Community Volunteer

950 USD

January or August for up to 12 months

In partnership with Square AuPair, this opportunity offers volunteers the chance to fully immerse themselves in British culture while profoundly impacting local communities; volunteers will divide their time between supporting host families and engaging in a diverse array of voluntary work in the community.

As a volunteer, you will seamlessly integrate into the daily lives of host families, offering invaluable support and fostering enduring connections. At the same time, you will dive into various volunteer projects, spanning from nurturing young minds in educational settings to providing compassionate assistance in healthcare facilities or animal welfare organisations. This placement serves as a gateway to personal and professional growth. Through hands-on involvement and meaningful interactions, you will develop indispensable life skills, gain confidence and independence, and nurture a profound sense of global citizenship.

Tailored for adventurous souls, this opportunity calls out to individuals with a passion for exploration, a dedication to service, and an openness to new experiences. Whether you are a recent graduate seeking real-world experience, a gap-year adventurer craving meaningful connections, or a career-changer eager to broaden your horizons, this placement promises to be a transformative chapter in your life journey.

Placement Examples

  • Education Sector: Pre-school/Nursery, Primary School, Secondary School, Special Needs Schools
  • Health/Social Care Sector: Elderly Nursing Homes, Hospices, Adults with Disabilities, Homeless Shelters
  • Animal Welfare: Dog/Cat Rescue, Veterinary Clinics, Other Animal Rescue Organisations

Volunteer Requirements

Prospective volunteers should demonstrate an interest in childcare and voluntary work, be aged 18 to 30 and be comfortable communicating in English. Completion of application and assessment procedures, including interviews and background checks, is required. Volunteers must commit to the agreed placement length and cover their international travel, visa, insurance, and program fees.

Locations

Our placements are primarily situated in London and the South East of England, offering comfortable suburban environments suitable for host families.

Teamwork

While volunteers may reside with their host family alone, NVW facilitates connections with other volunteers in the area, fostering a supportive community for socialising and mutual support.

Financial Reimbursement

Host families provide a minimum weekly reimbursement of £70 to cover expenses such as flights, visas, insurance, and programme fees.

Food & Accommodation

Host families offer private accommodation, typically a private bedroom with shared amenities, and provide meals. Additional meal provisions may vary depending on the placement. The placement includes a professional host family matching service, facilitating open communication and mutual understanding between volunteers and host families. This includes opportunities for both parties to exchange information and arrange meetings before committing to a placement, ensuring clarity regarding the volunteer’s role within the family dynamic.

Outdoor Camp Volunteer

1,150 USD

February or August for 8-12 months

Are you ready for an adventure-packed social role?

Operated by Scouts, Guides, and YMCA, our network of outdoor camps delivers outdoor education programmes primarily to young people. As part of our team, your role will entail coordinating the day-to-day operations of the centre, with maintenance and cleaning responsibilities constituting approximately 30% of your duties. The remainder of your time will be spent assisting and even instructing in a variety of exhilarating outdoor activities, including archery, swimming, hiking, climbing, canoeing, high ropes courses, group games, and sailing, all while providing support and motivation to young participants. Full training is provided, often with the opportunity to obtain a formally recognised certification.

Are you intrigued by the prospect of being a Marketing Intern at an outdoor camp? We are thrilled to offer an exciting opportunity for someone to curate content for our website, social media platforms, and email newsletter. If this opportunity aligns with your interests, we encourage you to indicate your enthusiasm in your application.

Locations

Outdoor Camps are in spacious rural areas in Buckinghamshire, West Midlands, Staffordshire, Hampshire, Norfolk and Shropshire.

Work Schedule

Be willing to accept that the ethos of an outdoor camp is very much about lifestyle and not a 9-5pm Monday to Friday job. Keep ‘work hard/play hard’ in mind.

Age Requirements

Visa requires volunteers to be at least 18 years old at the point of application.

Financial Reimbursement

Volunteers are reimbursed weekly towards their fees, flights, visa and travel insurance during placement. The reimbursement amount varies.

Teamwork

Outdoor camps are friendly and sociable, with a large international community and lots of teamwork. Connect with other international volunteers, local staff and young people in an exciting outdoor environment while making unforgettable memories and friendships.

Food & Accommodation

Volunteers have access to a shared kitchen and receive a food allowance. You will live onsite in rooms shared with other staff, usually with twin or bunkbeds.

School Volunteer

1,650 USD

January or September for 11 months

Are you prepared to embrace flexibility and take initiative to immerse yourself fully in all facets of school life?

Our education placements are situated within traditional boarding schools or residential institutions catering to young people with specific disabilities, such as visual impairments. Students reside on campus throughout term time, and as a volunteer, your primary focus will be on boarding house duties. These responsibilities encompass various tasks, including wake-up routines, meal supervision, laundry management, organising bedtime routines, and other essential housekeeping duties.

In addition to boarding house responsibilities, volunteers will actively participate in homework clubs, evening and weekend activities, various clubs, sports, and excursions. Furthermore, volunteers will also undertake duties during the school day. If you possess particular skills, such as languages, arts, music, drama, or sports, there will be ample opportunities to contribute to the relevant departments.

Locations

The schools are mainly in rural or small-town settings in the Scottish Highlands, Yorkshire, Kent, Hampshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Hereford.

Work Schedule

Expect to be a busy and valued team member during term time. Volunteers have plenty of opportunities to explore the UK and Europe during the school holidays.

Age Requirements

Visa requires volunteers to be at least 18 years old at the point of application. Some placements require volunteers to be aged 21 and over.

Financial Reimbursement

Volunteers are reimbursed weekly towards their fees, flights, visa and travel insurance during placement. The reimbursement amount varies.

Teamwork

Volunteering at a school means working closely with a diverse team of all ages. You’ll always have at least one fellow volunteer by your side while collaborating with the entire local staff team.

Food & Accommodation

Some placements offer access to a shared kitchen, but mostly volunteers share meals with the team in the dining hall, where traditional English food is served (expect fish and chips). The schools cater for a wide range of dietary requirements. You will have a private room on campus, which could be in the boarding house or a staff flat, and a bathroom shared with other staff members.

Case Study | Outdoor Camp Volunteer

The initial two months were dedicated to extensive training, covering activities from water rescue techniques to zip-wire rescues and orienteering. Nicole emerged from the training as a competent leader, able to guide groups of children through various activities.

“The first two months were all training. I was assessed on all activities and can now lead groups of children. It’s lots of fun! I love working with children; there’s a new group each week. My team are great people. Although I came alone, I now have many friends and am part of a community.”

Case Study | School Volunteer

Paula, an 18-year-old from Ecuador, and Lili, a 20-year-old from France, are volunteering at a boarding school in the English countryside for one year. We caught up with them a couple of months into their placement.

Paula expressed her enthusiasm for the varied excursions, saying, “We go on cool fun trips every Saturday, from exploring London to go-karting, visiting Cambridge, and attending a video game expo or the science museum. I also escort kids and assist in the language department, teaching Spanish classes and offering one-on-one lessons to help their language skills.”

Lili highlighted the enjoyable nature of her interactions with the kids, noting their humour and sassiness. “I find joy in helping the kids with their French studies and offering personalised support. The kids are hilarious,” says Lili.

Programme Manager

Supporting volunteer journeys

The UK Programme Manager, James, prepares volunteers for their placements and provides ongoing support.

James, an advocate for international volunteering, draws from his 1986 gap year in Indonesia. With extensive experience in volunteerism, he held key roles at Project Trust, VSO, and The Prince’s Trust. He contributed to education as a curriculum manager and Student Services Manager. Joining Lattitude Global Volunteering in 2014, he later became CEO. Residing in Ryde, Isle of Wight, with his family and three dogs, James renovated a historic Georgian townhouse, once the workplace of Ryde Conservative Club’s first Chairman, who shared his name.

Fee Details

Why NVW charges a fee
New Ventures Worldwide is a UK-registered nonprofit charity. The fee contributes to our operating costs and allows us to continue our mission of arranging volunteering placements for our global network of nonprofit organisations. A financial report is published annually to the UK Charity Commission.

 

Included in the fee
The fee includes a sponsored Tier 5 visa, a thoroughly vetted placement, an appropriate volunteer role based on age, experience and interests, a placement mentor, any necessary training, preparation guidance, ongoing support, accommodation, food and a spending allowance.

 

Additional costs 
In addition to the placement fee, volunteers pay for flights, a visa, and travel insurance, usually costing around $2,500 USD (depending on the departure destination). Volunteers are reimbursed weekly towards their costs during placement. The reimbursement amount varies.

FAQs

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What is the enrolment process?

After completing the application form, our team will check if you are eligible for your chosen program before inviting you to a Welcome Video Call. The interview is where you get to know the New Ventures Worldwide team, ask questions and get matched to your perfect program. Various background checks are then conducted before you are officially enrolled in the program.

What are the benefits?

  • See the world while experiencing a new culture
  • Experience personal growth, becoming more confident and independent
  • Make an impact working with international non-profit organisations
  • It looks great on your CV
  • Learn new skills for life
  • Gain perspective and understand what life is all about

Do I need flights and travel insurance?

Yes, you will need to arrange your own flights and travel insurance. You’ll need to send us your travel insurance policy details before starting a program.

Can a friend and I enrol on the same placement?

Being on a volunteering placement means you’ll always have a network of people around you, including locals and other volunteers. Providing a readymade community with local knowledge to explore, share, and create incredible memories. However, if you want to travel with a friend from home, let us know, and we can usually arrange for you to be on the same placement.

What happens if there is a problem during the placement?

New Ventures Worldwide has a Ladder of Support so you can see who to contact if you need help. Your placement will assist you in almost all situations. However, we also offer background support, mainly if a more serious issue arises.

Application Form

The journey of a lifetime starts here!

Applicant Details

Our placements are for those aged 18-30-years-old
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