Updated 20 April 2012
Azafady: a UK registered charity and Malagasy NGO, offers life changing opportunities to volunteer in Madagascar for 2-10 weeks. Azafady work to improve the livelihoods of local communities, and to protect the precious ecosystems and species in southeast Madagascar. Get involved in a range of exciting projects, including conservation, biodiversity and lemur research, school and well building and health and sanitation, whilst gaining a section of your DofE programme. To participate volunteers fundraise a minimum donation, all of which goes directly to the charity. To find out more please visit: http://www.madagascar.co.uk
The Challenge: This summer, The Challenge Network (
www.the-challenge.org) will be delivering the National Citizen Service to 3200 sixteen-year-olds. This is an exciting new programme which includes outdoor activities, residential camps and community volunteering projects, working with young people from across London, the West Midlands, and the North West of England. There are three parts to the programme: outdoor activities (including abseiling and canoeing), team challenge (enterprise, sport, media, photography) and projects designed by the young people themselves. We would like to recruit dynamic and motivated people to get involved supporting and mentoring the young people. There is a range of summer roles available, both for paid staff and volunteers, from between two and nine weeks, between July and October. If you would like to get involved, there is further information about the programme and the roles at
www.the-challenge.org
PROJECT TRUST: Project Trust is a educational charity founded in 1967 on the Hebridean Isle of Coll in North West Scotland. We send volunteers aged between 17-19 overseas for 12 or 8 months to countries in South America, Africa and Asia. Our volunteers are teachers, care workers and sport instructors. Since 1967 we have sent over 5,500 volunteers overseas. Project Trust sends about two hundred volunteers to twenty-five countries annually and is widely respected as one of the most experienced and professional gap year organisations in Britain. Our main philosophy is to provide young people with an opportunity to understand a community overseas by immersing themselves in it; living and working there for a year. All our projects are vetted for their suitability for volunteers, and none deprive local people of work. We have the expertise and the infrastructure to ensure all volunteers are given a challenging and exciting opportunity to develop themselves, and all the support available to them when they need it. The Residential section of the DofE can be achieved on either a selection course or training course. Details: Jimi Slattery, Recruitment Officer, The Hebridean Centre, Isle of Coll, Argyll, Scotland I PA78 6TE tel +44 (0) 187 9230 110 fax +44 (0) 187 9230 357 I
info@projecttrust.org.uk www.projecttrust.org.uk
RALEIGH: Raleigh is a well established charity committed to providing adventure and challenge expeditions for all ages, especially young people. We have over 24 years history of creating memorable expeditions to destinations including Borneo, Costa Rica & Nicaragua and India. 17-24 year olds can join as a venturer, whilst those 25+ can apply as staff volunteers to facilitate the expeditions (roles include project managers, mountain leaders, medics, photographers, logistics, finance managers etc.) Expeditions run for 4 to 10 weeks (staff volunteers must commit to an additional 2-3 weeks for full training). You will be living and working alongside local people for a true exchange of cultures, conserving their livelihood and environment, plus taking on an adventure challenge. "Raleigh is a great experience that you probably won't get to do again, so take time out to think about your life and what you want to do, and learn from the challenges each phase brings." Serena Brown, Costa Rica & Nicaragua Make a genuine difference and realise your full potential by developing leadership, teamworking and problem-solving skills. Join a community of like-minded people and be part of something amazing. Raleigh, 207 Waterloo Road London SE1 8XD . Tel: 020 7183 1270 email:
info@raleigh.org.ukwebsite:
www.raleighinternational.org
Lattitude Global Volunteering: Lattitude projects include helping with the teaching of English, work in schools and hospitals, conservation projects, work in outdoor activity centres or on projects concerned with social care. The skills of initiative, empathy, resilience and confidence will be developed. Undertaking a Lattitude placement can count towards Servive and Residential Project Sections. Details:
http://www.lattitude.org.uk/or call 0118 959 4914, email
volunteer@lattitude.org.uk
Madventurer is a development travel company that encourages people to develop themselves and others through development projects and adventurous travel. Create your own Gap at Madventurers Gap Club, your one stop gap year travel shop Sort out your flights & travel insurance with our friendly crew: We've teamed up with the best of other gap year companies and the adventure travel industry to bring you the best selection of dates and costs to vary your time out
www.gapclub.com NEW: Our Crew at Mad HQ are experts in gap year and career break travel - check out our work experience and volunteer travel programmes at
http://www.gapjobs.com/if you are looking for a more varied placement and want to go overseas for a longer period. Or have a look at our latest sporting gap placements at
http://www.sportventurer.com/
Trekforce Expeditions offer inspirational, challenging expedition programmes from 4 weeks to 5 months, consisting of sustainable jungle and rainforest conservation projects, language, teaching and cultural experiences in diverse environments. Trekforce Expeditions are a leading UK registered charity (no. 1005452) established in 1990. For more infromation please visit our website
http://www.trekforce.org.uk/
Quest Overseas. Want to do something different? Quest Overseas run worthwhile gap year programmes, conservation and community based projects and professionally led expeditions to Africa and South America. We run a diverse array of projects ranging from building feeding stations in Malawi to help feed malnourished local villagers to helping disadvantaged kids prepare for and take part in the Rio Carnival, Brazil. This is your chance to do something exciting, rewarding, challenging and fun, while counting towards your Award. We welcome all enquiries, so give us a call on 01444 474744 or check out our web-site at http://www.questoverseas.com
COOKERY COURSE: One week practical Residential Cookery Course run by Cookability may be an ideal opportunity to gain a new skill which will stand you in good stead for many Gap Year work placements and activities. A fun and flexible five day cookery course which includes accommodation, tuition, ingredients and meals in a comfortable country setting near Taunton, Somerset. Details from Tricia Samways 01823 461374 or Venetia Cameron-Rose 07944 909105 cookability@hotmail.comhttp://www.residentialcookery.com/
WORLDWIDE EXPERIENCE: Worldwide Experience allows you to contribute to global conservation and community programmes. Specialising in Conservation projects in South Africa we now see the need for your help across the globe. Combine conservation projects with community development and adventure programmes and make your Gap Year, Career Break or Summer Holiday a Life Changing experience for yourself and those you help. Placements last from 2 - 12 weeks and can involve any thing from assisting conservation departments on a Big Five game reserve to assisting with teaching underprivileged children English. If you are looking for something unique on your Gap Year or summer break whilst making a difference contact us today! Details: Worldwide Experience, Guradian House, Borough Road, Godalming, Surrey, GU& 2AE; 01483 860 560; info@worldwideexperince.comhttp://www.worldwideexperience.com/
WORLDWIDE VOLUNTEERING: Worldwide Volunteering's online database of over 350,000 volunteering opportunities in 215 Countries enables you to quickly search through placements offered by over 1200 organisations and produce a tailored list to suit your own requirements. If you are looking for a volunteering placement, then why not take a look at their website: www.wwv.org.uk/
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY CENTRE HIGHLAND PERTHSHIRE: Spend all or part of your GAP year serving God and our guests, helping to make a difference in people's lives. Enthusiastic, committed Christians who want to grow in their faith whilst helping others to grow should contact: Abernethy Trust Ardeonaig, by Killin, Perthshire FK21 8SY (t: 01567 820523, e: angela@ardeonaig.orghttp://www.ardeonaig.org/
FRONTIER: Volunteering with Frontier gives you the opportunity to live and work in remote and challenging environments at the same time as counting towards your Award. A environmental organisation working with local, national and international agencies, government institutions and universities in Madagascar, Tanzania and Vietnam to address conservation issues. Volunteers (mm. age 17 years) can participate in 28-day expeditions, or 10 or 20-week projects. Work includes biodiversity surveys, disturbance and resource-use assessments, socio-economic work and practical projects. Full training leads to a BTEC qualification in tropical habitat conservation or expedition management (biodiversity research). Details from: Frontier, 50-52 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3QP, 020 7613 2422, info@frontier.ac.ukhttp://www.frontier.ac.uk/
MAXIMISE YOUR GAP YEAR: Are you looking for a job with a difference? Working with PGL is a world away from the standard 9-5 office job. We need vibrant energetic people to work at children's adventure centres in stunning locations in the UK, France and Spain. In addition to meeting people from around the world, you will receive a competitive wage, accommodation, meals, full training and a great social life! Positions include Instructors - to teach activities; Group Leaders - to look after children; Catering Staff - to prepare and serve meals; Support Staff - to look after site facilities... Whatever your skills, PGL has the job for you. Work for Britain's leading travel & adventure company for young people and have the time of your life while living and working with people like you. www.pgl.co.uk/personnele-mail: personnel@pgl.co.uktel: 01989 767833
STUDENTS PARTNERSHIP WORLDWIDE: SPW sends young people aged 18-28 on educational and environmental programmes in Africa and Asia for 4-10 months. They train, live and work together, giving essential skills to young people in rural communities - tackling problems such as HIV/AIDS, nutrition, soil erosion and deforestation. Achieve Service, Skill and Physical Recreation sections for DofE Awards - as well as Residential for Gold. Details: SPW at 17 Deans Yard, London SW1P 3PB, call us on 020 7222 0138, email us at spwuk@gn.apc.orgor visit http://www.spw.org/
JUNGLE WORK WITH TREKFORCE: We are a conservation expedition organisation who lead some of the toughest team projects and teaching placement opportunities in the rainforests of Borneo and Belize. Many of our keen volunteers are undergraduates or graduates in their gap year but we are just as open to people of all ages looking for an exciting and challenging break from their careers. Each volunteer fundraises a personal target prior to coming on the expedition. Expedition projects are always on behalf of local NGOs, government departments, national parks and wildlife departments who approach us with exciting and worthwhile tasks through our teams of staff working in each country all year round. Our enthusiastic workforces then train to carry out these projects efficiently and safely with the support of our leader staff and medical teams. Details from: Trekforce, 34 Buckingham Palace Road, LONDON SW1W 0RE, 020 7828 2275, info@trekforce.org.ukhttp://www.trekforce.org.uk/
SPEND YOUR GAP YEAR SKIING OR SNOWBOARDING IN CANADA: ski and snowboard instructor courses - a gap-year experience for those 18+. Three-month course in how to become a qualified skiing or snowboard instructor, based in the spectacular ski-resort of Fernie in Canada. Experience not necessary. Courses from January-March, run by a team of highly-skilled, caring individuals. Students learn how to tackle powder and slalom racing, avalanche safety and from teaching classes of all standards, to administering first aid. The course also covers communication, leadership, presentation and accountability. Participants can take part in a management-training course. Other activities include cookery lessons/photography classes. Details: www.nonstopsnow.com or contact info@nonstopsnow.com 020 8772 7852
ULTIMATE GAP YEAR provides students with essential safety advice and knowledge before they embark on a gap year or remote travel to developing countries. With a background of extensive travel experience gained from service in the military and the gap industry, we aim to provide realistic and current travel advice to suit all your requirements. Our courses are both suitable for people going with gap organisations or travelling independently. (Courses at schools or in London). Details: Ultimate Gap Year T:020 7386 9101 E: ultimategapyear@btinternet.comhttp://www.ultimategapyear.co.uk/