Frequently asked questions on volunteering abroad

A gap year or career break is an opportunity to do something different and discover more about yourself and the wider world. Volunteering abroad during your time out gives you the chance to make a difference in underprivileged communities while gaining new skills and experiences.

Anyone can be a volunteer overseas, whatever their age, nationality or background. Gap year volunteering is well established amongst younger travellers but mature volunteer travel is becoming increasingly popular. We’ve worked with volunteers aged 18 right up to 70!

Volunteering through an organisation like Inspire ensures that you work on volunteer programs in genuine need of support that make a real difference in underprivileged communities. Your fee also covers pre-departure briefing and in-country support, accommodation, airport transfers and some meals.

Ultimately the choice is up to you! To make the most of your time as an international volunteer, you should consider your own skills and experience and how these could be used to help others, then find a project that let’s you do exactly that. If you’re still unsure then visit our ‘What inspires you? page and let us suggest volunteer programs suited to you.

At Inspire we believe that volunteering is most effective when the needs of local communities are matched with the skills and aspirations of volunteers. Relevant skills and experience can make a real difference, though those who volunteer abroad simply with enthusiasm and commitment always have a lasting impact.

Our gap year and career break programmes can last as little as 2 weeks, or as long as one year. We recommend volunteering for three months or more as this gives you time to settle in, get to know the local community and make a lasting contribution.

This is an increasingly popular option and our multi-project special offer means that you can get some great discounts when booking more than one volunteer programme at the same time. This is a great way to experience a diversity of cultures and landscapes while volunteering abroad.

If you want to find out more about any of our international volunteer programs you can make an enquiry online or phone us on 08000 32 33 50. We can then guide you through the application process. Alternatively you can book online by pressing ‘Book this trip’ on any of our project pages and paying a £150 sign up fee to secure your place.

None of these are included in your volunteer overseas fee, but our team will give you guidance and advice to make sure you have all the essentials covered. We can also help you get some great deals on flights and insurance through our partners Longreach Travel and Endsleigh.

We provide a detailed pre-departure briefing, which gives you information on health, travel, finance and everything else you need to know before you volunteer abroad. On arrival at your destination our local coordinator will give you a guided orientation of the area, which will help you acclimatise to the country and its culture. We also offer TEFL training sessions for those needing preparation for a teaching placement.

Gap year and career break volunteers are usually accommodated in local homestays, located within the communities in which they volunteer. These are managed and checked by our in-country managers and provide volunteers with home-cooked breakfast and dinner.

The benefit of having in-country management teams is that we can provide 24 hour support for the duration of your international volunteer programme. If you suffer from illness, crime or any other problem during your trip, our local coordinators will be at hand to help. You’ll also be given an emergency contact number for our operations team in the UK.

Volunteering abroad is the perfect opportunity to explore some amazing locations while immersing yourself in local communities. As well as visiting local attractions at weekends you could sign up to one of our travel programmes for some unforgettable scenery, wildlife, culture and adventure.