UK registered charity
Safe, structured volunteer placements with local hosts
Ongoing support before, during and after your placement
Over 10,000 volunteers placed worldwide
What Kind of Placement Suits You?
Every NVW placement involves volunteering with children and young people. Choose the environment that suits you.
Support teachers, connect with local children and become part of school life abroad. Lively, rewarding and great for your confidence and CV.
Outdoor Camps
Help deliver activities, sports and outdoor education as part of a volunteer abroad programme in a fun, active environment with children and young people.
Community Projects
Live locally while supporting families and young people through community volunteer placements that make a genuine difference.
Where Could You Go?
Volunteer abroad programmes across Europe, Africa, Australasia and the Americas.
Why Volunteer With Us?
We asked our volunteers why they chose an NVW gap year programme. Here is what they told us.
Volunteering abroad puts you in the middle of a community from day one. Live locally, meet people you would never encounter as a tourist, and build a social life that feels like genuinely belonging somewhere new.
There is no faster way to pick up a language than living and volunteering with local people every single day. You will leave with skills no classroom could give you.
Every single NVW placement involves volunteering with children or young people, whether in a school, an outdoor camp or a community project. That is what makes our volunteer abroad programmes different.
Living in a country is completely different from visiting it. You will get to know local traditions, history and everyday culture in a way that goes far deeper than any holiday.
Navigating life in a new country, with new people, in a new role does something to you. In the best possible way. You will come home more confident and more sure of yourself than when you left.
The freedom of travel with the reassurance of a trusted programme behind you. NVW is a UK registered charity with real people supporting you before you leave, while you are out there, and when you get back home.
How the Process Works
A clear, guided journey from application to starting your volunteer abroad placement.
Choose a Placement and Apply
Explore destinations and volunteer roles, then submit an application. If it looks like a good fit, we’ll invite you to an interview so we can get to know each other.
Get Confirmed and Prepared
Once accepted, you’ll complete key documents, secure your place with a deposit, and we’ll match you with a suitable volunteer placement.
Arrange Travel With Our Support
You’ll organise your flights, insurance and visa, with clear guidance and visa sponsorship from us to help you stay abroad for up to 12 months.
Start Your Placement, Supported Throughout
We coordinate your arrival, share everything you need to be ready, and support you before, during and after your volunteer placement.
What Volunteers Say
Real experiences from young people who’ve volunteered abroad with us.
A life-changing experience
Everything has been amazing. I’m gaining a wealth of experience in teaching while diving deeply into English and Spanish grammar. I was even given materials to start learning German!
Each week, I plan classes for three different year groups, teaching Spanish through a variety of engaging activities. Both the staff and pupils are friendly and welcoming, which has made blending in so much easier. This experience has also helped me grow on a personal level, allowing me to learn more about myself and what I truly want to do in the near and long term. I would highly recommend this to anybody!
Having a good time overseas!
Im having a good time! spending time here in New Zealand is just amazing I’m having lots of fun doing activities. Lots of hikes and camping around the North Island. My placement is quite cool we are having really nice groups over here which makes work even better We are also doing a lot of stuff around camp like hunting or sports which is really cool. Some small confrontations here and there. But otherwise a really good time overall.
Best year of my life!
The comunity volunteer placement I did for a whole year was the most incredible experience i’ve ever had in my entire life. I learned life skills that I would have never imagined I will do, like taking care of two little kids, traveling a lot by myself or even learn how to ski.
My main “job” was to help a family and be an aupair of 5 year old twins, but actually in the end they became family to me! I lived 25 minutes away from central london so I used to go in my free time so I made many friends of all around the world. Also, I did volunteering in a children hospice shop for children with cancer, where I learned many skills while doing a really nice thing for the community.
While being there I had the chance to travel to many places in the United Kingdom and Europe, I went to places that I used to just see in pictures and I did many things that I will always remember
This had changed me in a very good way, it helped me to grow as a person and expand my life, friends and even family! It was an incredible year.
