Volunteering with Raleigh

Although we describe Raleigh as an expedition, a large part of your experience will be volunteering on community and/or environmental projects. As there are so many volunteering options out there here are a few pointers on why volunteering with Raleigh on an expedition is different from other types of volunteering projects overseas:

1) Volunteering overseas with Raleigh is a group experience so you won't feel isolated. On our main expeditions you'll be working in teams of about 12-16 people comprising 2 volunteer managers aged 25+ and venturers aged 17-24 from a variety of backgrounds and nationalities.

2) The volunteer projects you'll be working on are planned and delivered in partnership with host government ministries, Non-governmental organisations or local communities so you can be reassured that the projects are genuinely needed, worthwhile and sustainable.

3) The communities and project partners want you to be there. They recognise the benefits of Raleigh volunteers going into their communities - helping to eradicate poverty, working alongside the communities to show what can be achieved with teamwork and exchanging cultures

4) Our volunteering projects have a tangible start and finish so you'll have some clear aims and you'll be making a real difference. Many of them are infrastructure based such as building schools or installing gravity feed water systems. You won't just be repainting a school that other groups have painted beforehand.

5) Raleigh has a permanent field base in each country with permanent staff, transport and logistics so if anything goes wrong then we've got the staff in country and a team of people around you to provide support. You'll be in permanent communications with the field base through High frequency radio, and back-up communications such as satellite phones and you'll all receive health & safety training. Read more about our full safety procedures

6) Our volunteer project sites are visited year round - not just once a year and not just by head office staff or regional representatives. The permanent staff in country take time to build relationships with the project partners to ensure the project will be mutually beneficial to the communities and Raleigh volunteers and that thorough risk assessments are carried out

7) Raleigh is committed to the personal development of its volunteers and its unique experiential learning approach means that not only will you be making a difference to local communities, you'll also be gaining new or building on existing soft skills such as teamwork, communication, leadership and cultural awareness