5: Organised Volunteer Programmes :In-country support: there are support staff Heading2
24/7 in all destinations worldwide and a 24-
hour emergency international telephone line
direct to the head office.trekforce worldwide
530 fulham road, london, sw6 5nr, uK
%+44 (0)207 384 3343
http://www.trekforceworldwide.com
trekforce worldwide is a newly branded
for-profit expedition company that evolved
out of the uK-based charity trekforce
expeditions. Keen to continue the charity’s
legacy of running conservation expeditions to
remote and challenging destinations, the new
company puts 20 years’ worth of experience
towards their expedition consultancy service,
combining the challenge of expedition life
with sustainable conservation projects in the
most remote corners of the globe. In addition,
participants can enhance their overseas
experience by developing skills in languages,
remote trekking, teaching and diving. You
can find out more by attending one of their
informal ‘open days’ or visiting their website.
status: uK-based company.
timing & length of placements: each
expedition lasts two months, with an option
to extend to five months. expeditions depart
all year. there’s no official deadline for
applications but apply at least three months
before you want to travel.
destinations: belize, east malaysia,
guatemala, guyana and peru.
Costs: Volunteers are required to fundraise
£2800 for the basic two-month expedition.
this includes all costs except your
international flights and insurance. the five-
month combination placement (a two-month
expedition plus intensive language course and
teaching) costs from £4050 for all elements,
bar international flights and insurance.
eligibility: there is no upper age limit, but
most volunteers are between 18 and 25.
groups or Individuals: Individuals.
annual no. of Volunteers: 60
partner programmes: In every country
trekforce partners with myriad scientific
research and conservation agencies.
selection & Interview process: as long as
you are medically fit, joining an expedition
is by self-selection. You pay to play: in the
eyes of the organisation, anybody who can
fundraise the amount needed has shownthe determination, motivation and discipline
required to participate.
In-country support: each expedition team is
accompanied by an experienced expedition
leader, assistant leader, two medics, satellite
phone and emergency position indicating radio
beacon (ep Irb), as well as an in-country base.
VentureCo worldwide
the Ironyard, 64-66 market pl,
warwick CV34 4sd, uK
%+44 (0)1962 411133
fax +44 (0)1962 411 133
[email protected]
http://www.ventureco-worldwide.com
VentureCo’s multi-phase travel programmes
incorporate development projects,
expeditions, language classes and adventure
travel. for example, a south america project
may combine a spanish-language phase with
a volunteer project phase and an expedition
phase. Volunteering projects are all
community based, with each project having
specific aims – from rehabilitating manatees
in Central america to working on housing and
orphan projects with the monks of the life
and hope association in Cambodia.
status: limited company and registered charity.
timing & length of placements: departures
are year-round, with ventures lasting between
four and 15 weeks. the trips include two to
four weeks of volunteering work.
destinations: south america, Central america,
asia and africa.
Costs: Costs vary greatly – from £500 to
£5000 – depending on length of trip and
whether the airfare is included.
eligibility: no experience is required and
people with disabilities can apply. school
projects run for people aged 17 to 18, and
there are ‘gap-year’ programmes for people
aged 18 to 21 and career-break programmes
for those aged 21 and over.
groups or Individuals: You are welcome to
volunteer with friends or partners and work
within the groups, which usually comprise 10
to 16 people. Volunteers work with a group
and the local community.
annual no. of Volunteers: 200-300
annual projects: 12
selection & Interview process: there is an
application form online.
In-country support: Volunteers have two
VentureCo guides with them at all timeshone your Spanish skills while giving you
the opportunity to do something for the
common good, working on a community-
development project.
UK Organisations
adventureworks
the foundry studios, 45 mowbray st,
sheffield s3 8en, uK
%+44 (0)845 345 8850
fax +44 (0)114 275 5740a
[email protected]
http://www.adventureworks.co.uk
adventureworks is the youth arm of jagged
globe ltd, the first british company to run
guided expeditions to climb mt everest.
adventureworks offers a wide programme of
overseas educational expeditions; a typical
itinerary includes a trek or mountain summit, a
project with local school children, cultural visits
and other challenging activities, such as river
rafting and mountain biking. expeditioners
have the opportunity to develop new skills
as they work in a team towards identifiable
goals. the programme fulfils the expedition
requirements of the duke of edinburgh’s gold
award and the Queen’s scout and guide
awards.
status: limited company.
timing & length of projects: 10- to 30-day
adventures offer the option of joining a
community project. applications should be
sent six to 12 months in advance of departure,
though destination options are available
year-round.
destinations: morocco, tanzania, Kenya,
nepal, India, Kyrgyzstan, borneo, ecuador,
argentina, peru, bolivia, Canada, Corsica,
spain, greenland, slovakia and the alps.
Costs: the adventure phase costs between
£1500 and £2000, flights and in-country
costs included. the volunteering phase costs
roughly an additional £200 per month.
eligibility: applicants must be 16 or older; but
most are school leavers.
groups or Individuals: groups of between 12
and 15 are most common. larger groups can
be accommodated, but may be split.
annual no. of Volunteers: Varies.
annual projects: 18 expeditions throughout
the year.
partner programmes: thornbridge outdoors,
undercover rock, Young explorers trust.
selection & Interview process: Individual or
group applications, beginning with an online
query.
In-country support: groups are led by a
team leader and an in-country english-
speaking guide.travellers worldwide
suite 2a, Caravelle house, 17/19 goring rd,
worthing, west sussex bn12 4ap, uK
%+44 (0)1903-502595
fax +44 (0)1903-500364
[email protected]
http://www.travellersworldwide.com
although travellers worldwide offers
the standard fare – teaching english or
sports, working in conservation, medicine,
veterinary medicine, journalism or law in
the developing world – it also has a range
of ‘off-the-wall’ projects like learning to
tango, or doing photography, meditation or
music courses abroad. You can even get a
pilot’s licence. people with two left feet or a
fear of heights should check out travellers
worldwide’s conservation programmes,
which are geared towards working with
wildlife.
status: limited company.
timing & length of placements: placements
can be as short as two weeks or as long as
a year. some can be arranged with only four
weeks’ notice but the most popular need to
be booked between six and 12 months in
advance. programmes run throughout the
year with flexible start dates.
destinations: argentina, australia, brazil,
brunei, China, Cuba, ghana, guatemala,
India, Kenya, malaysia, new Zealand, peru,
south africa, sri lanka, thailand, Zambia and
Zimbabwe.
Costs: projects start from £595 for two weeks.
Costs vary depending on length and include
accommodation, food, transport, airport pick
up, induction and 24/7 support in destination
and at home. International flights and travel
insurance are not included.
eligibility: open to anyone over 17.
groups or Individuals: both.
annual no. of volunteers: 1000
annual projects: 200
selection & Interview process: online
application, CV and motivational letter
required.05: Organised Volunteer Programmes:Volunteering Pluscontinued on p118