteer Valuables/Money Missing or Stolen
If a volunteer has money or possessions go missing / stolen during the project phase, the key is to be proactive in dealing with the issue, without accusing or shaming an individual or family if without proof of wrongdoing.
The process for our Project Leaders would be:
- Volunteers inform the Leader as soon as they realise that money, or a possession, has gone missing / been stolen, and notes when the last time they saw it may have been. The Project Leader then informs the Project Coordinator immediately.
- Project Leaders inform TNK of the issue at hand, and seek their assistance in requesting that the host family, and community as a whole, may be even more vigilant in assisting TP in taking care of the volunteers’ possessions and items.
- Project Leaders facilitate the logistics for the volunteer to get a Police Report for any valuables that may have gone missing / been stolen at the nearest police post. This includes contacting the police post, and arranging transportation where required.
NB: Any costs should be covered by the volunteer and not TP, with receipts provided by the transport etc.
- Advise the volunteer to consult their travel insurance on cover provided, and facilitate them contacting the insurance to open the case file and inform them of the incident / items stolen for their reference.
- During briefing or de-brief raise points to the team as a whole of being careful with valuables and cash, using locks on bags wherever possible, and being extra vigilant. Prevention is better than cure!
NB: Continue to update the Project Coordinator throughout the process so that they may liaise with TNK / TP UK as required.