Gap Year & Voluntary Work in the UK
Aberdeen International Youth Festival
The Festival attracts an array of talent from across the world and offers a chance to experience a range of quality and diverse performances. Over 60 temporary and volunteer staff are required during the Festival. Positions include administration, production, transport, pastoral staff, participant liaison and runners.
www.aiyf.org
Accent Courses Ltd
Focused on those aged 14 to 18, Accent aim to provide a residential English Language learning
experience, mixing language tuition and cultural visits for
non native speaking students in British universities. TEFL teachers are also required.
www.accent-english.co.uk
Accent
Academic programmes offered in London for American college students.
www.accentintl.com
Across the Divide Expeditions
Varied charity challenges in England and Wales.
www.acrossthedivide.com
Active Training and Education
ATE require monitors, over the age of 17, to work at summer camps located in castles or mansions. Applicants must complete a seven day residential training course that takes place every Easter (and sometimes there is a second one in mid July) to learn children's songs, games and crafts. Though there are some fees to be paid during the application and training period, ATE will refund your travel expenses after the summer camp and provide a financial 'thank you'.
www.ate.org.uk
AgriVenture
AgriVenture, run by the International
Agricultural Exchange Association, has helped
over 30,000 young people to have an experience of a lifetime in several countries around the world. Trainees must be aged between 18 and 30, belong to an IAEA member country and have a valid driving licence. Placements vary in length but are usually between six months and one year. In the UK there are dairy, sheep and beef cattle placements available along with some cropping
placements. Horticulture or equine placements can be requested when a suitable placement is available.
www.agriventure.com
AIDE
A sister organisation of the Alliance Abroad Group, AIDE's Work England programme gives you the opportunity to work in either a hotel or pub,
and experience Britain like an insider. Applicants must be aged 18 to 30 from Canada, Australia, Japan or New
Zealand and able to commit for at least three months. You will be paid approximately £145 to £195 per week, net of taxes, in addition to receiving affordable accommodation. In some cases you may receive discounted meals. The programme fee at the time of writing stands at USD$1500.
www.aideabroad.org
American Institute for Foreign Study Foundation
Twelve week internships in London open to American college students. Three to nine week summer study programmes are also available including the three week Shakespeare's Globe Education Programme.
www.academicyear.org
Amerispan
Internships in London and Edinburgh in a variety of fields including media, political, public sector and voluntary organisations.
www.amerispan.com
Amnesty International
Amnesty run a minimum three month volunteer programme in their offices in London, Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff. Volunteers are involved in campaigning, marketing, media and general support and can claim travel expenses and luncheon vouchers for the days they work.
www.amnesty.org.uk
Assumption Lay Volunteer Programme UK
Assumption's UK project revolves around a neighbourhood centre in a deprived area of Newcastle. Volunteers should be over 20 and living in the UK.
www.alvp.org.uk
Avenue Cookery School
Gap year and chalet cookery courses in Putney, London.
www.theavenuecookeryschool.com
Badaguish Outdoor Centre
An outdoor activity centre in the Cairngorms National Park, volunteers assist group leaders. Full board and lodging is provided plus £30 pocket money per week.
www.badaguish.org
Base Camp Group
Activity courses in Cornwall.
www.basecampgroup.com
Break
Volunteer workers required to staff charity shops. Other ways to help out can include driving, care work, fundraising and care support.
www.break-charity.org
British American Education Foundation
The British American Educational Foundation helps students find places in British boarding schools often during the Gap Year between high school and college, either as tuition-paying BAEF Scholars or as BAEF Fellows who gain work experience in exchange for room and board.
www.baef.org
British Museum
One of the leading museums in the world, volunteers take on a number of roles including guiding tours, stewarding and managing sleep overs for young people spending a night at the museum.
www.britishmuseum.org
British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
Repairing an invisible wall called "ha ha" and helping to save Ashdown Forest, the home of Winnie the Pooh, are among the many tasks allotted to volunteers on a BTCV natural break working holiday.
www.btcv.org.uk
British Waterways
Website for the organisation responsible for maintaining Britain's old industrial canals. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities to be found among the waterside societies.
www.britishwaterways.com
BUNAC
US students and recent graduates can work in the UK for up to six months. Applications are accepted year round.
www.bunac.org
Cactus Worldwide
English language courses across the UK.
www.cactusenglish.com
Camphill Rudolf Steiner School
An independent voluntary day and residential school for vulnerable children near Aberdeen. Volunteers should be available for six months though limited numbers of three month placements may be an option from April to early July.
www.camphillschools.org.uk
Careforce
Place Christian volunteers aged 17 to 30 throughout the UK.
www.careforce.co.uk
Casa Alianza UK
Casa Alianza works with street children in Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua. In the UK they are interested in hearing from people who can help with raising awareness, campaigning on street children issues, fundraising and working with the media.
www.casa-alianza.org.uk
Cathedral Camps
Volunteers aged 16 to 25 can work on week long summer camps to help clean and restore historic cathedrals and churches.
www.cathedralcamps.org.uk
Centre for Alternative Technology
Working for a sustainable future with help from volunteers. Two types of volunteer placements are available: one for one week and another for six months.
www.cat.org.uk
Challenges Worldwide
Challenges Worldwide matches the business skills and experience of volunteers to the needs of
their partners around the world to help them deliver better services for
their local communities. CWW typically works with volunteers who have a minimum of three years work
experience and is always on the lookout for volunteers with backgrounds
in law, finance, accounting, communications, marketing, HR, IT, business planning, management and administration.
www.challengesworldwide.com
Charles Dickens Museum
Volunteers help with publicity, marketing, cleaning, admin and conservation among other roles.
www.dickensmuseum.com
Community Service Volunteers (CSV)
Over 150,000 people volunteer with CSV each year and over a variety of ways to contribute your services including volunteering for the over 50s, conservation and environmental work and bespoke volunteering for companies.
www.csv.org.uk
Concordia
Each year international volunteers support a range of projects in the UK which include conservation work, supporting children’s playschemes and summer camps, helping to run festivals and working with adults with learning difficulties. Volunteer work takes place at Easter and from June to September.
www.concordia-iye.org.uk
Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland
CVNI is a registered charity involved in practical conservation work. Work is carried out throughout Northern Ireland. Task projects include a diverse variety of activities such as tree planting, dry-stone walling, path creation, river clearance and pond construction as well as office work. The organisation also provides an extensive range of training courses.
www.cvni.org
Edinburgh International Film Festival
Had, in 2008, 80 paid, 120 volunteer and nine internship positions.
www.edfilmfest.org.uk/jobs
English Speaking Union
A secondary school exchange between American and British students.
www.esuus.org
Eurolingua
Homestays and English language tuition in the UK.
www.eurolingua.com
Euro Practice Corps
Internships, language courses, work and study programmes and au pair positions for European students. Offices in France, England, Germany and Spain.
www.euro-practice.com
Ffestiniog Railway
Founded in 1832 the Ffestiniog Railway is the oldest independent railway company in the world. Built as a gravity and horse drawn line to transport slate from the quarries in the mountains around Blaenau to Porthmadog, the railway was closed in 1946 before being revived by railway enthusiasts in 1954. Volunteers can take on a number of roles including track maintenance and building repairs, station master, bar staff and, the chance to fulfill every boys' first career choice, driving the trains.
www.ffestiniograilway.co.uk
Florence Nightingale Museum
A small independent museum dedicated to the lady with the lamp, the FNM has a volunteer programme.
www.florence-nightingale.co.uk
Flying Fish
Professional training for Yachtmasters and instructors in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
www.flyingfishonline.com
Garden Museum
Situated on the South Bank of the Thames, opposite the Houses of Parliament, the Garden Museum welcomes volunteers with an interest in gardening. Volunteers receive a free lunch in return.
www.museumgardenhistory.org
Glastonbury
The big music festival in Somerset offers a chance to work for your ticket.
www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk
Global Choices
Two working programmes are available in the UK - Working Holiday Britain and Work and Travel UK. Employment can range from hotels and catering to farm work. There are also positions available in childcare, conservation work and archaeological excavations. An English course in London is also offered.
www.globalchoices.co.uk
Hackney Independent Living Team (HILT)
HILT works in work in the Hackney, Islington, Tower Hamlets and Newham parts of London to support adults with a learning disability to live as part of the community and as independently as possible. Residential volunteers receive live in accommodation and a small weekly living allowance for a commitment of between six months to a year.
www.hilt.org.uk
Hay Festival
A literary festival held in Wales attracting luminaries such as Salman Rushdie, Jeremy Clarkson and Jools Holland and Martin Amis. Both volunteer and paid jobs available. Welsh language skills an advantage for some positions.
www.hayfestival.com
Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust
Welcome volunteers to assist in the visitor centre and shop, to contribute to education work and participate in boat based monitoring trips.
www.whaledolphintrust.co.uk
Hope and Homes for Children
Hope and Homes help orphaned, abandoned or vulnerable children in eastern Europe and Africa. Volunteers assist in the head office, near Salisbury, from ensuring the smooth running of our reception, to getting involved in fundraising initiatives.
www.hopeandhomes.org
Imperial War Museum
Volunteers can work at any of the five branches of the IWM including joining the ship's company of HMS Belfast or military vehicle conservation.
www.iwm.org.uk
Independent Living Alternatives
Volunteer personal assistants help ILA with its primary task of promoting the right of disabled people to live independently.
www.ilanet.co.uk
International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE)
The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience arranges on the job training for science and engineering university students.
www.iaeste.org
International Cooperative Education
Internship positions for American college and university students.
www.icemenlo.com
International Exchange Program UK
IEP are the licensed sponsor for providing work experience opportunities for non EEA Nationals in the environmental and land based sector.
www.iepuk.com
Interspeak
Three to 12 week unpaid internships in Great Britain for students in high School, college or taking a gap year, as well as for graduates and older professionals.
www.interspeak.co.uk
Involvement Volunteers
An Australian organisation that places volunteers around the world including to the UK. Non Australians welcome to apply.
www.volunteering.org.au
Ironbridge Gorge Museum
Offers a free lunch to volunteers who dress up in Victorian garb and demonstrate 19th century social and industrial skills to tourists. Accommodation is available in a hostel three miles away.
www.ironbridge.org.uk
Jagged Globe
Mountaineering and rock climbing courses in Scotland and Wales.
www.jagged-globe.co.uk
Jesuit Volunteer Community
Fully funded opportunities for volunteers aged 18 to 35 from Britain and overseas to work with the homeless, refugees and asylum seekers and disabled in British inner cities for a year, or for a month during the summer. JVC volunteers do not have to be Christian, but they must respect Christian beliefs and be willing to explore and share Christian spirituality.
www.jvcbritain.org
Kentwell Hall
Volunteers are invited to live as a Tudor for three weeks in June and July to demonstrate how a Tudor house might have been lived in, operated and sustained a community in its heyday in the 16th Century. University students can take part in four to six week Summer Vacation Placements while older retired volunteers are needed to help out in the gardens, grounds, shop, tearooms, gate etc. Kentwell Hall also offer work experience available to students and has two or three internships for graduates with very good degrees. Internships are for six months and run from March through to October.
www.kentwell.co.uk
Kew Gardens
Discovery, Information, Horticultural and Schools & Families volunteer programmes available.
www.kew.org
L'Arche UK
Assistants are required to take on the challenging job of helping people with learning disabilities. You’ll be involved in all aspects of community life, from washing and dressing to leisure activities, holidays and fun. Assistants receive a regular wage, social security cover and board and lodging.
www.larche.org.uk
LEAPNow
Short term conservation work.
www.leapnow.org
Life Improvements for Everyone
LIFE is run by a young team of postgraduates and newly qualified professionals in the health, social care, and education sector and provide career advice, professional led conferences, and therapeutic and social interventions to disadvantaged people.
www.lifeimprovement-uk.com
Living Routes
Live in an Ecovillage of 400 people in Findhorn, Scotland.
www.livingroutes.org
London Transport Museum
London's red buses are world famous while the London Underground map is a design classic, and these, along with posters, uniforms and rolling stock make up the collection at the LTM. Volunteer duties may involve meeting visitors, providing guided tours, handling and cataloguing the reserve collections, helping in the library or stewarding vehicles at Depot Open Weekends. Work experience is also available.
www.ltmuseum.co.uk
Madhyamaka Buddhist Centre
A meditation and Buddhist retreat near York that relies entirely on volunteers for its day to day running. Work can involve gardening, cleaning and ironing, painting and building, admin or working in the cafe or reception. A working visit in exchange for accommodation and vegetarian meals is also an option.
www.madhyamaka.org
Mast International
The MAST Experience Abroad programme, from the University of Minnesota provides qualified individuals the
opportunity to travel to the UK to gain practical hands on experience in
agriculture, horticulture, agribusiness, forestry or related areas. This cross cultural experience living and working in another country helps young people develop a global perspective and a broader understanding of the world. Over 6000 trainees from more than 65 countries have participated in the MAST International programme. Applicants should be aged 18 to 30.
mast.cfans.umn.edu
Mission to Seafarers
One year programme assisting chaplains. Committed Christians only.
www.missionstoseamen.org
Monkey Sanctuary Trust
In Cornwall, the Monkey Sanctuary is visited by thirty to forty thousand people every year to meet monkeys and to see them living in a natural colony. Although volunteers cannot directly handle monkeys, they do help make sure that things run smoothly. In summer volunteers help prepare food for the monkeys, run the shop, help serving in the kiosk, run workshops in the Activity room and help keep the Sanctuary tidy
www.monkeysanctuary.org
Mountbatten Internship Programme
A 12 month internship in London for American citizens or from some southeast Asian countries.
www.mountbatten.org
Museum of London
Provides a list of its current volunteer opportunities on its website.
www.museumoflondon.org.uk
National Trust
The National Trust runs around 400 Working Holidays every year throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Full time volunteers interested in countryside management or helping to run an NT property are also wanted for a minimum of three months.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Natural History Museum
One of the top museums of its kind in the world, the Natural History Museum has over 200 volunteers unified by a shared interest in nature.
www.nhm.ac.uk
National Maritime Museum
The Museum, located in Greenwich, is keen to involve more people from the local community in its work. There are opportunities to become involved on a voluntary basis, mainly working in the galleries.
www.nmm.ac.uk
NBV Leisure
A specialist tour operator providing holidays to the French, Swiss and Austrian Alps, both in the winter and summer, NBV offer three to 12 month student placements in the UK office.
www.nbvleisure.com
Oasis Carnival Club
Supplies volunteer stewards to Glastonbury and the Dorset Steam Fair.
www.oasiscarnival.co.uk
Operation Mobilisation
Long term volunteer work for Christian volunteers.
www.uk.om.org
Outward Bound
Adventure holidays and personal development courses to excite, motivate and challenge 11 to 24 year olds.
www.outwardbound-uk.org
Oxfam Stewarding
Oxfam provide stewarding for a number of festivals including Glastonbury, Womad, Reading and Leeds. Priority is given to past stewards and regular supporters of Oxfam, with unfilled positions opened up to the public from around the end of March. Stewarding roles vary from festival to but could involve working the gate, showing people where to camp or looking out for fires. Oxfam stewards are able to get away from the muck and mess of a festival, they have their own camping area, toilets and showers, and receive meal tickets. Alternatively consider campaigning for Oxfam, getting festival goers to take part in Oxfam's festival activities. Both roles require you to be 18 years old and to pay a refundable deposit by credit or debit card.
www.oxfam.org.uk
Oxford Mencap
Oxford Mencap is an independent local voluntary organisation dedicated to the service of people with a learning disability and their families who live in the Oxford area. Summer camp volunteers are required to help disabled campers.
www.oxfordmencap.org
Rockinbeerfest
Smaller and less glamorous festivals, such as this one in Cambridge, also want volunteers. Stewards work for four hours a day for two days in exchange for a ticket and free camping.
www.rockinbeerfest.co.uk
Rokpa UK Overseas Projects
Providing assistance to Tibetans, Rokpa offers volunteer work in a handful of countries including the UK.
www.rokpauk.org
Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland
Long and short term student exchange programmes.
www.youthribi.org
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
In the UK, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has a flexible volunteer programme. Volunteers can participate for a day, week or month in a number of different roles.
www.rspb.org.uk
Science Museum
All you need to volunteer at the Science Museum is to be over 18, enthusiasm and willing to get stuck in.
www.sciencemuseum.org.uk
Scripture Union
Religious orientated volunteer work in the UK.
www.scriptureunion.org.uk
SHAD Wandsworth
SHAD recruits volunteers from all over the world to help people with disabilities. In return they provide free accommodation and a subsistence allowance of £60 per week. They also offer work experience and employment preparation opportunities to people with disabilities.
www.shad.org.uk
Shell Step Enterprise Ltd
Shell Step brings together students and graduates who want to gain valuable experience on real work placements with companies who want an injection of fresh ideas, talent and enthusiasm to inspire and build their business.
www.step.org.uk
Tate Modern
Has a limited number of internships.
www.tate.org.uk
Time for God
TFG has over 150 volunteer placements throughout the UK. These can involve debt counselling, farm projects and working with the disabled.
www.timeforgod.com
Trees for Life
Volunteers needed to restore the Caledonian Forest in Scotland. No special skills or qualifications are needed to participate but, because the work is often in remote areas, volunteers need to be relatively fit but not exceptionally so.
www.treesforlife.org.uk
Twin Training & Travel
Work experience and internships including an Experienced Chef programme.
www.twinuk.com
Urban Saints
Christian youth organisation. Volunteer holiday helpers required. Also help is needed at events and conferences and from those with skills in media and communications.
www.crusaders.org.uk
UNA Exchange
Weekend and two week group projects in Wales. Help is also needed at the UNA office in Cardiff.
www.unaexchange.org
United Kingdom Sailing Academy
Career training in watersports and yachting.
www.uk-sail.org.uk
Victoria and Albert Museum
Volunteers assist in many activities and departments. They work on the Information desks, as tour guides, as escorts for people with disabilities, and also in administrative roles in the offices. Work experience is also available.
www.vam.ac.uk
Vinspired.com
A government initiative to promote volunteer work in the UK, this website provides a search for opportunities such as hostel work, disaster relief, with emergency services and includes under 16 volunteering.
www.vinspired.com
Volunteer Developement Agency Northern Ireland
A government agency offering assistance to those looking to volunteer in Northern Ireland.
www.volunteering-ni.org/
Volunteer Developement Scotland
Government assistance to those looking to volunteer in Scotland.
www.vds.org.uk
Voluntary Service Belfast
Undertake community and conservation tasks in the province and gain experience that can lead to nationally recognized qualifications.
www.vsb.org.uk
Volunteer Action for Peace
A UK based charity organisation which works towards creating and preserving international peace, justice and human solidarity for people and their communities. Typically the work will involve either social work with the elderly, disabled or teenagers or renovation work.
www.vap.org.uk
Volunteers for Peace
An American international volunteer organisation that sometimes has placements to the UK.
www.vfp.org
Waterway Recovery Group
Another project in Britain concerned with preserving the industrial past, Canal Camp volunteers may find themselves feeding 20 hungry workers, clearing gloop from a canal and learning to lay bricks.
www.wrg.org.uk
Welsh Highland Railway
Owned by the Ffestiniog Railway and offering similar volunteer activities, the WHR winds its way on a 19 and a half mile journey through Snowdonia National Park.
www.welshhighlandrailway.net
WCVA
Government assistance to those looking to volunteer in Wales.
www.wcva.org.uk
Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales
Resident full time wardens oversee the running of Skomer Island, open to visitors between April and October. Up to six vacancies are available each week from March. Wardens assist with managing day visitors and overnight paying guests, conservation work and buildings maintenance. Accommodation is simple and volunteers need to bring their own food.
www.welshwildlife.org
Winant Clayton Volunteers
A UK US friendship programme, volunteers do community work in the east end of London and receive free room and board during a seven week volunteer placement. A similar programme is offered for UK volunteers in America.
www.winantclayton.org.uk
WWOOF
The now worldwide network for organic farming, with over 6000 hosts in 88 countries, began in the UK in 1971.
www.wwoof.org.uk
Year in Industry
Provide paid placements for students in their gap year before or during their degree course. Placements can be in engineering, science, IT, e-commerce, business, marketing, finance and logistics.
www.yini.org.uk
Year Out Drama Company
A gap year for budding thesps.
www.yearoutdrama.com
Youth Hostel Association
Seasonal assistant wardens are recruited from December to May to help run the YHA's 240 youth hostels in England and Wales. Work is available for varying periods between January and October each year. Other volunteer - including volunteering at summer camps for ten to 19 year olds - and work experience options are also offered.
www.yha.org.uk
ZSL
Various types of volunteer work are available at both London and Whipsnade Zoos. Volunteers should be over 18 with no upper age limit. Two week experience placements are also available.
www.zsl.org
>>Full List of Gap Years by Country
>>Live, Work & Travel in the UK
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