Gap years for grown ups

Volunteering overseas or a ‘grown up gap year’ may sound like a terrific adventure but, inevitably, there are pitfalls to watch out for.  As the trend of combining a holiday of a lifetime with ‘making a difference’ has risen, so have the number of complaints from travellers who have been thoroughly disappointed by the experience.  Tales abound of gappers arriving at their destinations to find that they do not have the necessary skills to be of any real help on local projects.

Many travellers pay large sums of money for the pleasure of volunteering and are disillusioned to discover that very little, if any, of this is actually paid into the project on which they are working.  So thorough research is needed before you get swept away by the idea of a volunteer placement and hand over a substantial chunk of your savings to a travel company marketing 'gap year' holidays.

You might start by looking at a company such as people and places, which specialises in organising overseas volunteer placements.  It takes great care in matching volunteers to community needs and operates with complete accountability, responsibility and integrity  Another plus is that people and places is essentially an organisation that knows how to work with grown ups as well as gap kids.  Over 65 per cent of their volunteers are over 50 and the more mature volunteers are very welcome as they have the very skills and life experience that they are looking for.

Programme Director,  Sallie Grayson, explains “Our whole model is unique.  We are transparent about where and how the money is used. At least eighty per cent will go to the host country and stay there. 

“We screen every volunteer and make sure that their skills are matched to the needs of the community.  We work with communities and do not place volunteers without the informed consent of the local people (and this is quite rare).  Our volunteers do not replace local employment.  You will hear stories that local teachers have been sacked because they now use volunteers.  At people and places, we send volunteers to work alongside, not instead of the local community and ensure that volunteer placements are beneficial, not exploitative.  Local people do not subsidise our volunteers and our relationship is long-term and sustainable"

And if proof it needed of that fact, people and places has been highly commended in the Virgin Responsible Tourism Awards.  

The cost of a placement with people and places varies as there is the option to stay in homestays, comfy hotels or a combination of both.  To find out more visit www.travel-peopleandplaces.co.uk There is an opportunity to meet up with organisers and volunteers at socials being hosted by people and places in October in Leeds and Faversham, although places are quite limited.  Alternatively you can email Sallie Grayson at sallie@travel-peopleandplaces.co.uk

Naomi Kemeny and Bill Brierly have recently spent time in Nepal and Africa on voluntary placements arranged by people and places.  To read their accounts of their experiences click here...