Support & Safety During Your Placement
Everything you need to know about how NVW looks after you before, during and after your gap year.
You Are Never on Your Own
Choosing to volunteer abroad is a significant decision, and we take our responsibility to you seriously. Every placement we offer is carefully vetted, every organisation we work with is known to us personally, and every volunteer who travels with NVW has a named Programme Manager looking out for them from the moment they apply to the moment they return home.
This page sets out exactly what that support looks like in practice, so you and your family know what to expect before you commit.
How We Support You
A clear picture of what support looks like at every stage of your placement.
Before You Leave
Your Programme Manager will prepare you thoroughly before your placement begins. A detailed pre-departure briefing covering your specific placement, day-to-day life in your host country, visa and travel requirements, and practical advice on everything from what to pack to how to stay safe.
On the Ground
Your placement supervisor and local coordinator are your first point of contact for day-to-day matters. They know the placement, the organisation and the local area, and are best placed to help with practical questions as they arise.
Your Programme Manager
Your NVW Programme Manager remains available throughout your placement for anything that goes beyond the day-to-day. Whether you have a concern, a question about your visa, or simply need to talk something through, they are there.
Regular Check-ins
We check in with volunteers regularly throughout their placement to make sure everything is going well and that standards are being met. If something isn’t right, we want to know about it and we will act on it.
Annual Placement Visits
Every placement we offer is visited by the NVW team annually. These visits allow us to maintain relationships with host organisations, assess standards first-hand, and make sure the experience we offer matches what we promise.
If Something Goes Wrong
We won't pretend that placements always run perfectly. Here's what to do.
Step 1 - Talk to Your Supervisor
Most day-to-day issues can be resolved quickly at placement level. Your supervisor and local coordinator are best placed to help with practical matters on the ground.
Step 2 - Contact Your Programme Manager
If the issue can’t be resolved locally, or you don’t feel comfortable raising it there, contact your NVW Programme Manager directly. We will listen and act.
Step 3 - We Find a Resolution
In the rare event a placement isn’t working out, we will explore all available options with you, including whether an alternative arrangement is possible.
Keeping You Safe
All organisations we work with are known to us personally and assessed before joining our network. We do not place volunteers with organisations we have not vetted, and we revisit that annually through our placement visits. For placements working with children and young people, all relevant safeguarding requirements are communicated clearly before you begin, and your placement organisation will brief you on their own procedures during induction.
For Parents & Families
We know that for many of our volunteers, this will be their first time living and working abroad, and we understand that families want reassurance as much as the volunteers themselves.
If you are a parent or family member with questions about a specific placement, or about how NVW supports volunteers more generally, you are welcome to get in touch directly.
“We have been arranging volunteering placements for young people for many years, and the safety and wellbeing of our volunteers is the foundation everything else is built on.”
New Ventures Worldwide