About us
Direct support for approved local humanitarian organisations in Ukraine.
Our Team
Meet the people behind Volara, dedicated to supporting local humanitarian organisations in Ukraine.
Noel Tock
Noel began volunteering on the ground in Ukraine in 2023, supporting evacuations and humanitarian response in high-risk areas. This hands-on work revealed the extraordinary efforts of local Ukrainian organisations. He started Volara to be a simple, direct, and trusted bridge to these partners.
Volara grants funds to approved charities working on the ground, providing critical aid to those who need it most. Together, we can make a meaningful impact in supporting communities affected by the war in Ukraine. If you would like to ask Noel anything directly, please use the channels below:
Tom Willmot
Tom is the CEO and Co-founder of Human Made, a global WordPress agency built on the principles of openness, collaboration, and putting people first. A lifelong entrepreneur, he's dedicated his career to building organisations that prove you can do ambitious work while caring deeply for the people who make it possible.
Inspired by Noel's work on the ground in Ukraine, Tom co-founded Volara to bring that same human-centred ethos to humanitarian aid. He believes in radical transparency, empowered local leadership, and a deep faith in humanity's capacity for compassion and courage — even in the darkest moments. His focus is on helping Volara move fast, stay accountable, and keep people — not systems — at the heart of everything it does.
Pavel Khramtsov
Pavel, a Kharkiv-native, has been on the ground in Ukraine conducting evacuations since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
He is the Co-founder and Director of Field Operations at Dog Help Kharkiv UA, one of Volara's key humanitarian partners. A former businessman and one of Ukraine's most renowned dog trainers and international judges, Pavel has redirected his deep expertise in high-pressure field operations to leading civilian rescue and relief work.
Lora Vanderbilt
Lora is a dedicated humanitarian whose work is rooted in her Ukrainian heritage and a commitment to direct action. Throughout the conflict, she has served as a bridge-builder, providing translation and humanitarian logistics support while simultaneously managing refugee resettlement efforts across Europe.
Specializing in both the relocation and the eventual return of displaced persons, Lora focuses on the logistical challenges of reintegrating families into demolished areas. Her work is defined by a "boots-on-the-ground" philosophy, ensuring that aid reaches the people and places where it is needed most.
Various Contributors
Volara is from time to time supported by contributors and volunteers. We will list them here:
Anya supports Volara with her footage of the portfolio charities. She has worked for various major outlets and is director of One More Dog, an upcoming documentary featuring Dog Help Kharkiv.
InstagramMedia
While Volara is just beginning, Noel and Pavel from the team have been featured numerous times for their work in Ukraine. Their on-the-ground experience is what started this foundation.
Our Principles
The core values that guide how we operate and ensure every donation makes the greatest impact.
Default to Open
Noel during evacuations, 2024, Kupiansk
In an industry defined by opacity, we operate as a 'glass box.' Transparency is our default setting, not an add-on. We publish grant reports, accounts, and allocation updates as they become available so supporters can understand how funds move and why decisions are made.
The Local Partner is the Protagonist
Noel during evacuations, 2024, Hatyshche
Our partners are the heroes; we are the support crew. We reject the top-down aid model and instead find, fund, and amplify Ukraine's most effective local organisations. We practice trust-based philanthropy, providing flexible, core funding that gives partners the autonomy and stability to do their best work. Our success is their success.
Radically Lean, Radically Effective
Pavel & Noel during evacuations, 2024, Vilcha
We exist to channel resources, not consume them. We are built for hyper-efficiency, achieved through a decentralized, digital-first structure. We fight the industry's starvation of local groups by ensuring our partners receive dedicated funding for their own core costs, building sustainability over dependency.
Agility as a Moral Imperative
Pavel & Noel during evacuations, 2024, Kupiansk
In a crisis, speed is a moral imperative. While large institutions are paralyzed by bureaucracy, we are built to move at the speed of the need. We use a lean structure and documented partner reporting to make intelligent, rapid funding decisions for approved humanitarian work.
Steady Support.
Lasting Impact.
Support approved humanitarian organisations working in Ukraine. Every contribution helps sustain practical civilian relief.
Wire to our Ukrainian foundation in Kharkiv.
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