Volunteer Abroad > Conditions of participation
– Volunteers must read and understand all the preceding introductory text and these conditions of participation.
– Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age by the time the project starts, unless a specific project states otherwise.
– The appropriate placement fee is payable to VAP for each project at the time of application. A separate payment is needed for each additional application. VAP cannot proceed with your application without these fees. Placement fees will be returned to you if we are unsuccessful in finding you a placement. VAP will keep 10% of the value of your fee to cover administrative costs.
– Volunteers must complete the respective Volunteer Exchange Form. All relevant questions must be answered. The more relevant information that you can include, the greater your chances of acceptance by the hosting organisation.
– Volunteers should give the largest number of project choices possible in order to achieve acceptance.
– VAP will seek to make the application on a same day basis and reply to applicants in 10 working days (2 weeks). If you have not heard from us after this time please contact us.
– If the hosting organisation accepts one of your choices we will write to confirm your placement. If they propose an alternative we will contact you to ask if you accept.
– If for any reason a volunteer decides to cancel a confirmed application, they should inform VAP immediately so that a replacement can be found.
– Once a volunteer is confirmed on one of their choices, this can only be changed to a new project through cancellation and a new application.
– VAP will refund 50% of the exchange fees when the cancellation is made in writing one calendar month before the start date of the project.
– Full refunds can be requested in exceptional circumstances. Written proofs must be provided.
– All travel costs and arrangements, to and from the project, are the responsibility of the individual volunteer.
– VAP undertake to provide sufficient information and training to allow you to participate.
– All correspondence between the VAP Secretariat and the volunteer should be in writing.
– VAP is not responsible for insuring volunteers, although some partner organisations have cover for accident, illness and public liability. We strongly recommend that all volunteers take out separate full travel insurance.
– Volunteers must ensure that they have taken all the necessary precautions and preparations; have valid travel documents, sufficient money, personal medical requirements etc. so that volunteers do not become a burden for the other volunteers, the hosting organisation, or the UK government.
– Volunteers must arrive on the first day of the project and stay for the full duration. If volunteers wish to leave early, this must be agreed with the project leaders/organisers on arrival or preferably in advance.
– Volunteers must inform their family/guardian on arrival with the hosting organisation.
– Volunteers should take contact details of the British Embassy/consul in the country concerned in case of an emergency where they have failed to / lost contact with the host organisation and a crisis has arisen.
– Volunteers must be ready to share their time and energy with the group to help the project succeed. Once the volunteers have made contact with the hosting organisation they become the responsibility of the hosting organisation.
– Volunteers must respect the leadership decisions and processes of the hosting organisation and respect their rules and expectations.
– Returned volunteers should inform VAP of their safe return to the UK by sending VAP the evaluation questionnaire as soon as possible after return.
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