8 countries, 30+ placements
Matched to the right placement for you
Real responsibility, real impact
Supported every step of the way
What Kind of Placement Suits You?
Every NVW placement involves volunteering with children and young people. Choose the environment that suits you.
Support teachers, connect with local children and become part of school life abroad. Lively, rewarding and great for your confidence and CV.
Help deliver activities, sports and outdoor education as part of a volunteer abroad programme in a fun, active environment with children and young people.
Live locally while supporting families and young people through community volunteer placements that make a genuine difference.
Where Could You Go?
Volunteer abroad programmes across Europe, Africa, Australasia and the Americas.
Why Volunteer With Us?
We asked our volunteers why they chose an NVW gap year programme. Here is what they told us.
Volunteering abroad puts you in the middle of a community from day one. Live locally, meet people you would never encounter as a tourist, and build a social life that feels like genuinely belonging somewhere new.
Employers consistently value international volunteering experience. Up to a year spent working with young people, adapting to new environments and taking on real responsibility tells a story about you that no qualification alone can match.
Every single NVW placement involves volunteering with children or young people, whether in a school, an outdoor camp or a community project. That is what makes our volunteer abroad programmes different.
Living in a country is completely different from visiting it. You will get to know local traditions, history and everyday culture in a way that goes far deeper than any holiday, and for many placements, pick up a new language along the way.
Navigating life in a new country, with new people, in a new role does something to you. In the best possible way. You will come home more confident and more sure of yourself than when you left.
The freedom of travel with the reassurance of a trusted programme behind you. NVW is a UK registered charity with real people supporting you before you leave, while you are out there, and when you get back home.
How the Process Works
A clear, guided journey from application to starting your volunteer abroad placement.
Choose a Placement and Apply
Explore destinations and volunteer roles, then submit an application. If it looks like a good fit, we’ll invite you to an interview so we can get to know each other.
Get Confirmed and Prepared
Once accepted, you’ll complete key documents, secure your place with a deposit, and we’ll match you with a suitable volunteer placement.
Arrange Travel With Our Support
You’ll organise your flights, insurance and visa, with clear guidance and visa sponsorship from us to help you stay abroad for up to 12 months.
Start Your Placement, Supported Throughout
We coordinate your arrival, share everything you need to be ready, and support you before, during and after your volunteer placement.
Volunteer Stories
A closer look at real gap year and volunteer abroad experiences from the people who lived them.
What Volunteers Say
Real experiences from young people who’ve volunteered abroad with us.
Amazing Year
I really enjoyed working at the Lake Dewar Discovery Camp in Myrniong Australia. I learned how to speak infront of groups and definitely improved my english skills. The work itself was also fun especially in summer. I think one of the best things in this Camp is the Staff. I gained so many friends and experienced a lot besides of work. The only „bad“ things are that you definitely need your own car you have to share your bedroom and you definitely need to use your own money. There are many cheap cars to buy in Australia and sharing a room was never a problem to me. I‘m also pretty shure that we got told all of those things before. All in all was this an amazing year that i will never forget. I learned and experienced so many new things and I am very grateful. I would definitely recomend doing something like this to everyone.
A life-changing experience
Everything has been amazing. I’m gaining a wealth of experience in teaching while diving deeply into English and Spanish grammar. I was even given materials to start learning German!
Each week, I plan classes for three different year groups, teaching Spanish through a variety of engaging activities. Both the staff and pupils are friendly and welcoming, which has made blending in so much easier. This experience has also helped me grow on a personal level, allowing me to learn more about myself and what I truly want to do in the near and long term. I would highly recommend this to anybody!
Having a good time overseas!
Im having a good time! spending time here in New Zealand is just amazing I’m having lots of fun doing activities. Lots of hikes and camping around the North Island. My placement is quite cool we are having really nice groups over here which makes work even better We are also doing a lot of stuff around camp like hunting or sports which is really cool. Some small confrontations here and there. But otherwise a really good time overall.
