In the first couple of years in EWDK we did not have a specific agreement regarding admission in our corps of volunteers. The co-operation was regulated by the agreement between the company in distress, the volunteer and the concerned Business Development Center.

In connection with a more professional intake to the recruiting process EWDK chose to introduce an agreement that underlines that the concerned is now a member of our voluntary corps. The agreement is signed by the partners as a closing of the recruitment conversation. The agreement has different purposes: It is an indication of a high level of seriousness from both sides; It serves as a mutual reconciliation of expectations; it has our values in mind and puts a focus on them.

Below you can read the agreement currently used in EWDK:
 
As a volunteer in Early Warning you become a part of our most valuable asset: the corps of voluntary advisors. We emphasize the establishment of a strong and constructive relationship with our volunteers, with the Early Warning consultants and other collaborators. We strive to be an exciting organization to collaborate with. 
Among other things, we offer the following:

• Challenging and demanding cases for small and medium sized companies and their owners 
• Education offers within insolvency, economy, crisis management, finance and the treatment of people in crisis
• Regional and national meetings and education days. Annually, we have to regional meetings as well as two national meetings
• The possibility to have an active network, regionally and nationally
• A professional third-party insurance in relation to the concrete cases
• Allowance of your costs of being a volunteer

We expect:

• That you will undertake at least two cases a year
• That you continuously provide feedback on ongoing cases
• That you vouch for our core values and desire to conform to these in practice
• That you prioritize to become a part of Early Warning’s network, including attending in regional and national meetings and events. 

The interaction with Early Warning
When you are accepted into Early Warning’s corps of volunteers you can, additional to meetings and educational activities, expect the following:

• Receive ongoing case descriptions on the companies, searching for a voluntary counsellor
• That you receive your first case during the first couple of months. Possibly, this can be in collaboration with a more experienced voluntary counsellor. 
• A conversation with your coordinator to follow up on your first experiences in the concrete cases
• After this first conversation, your coordinator will have a conversation with you approximately once a year, where experiences, cases, evaluations and other circumstances may be discussed. 

Other practical information, meeting and arrangements, articles etc. can be found at earlywarning.dk

 Date of acceptance into Early Warning’s corps of volunteers:
 
As a volunteer:  

•  Name: 
• Address:
• Postcode  
• City   
• Signature

For Early Warning:

• Business Development Center:
• Coordinator:
• Address:
• Postcode
• City
• Signature:

Early Warning’s 4 core values  

1. We are neutral and handle solely the interests of the company and its owner
   As a company owner, you can trust that our only interest it to help you the best way possible. We have no self-interest or other interests to handle, neither in relation to banks, SKAT (The Danish Tax Administration), accountants or other counsellors.
   
   For our voluntary advisers, this means that:
   We may never consider other interests that the ones of the company/owner. This includes both own and third-party interests. We constantly need to focus on who we are helping. If there is doubt about the counsellor’s competence to act, this must be discussed with the company and/or the project manager or colleague.
2. We are committed, helpful and display empathy for the people we help
   As a company owner you will be met with helpfulness, kindness and respect. We understand your situation and desire to help you the best way possible.  
   
   For our voluntary advisers, this means that:
   Our underlying basis for helping the company owner is always respect and empathy. He should feel understood. Being compassionate and equal is central. We are to be those, who meet the owner with useful knowledge, experience and network, but also as equal fellow human beings, who wants to help.  
3. We are competent and persistent
   We are aware that we are the ones having the necessary knowledge in the different situations. If we are in doubt or in lack of knowledge we call attention to it. We actively use our large network in searching for the adequate knowledge needed in specific situations. We follow up on our work and expect that you as a company owner actively engage yourself in the work.
   
   For our voluntary advisers, this means that:  
   It is okay not to know what is needed and to say it. We actively search for knowledge and use our network in doing so. We do not accept cases that are not in a “flow.” We are aware of searching for the necessary knowledge.
4. We work confidentially, having respect for and confidence in each other
   As a company owner you may be certain that we work confidentially and only pass on information with your accept. We expect you to show openness and confidence, and that you are completely honest, as it is the foundation for our help. 
   
   For our voluntary advisers, this means that:
   Confidentiality is our hallmark. It is also our entry ticket to the confidence of the company owner. No complete guideline is available on how to manage this. It depends on the characteristics of the case. We are in need of sharing cases with one another, but in doing so, the consideration of the company owner must constantly be the focus, securing that he does not experience information being passed on to wrong people.