Each year we welcome approximately 400 young volunteers from countries around the world into the UK where they spend between six to 12 months volunteering with our host organisations in the following sectors:
Education
We work with independent day and boarding schools, as well as a number of residential schools for children with special needs. Our volunteers assist with a variety of activities including boarding or house duties, sports coaching, field trips, drama and music productions and classroom activities.
Outdoor Education
Our partners include camps and activity centres throughout the country where volunteers assist children of all ages in adventure activities such as archery, abseiling, canoeing and orienteering, as well as contributing to the maintenance of the host’s facilities.
Community Care
We partner with respite centres, charities providing shelter to the homeless and organisations offering residential care to the elderly and people with disabilities. Our volunteers give support to residents by providing companionship, organising activities and providing entertainment and encouragement.
Environmental
We currently partner with several Field Study Centres where our volunteers help with courses on ecology and geography as well as support group trips and expeditions.
More Information?
We are always interested in expanding our network of hosts and would be happy to speak with you regarding how our volunteers could support the work of your organisation. More information can be found in our Host Brochure:
Host Brochure
if you would like us to get in touch please complete the form at the bottom of the page and we will contact you as soon as we can.
FAQ
- Where do you recruit volunteers from?
Within the UK, we welcome volunteers from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, Germany, Ghana, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and Spain.
- How do you recruit volunteers?
All of our volunteers are either recruited through one of our offices abroad, through our Lattitude Global Volunteering Country Manager in their home country, or through a partner organisation in their home country. We currently have offices in Australia, New Zealand and Canada; Country Managers in Brazil, Ecuador, Ghana, Mexico, Spain, and South Africa; and a partner organisation in Germany.
- How are applicants vetted/assessed?
Applicants coming to the UK complete our Lattitude Global Volunteering application form. This form assess their educational and work backgrounds, as well as their personal skills and interests. Applicants are also asked to provide two written references as well as a personal statement about why they wish to volunteer. Successful applicants are interviewed by their in-country contact to assess their suitability for our programme. Those applicants deemed to be suitable are then interviewed by our UK Programme Managers to gauge their suitability for the UK programme and to assess their English language skills.
Once an applicant is accepted into the UK programme, their application is shared with a potential host who can then make the final decision as to whether they wish to accept them for their available placement.
- How much do you charge your host organisations?
For the majority of host organisations we do not charge a fee. The one exception is for schools requesting language assistants where a small charge of £250 per assistant is applicable.
- What do you require of your host organisations? ?
We ask that our host organisations provide volunteers with food and accommodation, as well as subsistence allowance or reimbursement for the expenses they have incurred to volunteer. We recommend weekly payment/reimbursement between £50 – 100 per week. Whilst the majority of our volunteers reside on-site, some organisations provide volunteers with a shared flat or house or arrange for a home-stay with a host family. All of these options are acceptable as long as the volunteer is provided with a safe environment in which to live.
It is also important that host organisations provide a supportive environment to volunteers where they are provided with a mentor or supervisor, given a regular timetable of duties and encouraged to become part of the fabric of the organisation.
- How do you know what we are looking for in a volunteer?
We work closely with our host organisations to ensure we understand their unique needs and requirements. Our hosts complete our Host Volunteer Request Form where they can specify the quantity of volunteers they need, the type of volunteer they are looking for and which intake cycle they wish to participate in. Hosts also complete a Placement Details Form which provides a profile of their organisation, describes the duties and responsibilities of volunteers and outlines arrangements for food, accommodation and subsistence/reimbursement throughout the placement. These details are later shared with potential volunteers so they are fully aware of the commitment they are making, allowing their expectations to be managed throughout their placement.
- Do you have specific recruitment cycles for volunteers?
Yes. We have three intake cycles each year including early January, late March and the beginning of September. As we offer orientation sessions to our volunteers upon their arrival in the UK these intake cycles are quite firm, though we can occasionally arrange for volunteers to arrive early as long as we are notified of this expectation early on and it is clearly outlined in the Placement Details Form.
- Do you assist volunteers with visas?
Yes. We are an A-rated UK Border Agency licence holder for Tier 5 Temporary Worker/Charity Worker visas. We assist any volunteers who need this visa in obtaining it, including providing certificates of sponsorship. Some of our volunteers may choose to obtain a different type of visa such as a Youth Mobility Scheme visa or an ancestral visa. Whatever the case, the volunteer will be supported by their home country contact.
- What security checks do you conduct on your volunteers?
Each volunteer obtains an in-country police check from their local police department. Volunteers are instructed to bring the original copy of their police check with them to the UK and provide this to their host organisation.
Additionally, Lattitude Global Volunteering is a registered Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Umbrella Body, which allows us to process CRB checks on behalf of our volunteers prior to or on their arrival in the UK. We are happy to process CRB checks at the request of our host organisations at no charge.
- What happens if there is a problem with a volunteer?
We have been working with young volunteers since 1972 and have extensive experience in handling the issues that can arise whilst they are on a placement abroad. Within the UK, we have a robust support network in place so that volunteers and hosts are fully supported throughout a placement. We also operate a 24 hour emergency phone in case immediate assistance is required.
