Where can I read about past volunteers’ experiences? Expand Check out our Volunteer Blogs to read about other volunteers' stories and experiences.
What if my flight arrives late? Expand First things first, don't panic. These things happen. Before you arrive on the project you will have been given the Volunteer Project Leaders contact details. As soon as you know you are going to arrive late to the meeting point, or perhaps will have problems getting there, contact them and they will be able to help you. If you have to get public transport from the airport to the meeting point, it's worth making a note of the different departure times of your bus/train before you leave home. This means if you do arrive at the airport late, you will be able to tell your Leader what time you will be arriving.
Can I apply for a project if I am living outside of the UK? Expand Unfortunately, Concordia can only send UK residents on international volunteer projects. However, it is likely that you live in a country where we have a partner. If you are resident within Europe, head to the Alliance Network's website where you will be able to find and contact one of our partner organisations that are based in the country where you live. If you live outside of Europe, head to the CCIVS website to find a local partner.
What can I do to prepare for my project/trip? Expand It is good to learn about a country’s history, culture, society and language before you go. Rough Guides & Lonely Planet have some good information and advice. You should visit your doctor before going on a project and let them know where you will be going, for how long and what type of work you will be carrying out. This way you can also get professional advice about staying healthy and vaccinations you may need.
What if I have any problems when on the project? Expand If you have any problems before departure you should contact us. Problems arising while on the project should be discussed with the project leaders on the project – they’re in the best position to help. If it can’t be resolved at a local level, you should contact the national organisation – and we are always here to help.
Do I need a visa? Expand This depends on the country you're volunteering in. Head to our where we work page where we have information about entry requirements for every single country we work in. GOV.UK also has up to date travel information. If you have any concerns or queries whilst applying for a VISA, please contact us.
What insurance do I need? Expand Concordia stipulates that all volunteers must have their own travel and health insurance. As a minimum you should take out travel insurance that will cover at least medical and repatriation costs but it is always worth having baggage cover and travel cancellation cover too.
What do I need to take? Expand 3-4 weeks before your departure date you will be sent an Info Sheet which will list everything you need to pack. You will need a to bring clothes you don't mind getting dirty. Good quality work shoes are also useful. It’s a good idea to take something a bit smarter for any formal occasions you might be invited to or to suit cultural norms. Take recipes, games, songs, photos and postcards from where you live to share with the other volunteers and the local community. Most projects require you to bring your own sleeping bag and roll mat.
Do I need to be able to speak any specific languages? Expand Some projects do ask that volunteers speak either a basic or intermediate level of a language, however most just require a good standard of spoken English. Each of the project descriptions will tell you what's needed on that project. Some projects also have language learning built into the experience - so if you want to learn a language or improve an existing level then these are ideal.
Where will I stay when I’m on a project? Expand Every project is different. Some projects you'll be staying with local people, in families (which is great for learning a language) or in small community centres, whilst others you'll be part of a larger group of up to 20 volunteers from all over the world staying in youth hostels or campsites. It really depends on the project - so think about what you want to get out of the experience and then read the project descriptions - which will tell you about what you can expect. If you have any questions or specific requests just get in touch and we will help you find a project that suits you.
Who else will be in my group? Expand Every project is different. Some projects only ask for one or two volunteers - so you'll spend a lot of time with local people (which is great for learning a language) whilst others you'll be part of a larger group of up to 20 volunteers from all over the world. It really depends on the project so think about what you want to get out of the experience and then read the project descriptions, which will tell you about what you can expect. If you have any questions or specific requests just get in touch and we will help you find a project that suits you.
Can I do a project with a friend(s)? Expand Yes you can. Volunteering is a great thing to do with friends. Because places on project are limited we'd suggest you contact us first, if you want to travel and volunteer with a friend or group - and we can support you to find the right project to go together on.
Can I apply for more than one project? Expand Yes of course - you can volunteer as many times as you like. If you're keen to do a few projects, either in the same country or over a particular period, then it's best to get in touch with us and we can support you to put a programme together and help sort logistics between projects.
How long does the application process take? Expand It usually takes between 5 and 10 working days once we have received your project application form and project fees. In some cases, the process will take longer, but we will make sure to keep you updated on the stage of your application.
Are there any age limits for projects? Expand Whatever your age we have a project for you. Some of our projects are for specific age groups - for example we have some projects just for under 18s. Most of the other projects are for over 18s. If a project has an age requirement then it will say so in the project descriptions.
What happens if my application is not successful? Will I be refunded the registration fee? Expand Most unsuccessful project applications are because the project isn't suitable for the person applying, or because the project is already full. In this instance we will work with you to find an alternative project that is suitable. If this isn't possible we will refund you your registration fee as per our T&Cs.
What is the host fee and how do I pay it? Expand Some projects have additional host fees. This is a small fee paid by the volunteers on arrival supports the daily functioning of the local community organisation as well as the running costs of the project itself: food, accommodation, interpreters, transport and sometimes excursions. Host fees are always specified in the each project description but usually they charge approximately £80 – £250 per project. These fees are always payable on arrival to the host organisation and are usually in Euros or US Dollars.
When can I apply for a volunteer opportunity? Expand You can apply for any project listed on our website at any time. However these projects are popular and many fill up very quickly, so if you are interested we suggest you express you interest early, or if you're ready to sign up then book your place. A lot of new projects come to us through our partners in March so this is a good time to check and book for short term summer projects. We'll let you know as new projects become available ASAP through our e-newsletter so if you want to be the first to know about new projects then sign up.
I’m interested in group volunteering – what do I do now? Expand Please contact our Volunteer Manager on [email protected] or 01273 426492 who will start the process of organising your tailored group volunteering project. You can also have a look at our Group Volunteering Information Booklet.
What sort of experience should we expect from a Group Volunteering project with Concordia? Expand Concordia is part of a network that prides itself on intercultural exchange through volunteering. Your contribution is not only made by the actual work you do, but also by just you being there. In many of our projects, the local host and communities don’t have the chance to meet people from abroad. The fact that a group of international volunteers decides to spend their time supporting a local cause helps the local organisations that are promoting these activities tremendously. You can expect to be taking part in lots of intercultural activities with local young people, visiting the local area and learning about the local culture. Finally, Concordia is happy to organise trips to nearby major cities or attractions during your free time.
What are the requirements for a group to join? Expand We take groups aged 14 years upwards. With the group there should be at least 2 adults that will act as leaders accompanying the young people. We expect the leaders, or the organisation that is behind them, to select the participants according to their criteria and to make sure that the volunteers are motivated and ready for the trip overseas.
When is the best time to approach Concordia if I’m interested in sending a group overseas? Expand We normally ask groups to allow a 12-month build up period, so that we can contact our international partners and select the best destinations/projects for you. Depending on the brief you give us, it usually takes time to identify the best project for each group. Please note that due to the way our overseas partners work we cannot always confirm your precise project details until a few months before the project starts. These projects are not off-the-shelf projects, but tailored to the needs, composition and interests of the group as well as trying to meet a real need in the local community.
How long does it take to receive detailed information about the project for my group? Expand If you are going on a project in the summer, normally by the September of the year before we would send you a project proposal with an outline of the project, which includes the country, information on the international partner organisation hosting the project, location of the project, approximate dates, general background information about why a project is being proposed there, outline of work and intercultural activities, accommodation, leisure activities, budget/costs per volunteer. Final details of the project usually are given 2-3 months before the actual start of the project, after Concordia has visited and risk assessed the project.
What is included in the Group Volunteering price? Expand The fee charged for group volunteering projects not only includes a registration fee, but also includes the costs for travel (international and local), food and accommodation during the project, leisure activities, intercultural activities, recruitment and training of Concordia leaders, risk assessment of the project by Concordia, training sessions for the group leaders and participants, visas and admin costs of both Concordia and our partner organisation. Also, Concordia has a 24 hour emergency contact available while the project is running.