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Volunteering / exchanges: The European dimension

Volunteering / exchanges - United Kingdom

Whether you fancy going global or staying local, there are thousands of opportunities available for young people who want to volunteer in the UK or beyond. There’s something here for you, no matter where your interests lie. Homelessness, disability, human rights, conservation, international development… it’s all here in these links. If you want a medium- or long-term placement overseas, or can only give a few hours a week to something right on your doorstep, you’ll find an opportunity that suits you in the sites listed below. There’s information for those who want to come to the UK to volunteer, and for people living in the UK who want to go abroad.

British Council Language Assistants

The British Council provides opportunities for young people to work as language assistants in the UK or overseas. If you’re from the UK, you could teach English in China, Senegal, Tunisia, Russia, Latin America or various EU countries. If you are a native French, German, Spanish, Italian or Chinese speaker, you could teach in a British school.

http://www.britishcouncil.org/languageassistants [EN]

British Trust Conservation Volunteers

Do you fancy a fun summer holiday experience abroad, or want regular, long-term voluntary work in the UK? Either way, you’ll find lots of opportunities in conservation work here. Although there is a range of work available for people aged 16-24, some of the holidays have a minimum age requirement.

http://www2.btcv.org.uk/display/volunteer [EN]

Charity Choice

Whether you know who you want to volunteer with, or need to find out which charities work in the area that interests you, this site will help you access all the information you need. It lists all the registered charities in the UK, with links to their websites. Search for a charity by name or by subject, e.g. overseas development.

http://www.charitychoice.co.uk [EN]

Community Service Volunteers

This group organises full-time, away-from-home voluntary work within the UK, for over 16 year olds. British and EU applicants need to be resident in the UK or apply through an international partner agency. You can take part in all sorts of activities, such as helping young homeless people in a hostel, or befriending a young person with physical disabilities. Accommodation and food are free, and you'll get a weekly allowance.

http://www.csv.org.uk/?display=volunteering [EN]

Concordia

International volunteering projects in countries ranging from Albania to Zimbabwe. Anyone aged 18-30 can apply, although there may be age restrictions for certain projects. There are also some places for 16-17 year olds. Only people resident in the UK can apply through this website; if you currently live elsewhere, apply through a partner organisation in your country of residence.

http://www.concordia-iye.org.uk/ [EN]

Connect Youth

Connect Youth is the UK national agency for the European Youth Programme. Along with the European Commission, they help young people discover Europe through initiatives such as Youth Exchanges, European Voluntary Service, Youth Initiatives and Support Measures.

http://www.connectyouthinternational.com [EN]

Do it!

Search for voluntary work in the UK and overseas. The site has a special section for students and young people wanting to volunteer abroad. Look up opportunities in the area you’re interested in – homelessness, the environment, human rights, disability, and much, much more.

http://www.do-it.org.uk [EN]

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Young people aged 14-17 (and those aged 18+ as well) can get recognition for their voluntary activities and achievements by taking part in the Award. You’ll gain credit for learning a new skill, serving your community and taking up a physical challenge. The really ambitious could lead their own expedition, or work in a team on a residential project.

http://www.theaward.org/ [EN]

Employee Volunteering

Did you know that your employer could help you to be a volunteer, either during work hours or in your free time? Employers can find out more from this site, as well as brokers specialising in volunteering opportunities.

http://www.volunteering.org.uk/Employer+Supported+Volunteering/ [EN]

Gap Activity Projects

Offers opportunities to go overseas and take part in conservation, medical or teaching projects. For young people who are taking a break between leaving school and going on to university or work. The programmes are only available to people who hold a UK or Irish passport.

http://www.gap.org.uk [EN]

I-to-i: Volunteer Opportunities

Provides information on a range of volunteering opportunities abroad. Choose a country where you’d like to volunteer, and see the programmes available. You can book online, although you may need to contact your local i-to-i office before you apply - all the contact details are here. Offers advice on teaching English as a Foreign Language abroad.

http://www.i-to-i.com [EN]

Kibbutz Representatives

Live and work in Israel in a local village or a farm with volunteers from all over the world. You can also choose to join an Ulpan programme, in which you work and study Hebrew at the same time (click on Ulpanim for more details). Contact the sending organisation in the country where you live. Details for the UK are under ‘England’.

http://www.kibbutz.org.il/eng/welcome.htm [EN][IL]

Raleigh International

Help chart cheetahs in Namibia, tag turtles in Costa Rica, or work in a rainforest in Borneo! These are just some of the things volunteers have done through Raleigh International expeditions. 17-25 year olds can apply. Expeditions generally last for 3 months, so if you’re taking time out after school or university, have a look at what’s on offer.

http://www.raleigh.org.uk [EN]

Teach Abroad

Spend 5 to 10 months teaching English in China or Thailand through this programme. There are no age restrictions, but only graduates can apply. Applicants also need excellent English skills. You’ll receive a salary while you’re abroad, which will be high by local standards.

http://www.istplus.com [EN]

The Prince’s Trust

Contains information about volunteer work placements and overseas community work projects for young people. There is also a Volunteers Programme targeted at unemployed 16-25 year olds. Separate information is available for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales – click on the ‘Go Regional’ map of the UK. The Wales homepage also has information in Welsh.

http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/Main%20Site%20v2/14-30%20and%20need%20help. [EN]

TimeBank

This site can help you get matched up to the right volunteering opportunity for you, even if you can only give a couple of hours a week. Fill out the online form, and organisations will get back to you. There are also contacts for people who need support – for instance, refugees can register to take part in a befriending scheme.

http://www.timebank.org.uk/ [EN]

Unipal

Teach English to Palestinian children and young people, and get an insight into Palestinian culture and what it’s like to be a refugee. Volunteers have to be fluent English speakers, and must be resident in the UK. Programmes take place in the summer and last for 4-5 weeks. Generally, volunteers need to be aged 20 or over.

http://www.unipal.org.uk/Volunteering/volunteering.html [EN]

Voluntary Arts Network

Check here for volunteering opportunities in the arts, or find practical information on how to set up and run your own arts group. There are links to the four national development agencies for the arts (England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales). The Voluntary Arts Wales home page is available in English and in Welsh.

http://www.voluntaryarts.org [EN]

Voluntary Service Overseas

As well as providing opportunities for professionals, VSO run projects in the developing world for people aged under 25. Aimed at UK undergraduates and 16-25 year olds who have an interest in international development.

http://www.vso.org.uk/ [EN]

Worldwide Volunteering

Designed to make it simpler for young people in the UK to volunteer. Choose to volunteer for as little as one week, or as long as one year. Its system will match you up to the most suitable opportunity for you. Opportunities throughout the UK, and overseas as well. Read the case studies to find out what other people did, and get some ideas about what you’d like to do.

http://www.worldwidevolunteering.org.uk [EN]

Your Turn

For young people who want to make their voices heard. Aimed at helping young people get involved in their communities and make real changes. These pages are for people aged 13-18, but have a look at the whole site if you don’t fall within this age group. Information covers the entire UK.

http://www.commonpurpose.org.uk/home/programmes/under18.aspx [EN]

England: GO Volunteering

Want to volunteer but only have time at the weekends or a few hours on a weekday evening? Try these alternative volunteering opportunities for busy people. There are opportunities in London, Reading and Manchester, and anyone over 16 can get involved.

http://www.csv.org.uk/Volunteer/Part-time/GO [EN]

England: Millennium Volunteers

This programme is aimed at young people aged 16-24, particularly those who have a skill or interest that they can use to help others. Get involved in teaching sports, dance, craft skills, photography, languages, music… the possibilities are endless. Search for a project in an area of England near you.

http://www.mvonline.gov.uk/index.cfm [EN]

England: Student Volunteering

Volunteer while you’re at college or university and you’ll be giving something back to the community while gaining valuable skills and work experience. Who knows, it might help you get an interesting job after you graduate. Find out more here.

http://www.studentvolunteering.org.uk [EN]

England: Volunteering England

Information on voluntary work opportunities in England and overseas. Contains practical advice for volunteers from EU and non-EU countries, including information on visa requirements. Also has a page aimed specifically at young people who want to volunteer.

http://www.volunteering.org.uk/ [EN]

England: Youth Action Network

Want to have fun in your spare time, meet others and make a change in your area? Find out about volunteering opportunities, and how you can set up and run your own project. This site has a search facility so you can find a Youth Action Agency near you. Make contact with them and see what’s available in your community.

http://www.youthactionnetwork.org.uk/ [EN]

Northern Ireland: NICHS

A voluntary organisation working to improve community relations in Northern Ireland. It provides a range of volunteering opportunities for young people. Download an application form at this site.

http://www.nichs.org [EN]

Northern Ireland: Student Community Action

Based at Queen’s University, Belfast, this is an anti-sectarian, non-political organisation encouraging students to take up volunteering in the local area.

http://quis.qub.ac.uk/sca/index.htm [EN]

Northern Ireland: Voluntary Service Bureau

If you're based in Belfast, Castlereagh, North Downs or Ards, take a look at what's on offer here. You can find out about volunteering programmes such as the Intergenerational Project, which brings young people and older people together, or browse through the volunteering opportunities.

http://www.vsb.org.uk [EN]

Northern Ireland: Volunteer Development Agency

Information on what’s involved in volunteering, and how to get started. There’s a section on residential volunteering opportunities for people coming from outside the UK. The projects include work in the areas of cross-community relations, disability, children and families, youth and conservation. Also has a page on Millennium Volunteers in Northern Ireland.

http://www.volunteering-ni.org [EN]

Scotland: Project Scotland

If you live in Scotland, are aged 16-25 and would like to volunteer full-time, then here's your chance. You can spend anything from three to twelve months volunteering on a placement of your choice. Volunteers receive an allowance, and will get their travel costs paid. You can apply online.

http://www.projectscotland.co.uk [EN]

Scotland: Volunteer Development Scotland

Opportunities in Scotland for volunteers aged 16-24 and beyond. VDS is Scotland's national centre for volunteering and has a broad range of references and links to volunteering opportunities. There are lots of projects, events and awards for those who help others!

http://www.vds.org.uk/ [EN]

Scotland: Volunteer Scotland

Search the database for volunteering opportunities throughout Scotland. You can also search for voluntary work in other parts of the UK and abroad. Search for opportunities by type of cause you’re interested in, or the sort of work you’d like to do.

http://www.volunteerscotland.info/volunteernow/volunteernow.htm [EN]

Scotland: Workwithus.org

A site for Scotland’s voluntary organisations. Search for Scottish charities on the database (under ‘Find us’), job vacancies and information on volunteering (under ‘People’), and find out about the latest news on this sector. Has links to other relevant Scottish sites.

http://www.workwithus.org [EN]

Wales: UNAExchange

An organisation based in Wales that offers a range of long- and short-term international volunteering projects, aimed at people living in the UK who want to go abroad. It also runs a programme that brings volunteers from all over the world together to work on community projects in Wales.

http://www.unaexchange.org [EN]

Wales: Volunteering Wales

If you want to find a local charity in Wales that needs volunteers, try this site. Search for opportunities by area and by the type of work that interests you.

http://www.volunteering-wales.net [EN][CY]

Wales: Wales Council for Voluntary Action

Information on the voluntary sector in Wales. Has a page on Millennium Volunteers in Wales, including application forms and details of who to contact if you want to get involved.

http://www.wcva.org.uk/volunteering/index.cfm?display_sitedeptid=4 [EN][CY]

Original Volunteers

Original Volunteers offer affordable volunteering abroad, unlimited choices, fantastic volunteer work opportunities, and a flexible approach. Volunteering abroad can change your life, its a great way to travel as well as do some of the most crucial charity work you will ever do. Volunteering abroad will help you gain new skills, self-confidence, make friends for life, and improve your CV. Original Volunteers offer you the opportunity to volunteer overseas on a range of over 100 volunteer projects in 18 countries around the world. Whatever your age, background, or nationality, the volunteer projects welcome everybody equally and endeavour to encourage and support you in your choices and decisions.

http://www.originalvolunteers.co.uk/ [EN]

Real Gap Experience

Interested in volunteering or working abroad? Real Gap offers a diverse range of travel adventures and volunteer projects. They send thousands of people on unforgettable trips every year, why not be one of them?

http://www.realgap.co.uk/ [EN]