How to power your GTV application with volunteering Volunteering is often seen as simply giving back. But for GTV candidates, especially under the UK’s Exceptional Promise or Exceptional Talent routes in digital technology, it can become a powerful asset, if positioned strategically. Here’s how you can turn volunteer experience into compelling evidence, showing broader sector contribution and leadership. Optional Criteria 2 demands recognition for impacts that advance the field outside your paid role. Optional Criteria 3 rewards significant technical or entrepreneurial contributions, even if made in a volunteer or community context. Volunteering with tech‑focused initiatives allows you to demonstrate structured, sustained impact far beyond internal company boundaries. But to count as evidence, your contributions must be meaningful, documented and industry visible. Here are some excellent examples for you: 1. Technical Support, Development or Mentorship with Women in Tech UK Roles include community outreach, event organisation, or mentoring tech talent, demonstrating public facing leadership and sector-wide impact. 2. Volunteering with Develop for Good or Reach Volunteering Involvement in tech training programmes for youth or underserved communities provides structured, measurable mentoring beyond academic settings. 3. Digital or Technical Volunteer at AbilityNet Supporting accessibility, website audits, or technical upskilling for disabled communities shows tangible societal and technological benefit. 4. Partnering with RNIB on tech initiatives Volunteer tasks such as app testing, digital accessibility reviews, or tech training for partially sighted individuals add public good and specialised technical relevance. 5. Event support or content creation for TechSPo London Participation in organising tech events or producing thought leadership signals active engagement with a broader tech ecosystem. How to Use Volunteering to Maximise GTV Strength 1. Choose high‑impact roles Aim for roles producing measurable outcomes (e.g. number of mentees trained, events led, accessibility reviews delivered) 2. Document rigorously Capture outcomes with screenshots, attendance lists, feedback forms, testimonials, ideally from senior organisers or beneficiaries. 3. Align with criteria Clarify how each contribution relates to Optional Criteria 2 (advancing the field) or 3 (tech/entrepreneurial impact). 4. Seek strong references Secure letters from organisers or leaders (not peers) who can describe your volunteer impact credibly. 5. Frame in your personal statement Integrate your volunteer roles directly into your GTV narrative as demonstrable public-facing evidence. Volunteer Impact That Counts: What Tech Nation Seeks i. Structured programmes (e.g. mentoring series, hackathons, workshops), not sporadic or one-off participation. ii. Broader reach beyond your workplace, public visibility, community audiences, or influence beyond your internal group. iii. Clear attribution, impact statements that specify your role, responsibilities, and outcomes. Use our AI-powered GTV Reviewer (gtvreviewer.com) to: 1. Audit your volunteer evidence against Tech Nation’s criteria 2. Identify gaps in impact, visibility or documentation 3. Receive feedback to enhance your personal statement and referee letters → Try the GTV Reviewer and build a case that goes beyond mere employment.

Lagos Trivia Time! Thank you know Lagos? Plug in! Today’s question: The “Point of No Return” is found in which historic Lagos town? 👀 First 3 correct answers win FREE airtime 💃📲

🚨 The Lagos Youth Storytelling Challenge 2025 is LIVE! 🎬 Tell Your Lagos Story & Change Your Life. Are you a junior or senior secondary school student in a registered school in Lagos? This is your moment to be seen, heard, and celebrated.