Raleigh operates around 10 core expeditions a year, from 4-10 weeks, in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, India and Malaysia. Young people from all backgrounds and nationalities supported by volunteer managers , usually on career breaks or taking time out during retirement, join the expeditions to carry out genuine community and environmental projects, explore new cultures and challenge themselves through physical adventure.
Raleigh also extends its expertise to create tailor-made expeditions to meet the specific requirements of employers, youth organisations, membership organisations and schools.
Raleigh has been running expeditions since 1984 when it first started out as Operation Drake and its success can be put down to three key factors.
First and foremost is our commitment to providing a transformational journey for each and every person who joins a Raleigh expedition, whether they be a young venturer on a gap year, a young person referred from a youth agency partnership, a volunteer manager taking a career break or someone who joins an expedition designed by their company or school. The unique combination of breaking with one's usual environment, working on a variety of projects with a mix of people and stretching oneself both mentally and physically enables each participant to develop personally and equip themselves with new skills and increased confidence.
Secondly, we are dedicated to forging long-term partnerships in each of our expedition countries to ensure that the projects we offer are planned and delivered in collaboration with those that understand the real needs of the local communities - the government, NGOs and the local communities themselves.
Finally, Raleigh's expeditions are governed by strict safety guidelines which all venturers and volunteer managers are expected to adhere to. Having completed a thorough audit we have self-assessed and certified ourselves as BS8848, a new British Standard created to ensure best practice amongst organisations delivering overseas activities and expeditions.
