Responsible gap year volunteering

Research your gap year company

At the very least, undertake a bit of research before you commit to a company. How long have they been operating? How many volunteers have they taken abroad so far? Can you contact any previous volunteers for some feedback? Do they have well developed infrastructure and support network in the project country that will ensure a quick and effective response in an emergency?

Do a search for them on the internet, see what comes up. Remember to take individual’s experiences with a pinch of salt – some people may have been badly suited to the type of work/country. But it should give you a better idea of what the company is like, and if there is a lot of negative stuff out there, that might start alarm bells ringing.

As well as Googling them, try a search on a social network forum, such as Facebook. This is a good way of finding out about the experiences of previous volunteers (good & bad).

Find out more about your placement

Finding out more about your placement will also help you to make an informed decision about whether you are going with the right gap year company. Think about how you see your experience going. Do you want close team work with fellow volunteers, or would you rather be more embedded in the local culture - learning languages and customs? What are your standards for your accommodation - would you be happy staying with a local family or would you find that quite awkward? Here are some more questions you should think about and get some answers to.

• What are the travel arrangements? Airline, local transport
• What happens if you want to come home early?
• Will your visa cover further independent travel?

• Where will you be staying? Get the address so you can check it out yourself.
• How far to the nearest town? How far from where you will be volunteering?
• What type of accommodation will you have? (Sharing rooms, toilet facilities, insect nets?)
• If staying with a local family, how are they benefiting from this? Why are they having you to stay?

• What work will you be carrying out?
• What time off do you get? How long are working hours?
• Will you be working alone, in a team, or with local people?
• If you will be teaching, what are class sizes & ages? Will you get teaching material? How much guidance will you get?

Your safety whilst with a volunteering project

• Does the company have a comprehensive insurance policy – can you see it?
• Will they fly you home (repatriate you) in an emergency?
• What qualifications do local guides have?
• Are trip leaders experienced?
• How long have their overseas employees been working for them?
• If you are undertaking more dangerous activities such as mountaineering, are the guides expert professionals?
• Will you receive adequate training for the work you will be doing?
• Will there be English-speaking support staff nearby that you can contact?
• Is the local political situation stable? (You should also investigate this for yourself – visit the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website.)
• Is it safe to be out and about alone at night around where you will work & live?
• Is the area safe for women travelling alone? What are the local attitudes like towards western women?

Screening by the Criminal Records Bureau

You may be asked for references and/or criminal records screening for placements where you will be involved with vulnerable adults and children. In the UK, this screening is carried out by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and there is usually a small fee required to cover the costs of admin. Don’t be put off by this as it demonstrates that your gap year company is acting responsibly towards those it aims to help.