When can we volunteer abroad again?

When can we volunteer abroad again?

A number of people have contacted us suggesting they would like to travel with us as soon as possible.  This is fantastic news, and we so want that too, BUT…current travel restrictions, (both for leaving the UK an other countries and entering the countries where our partner projects are located), make volunteering on site impractical at the present time. In addition, as our partner projects are in developing countries where health care facilities may not be the same as in…

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we’ve just won an award for our work during the pandemic!

we’ve just won an award for our work during the pandemic!

We, at people and places highly value recognition from such prestigious  awards as the WTM World Responsible Tourism Award. This year the judges decided to commend organisations and destinations which are taking responsibility and addressing the many challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are particularly proud to have won The Innovation Award because people and places was conceived to innovate for better practice in the volunteer travel.  We won the award for the work we are doing to develop support and encourage e-volunteering – a…

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Could you volunteer a couple of hours every couple of weeks from your home?

Could you volunteer a couple of hours every couple of weeks from your home?

We cannot deny that 2020 has been a challenging year for our volunteer programme – we have not been able to send volunteers to the programmes we work with for 9 months – and even an optimist cannot see us being able to do so until spring 2021 at best – a year after our last volunteers returned home after their placements. A year where all of the programmes we work with are struggling to survive – some doing better…

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e-volunteers at work

e-volunteers at work

In the six months since the pandemic struck a number of volunteers have been working with us to try out various ways of volunteering from home. Some had previously volunteered and were keen to continue supporting ‘their’ project in what were clearly going to be difficult times. Some had placements already arranged and were keen to start volunteer work even though they couldn’t yet travel. Some thought their volunteering days were behind them and were delighted to see a way…

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Our brand new e-volunteer site

Our brand new e-volunteer site

“Covid-19 did not remove the need for volunteer support, it stopped delivery.”​……………… Harold Goodwin Professor Emeritus …………….Well we are very proud to announce – it may have slowed us down a little but it hasn’t stopped us! We have been working away for months with our partners and we can now announce the launch of a new site. www.e-volunteer.co.uk e-volunteering is a way for you to volunteer from home – it will suit volunteers who want to use their skills…

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News from the projects

News from the projects

The pandemic is causing challenges for all of us – here’s an update from many of the programmes we work with about how they are trying to meet these challenges – from marathon cycle rides to emergency water supplies (imagine trying to wash your hands when there is no water!) Eswatini (Swaziland) The Neighbourhood Care Points in Eswatini are currently being used as feeding stations – the children go there every day for food which they take home to share…

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Making a podcast – how volunteer Zara is making fantastic use of her skills

Making a podcast – how volunteer Zara is making fantastic use of her skills

Volunteer Zara has a placement planned – she is going to go to Treak Community Centre in Cambodia  ̶̶  she works in the publishing industry and she is going to use her skills to help develop a literacy strategy at the school at Treak.  Her plans were to travel this year, but of course the pandemic has intervened.  So Zara is using her skills on an e-volunteer project until she is able to travel. As part of her work in…

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Could you read a story for us?

Could you read a story for us?

Here is another example of the story videos volunteers have been recording (click on the title to view an example) to send to the education programmes supported by people and places. Local teachers are sharing stories volunteers have read and then discussing them with the children – great for literacy and English! If you could spare an hour to do this (even less if you already know how to make a video!) please contact dianne@travel-peopleandplaces.co.uk

Introducing Fiona -aren’t we lucky?

Introducing Fiona -aren’t we lucky?

Welcome Fiona Adamson to the people and places team Fiona has volunteered to work with Sallie and Dianne on the new people and places e-volunteering initiative. So those of you who volunteer from home for one of the programmes we are working with remotely will probably come into contact with her in the coming months. Fiona first approached us when she was exploring the idea of volunteering her skills to one of the programmes we work with…she was matched to…

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Why we ask for DBS or police checks for e-volunteers

Why we ask for DBS or police checks for e-volunteers

Recently we were asked why we demand DBS /police checks and references for volunteers who are offering to work online with us – (not in situ) – for the organisations with which we work. Good question and here’s our reply Our first priority is the safety of the communities and volunteers we work with. We have a duty to do all we can to ensure that the children, young people and any at risk adults that we work with are…

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