Au Pair & Community Volunteer UK
Live with a British family, support your community, and gain an immersive cultural experience on a gap year au pair placement in the UK unlike anything else.
Programme Fee
£950 GBP
Start Dates
January or August
Duration
Up to 12 months
Age Range
18-30 years
Location
London and the South East of England
Fee
£950
GBP
Start Dates
January
or August
Duration
Up to
12 months
A Gap Year Camp Placement in the UK Like No Other
Are you ready for a genuinely immersive experience that combines family life, community volunteering and cultural exchange in one of the world’s most vibrant countries? As an au pair and community volunteer in the UK, you’ll live with a fully vetted British host family, supporting them with childcare and daily routines, while also volunteering part-time with a local organisation making a real difference in the community.
Living as part of a British family offers a unique window into everyday life and culture, helping you build lasting relationships and develop invaluable interpersonal skills that stay with you long after the placement ends. Alongside your family role, your community placement could involve supporting young people in schools, assisting in healthcare or social care settings, or contributing to animal welfare projects, giving your time in the UK a genuine sense of purpose beyond the home.
This placement is ideal for open-minded, community-driven individuals, whether you’re a recent graduate seeking hands-on experience, a gap year traveller eager for meaningful cultural exchange, or someone looking for a fresh perspective on life and work. Through this unique blend of family life and community volunteering, you’ll develop independence, cultural awareness and a deep sense of global citizenship. If you’re looking for a gap year au pair placement in the UK that is as enriching as it is distinctive, this is it.
£950
GBP
Programme fee
Start Dates
January or August
Duration
Up to 12 months
Have a question? Get in touch
What You'll Do Day to Day
A genuine mix of family support, childcare, and part-time community volunteering.
You’ll live with a fully vetted British host family, helping with childcare and daily routines as a trusted and valued member of the household. It’s an immersive, relationship-centred role that gives you an authentic experience of British family life and helps you build real interpersonal and communication skills along the way.
Volunteer in Your Community
Alongside your family role, you’ll volunteer part-time with a local organisation, contributing meaningfully to the wider community. Your placement will be matched to your interests and skills, with options across education, health and social care, and animal welfare.
Contribute Your Own Skills
This is a placement where what you bring as an individual shapes your experience. Whether your background is in childcare, education, healthcare or something else entirely, your skills and interests will inform both your family role and your community placement, making this one of the most personalised placements we offer.
Is This the Right Placement for You?
We share our requirements upfront so you can be confident you’re eligible before you apply. This placement could be perfect for you if you:
- Are at least 17 when applying, and 18 by the time you apply for your visa (and no older than 30)
- Have at least a B2 level of English or equivalent
- Are open-minded, adaptable and comfortable living as part of a family
- Have an interest in childcare, community work or both
- Are enthusiastic about cultural exchange and building genuine relationships
- Are community-driven and keen to make a real difference during your time in the UK
- Can cover the programme fee and other associated costs (flights, insurance etc.)
What Life as an Au Pair Volunteer in the UK Actually Looks Like
Everything you need to know about the day-to-day practicalities of your placement.
Work Schedule
This placement is not a standard 9–5. Your time will be split between supporting your host family with childcare and daily routines, and part-time community volunteering with a local organisation. Hours vary depending on your host family’s needs and your community placement, so flexibility and a positive attitude are key.
Financial Reimbursement
Your host family will provide a minimum weekly reimbursement of £70 GBP to cover expenses such as flights, visa, insurance and programme fees. In addition, they will pay £1,400 GBP to cover the visa and health surcharge costs once your placement is complete.
Food & Accommodation
You’ll have a private bedroom within your host family home, with shared amenities and meals provided. Additional meal arrangements may vary depending on the placement. A professional host family matching service is included, with opportunities for both you and your host family to exchange information and arrange meetings before committing, ensuring clarity and mutual understanding from the outset.
Community & Teamwork
Your part-time community volunteering will be matched to your interests and skills. Options include education settings such as nurseries, primary and secondary schools and special needs schools; health and social care settings including elderly nursing homes, hospices and support for adults with disabilities; and animal welfare organisations including rescue centres and veterinary clinics.
Support & Safety Throughout Your Placement
Every NVW placement is carefully vetted, and you are never on your own. Before you leave, your UK Programme Manager will prepare you thoroughly for everything ahead, from visa guidance to what to expect on your first day with your host family. Once you're there, you'll have clear roles, ongoing check-ins, and a direct line back to the NVW team if anything comes up. For you and your family, that peace of mind is built into every placement we offer.
Meet Your UK Programme Manager
Your safety and wellbeing during your gap year is our priority.
James Langdon
Programme Manager UK
James has spent decades working in international volunteering, including senior roles at VSO, The Prince’s Trust and Lattitude Global Volunteering, where he became CEO. His own gap year in Indonesia in 1986 sparked a lifelong passion for what time abroad can do for a young person. He personally oversees every UK placement to make sure it is safe, well supported and genuinely worthwhile.
“What makes this placement so special is the combination of genuine family life and community contribution. You’re not just passing through. You’re becoming part of something, both in a home and in the wider community around you.”
Fee and Other Expenses
A clear breakdown of what's included in your programme fee, and what you'll need to budget for separately.
What's Included
£950
GBP
- Support acquiring a sponsored visa
- A thoroughly vetted, matched placement
- A volunteer role matched to your age, experience and interests
- A dedicated placement mentor
- Any necessary training and preparation guidance
- Private accommodation with your host family throughout your placement
- Meals provided by your host family
- Professional host family matching service
- Weekly reimbursement of £70 GBP from your host family
- £1,400 GBP paid by your host family on completion to cover visa and health surcharge costs
- Ongoing support throughout your time in the UK
Other Expenses
In addition to the programme fee, you’ll need to budget for the following. Exact costs vary depending on your nationality, location and personal circumstances, we’ll go through what’s likely to apply to you during your interview.
- Return flights to the UK
- Visa costs (£319)
- UK health surcharge (£1,030) — applicable if your placement is longer than six months
- Travel insurance (must meet the requirements of the host country)
- Police check from your home country
- Medical clearance, if required for your visa
- Legalisation or notarisation of documents where applicable
- Personal spending money for travel and free time
Why does NVW charge a fee?
New Ventures Worldwide is a UK-registered nonprofit charity. The fee contributes to our operating costs and allows us to continue our mission of arranging carefully vetted volunteering placements for our global network of nonprofit organisations. A financial report is published annually to the UK Charity Commission.
Real Story From a UK Au Pair Volunteer
First-hand account from a past volunteer who's done exactly this placement, in their own words.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about applying for and completing this placement.
Start by completing our application form, which helps us understand your background, interests and what you’re looking for from the experience. Your UK Programme Manager will review it and assess your suitability for this placement. If it looks like a strong fit, you’ll be invited to a friendly video interview, usually around 40 minutes, where you can get to know the NVW team, ask your questions, and make sure the placement is right for you. If successful, we’ll begin matching you with a suitable host family and community placement, and send you an offer letter. You’ll then secure your place with a deposit, and we’ll guide you through every step from there.
As early as possible. Placements start in January or August and spaces are limited. We recommend applying at least six months in advance to allow enough time for the interview process, host family matching, background checks, visa application and travel arrangements. That said, if your preferred start date is approaching, it’s still worth getting in touch and we’ll let you know what’s possible.
Yes, most volunteers will need a sponsored visa. The visa costs £319, and if your placement is longer than six months there is also a UK health surcharge of £1,030, both of which are reimbursed by your host family on completion of the placement. Support with the visa process is included in your programme fee. We’ll explain exactly what’s required for your nationality, provide sponsorship where needed, and guide you through each step.
You need at least a B2 level of English or equivalent. As you’ll be living with a British family and volunteering in community settings, strong communication skills are essential to making the most of the placement and fulfilling your responsibilities effectively.
All host families are fully vetted by our partner Square AuPair before being matched with volunteers. The matching process includes opportunities for both you and the host family to exchange information and arrange meetings before committing, so both parties can feel confident and well-prepared before the placement begins.
Community placements are matched to your interests and skills. Options include education settings such as nurseries, primary and secondary schools and special needs schools; health and social care settings including elderly nursing homes, hospices and support for adults with disabilities; and animal welfare organisations including rescue centres and veterinary clinics.
Yes. Your host family will provide a minimum weekly reimbursement of £70 GBP to help cover your costs during the placement. On completion, they will also pay £1,400 GBP to cover your visa and health surcharge costs. This is in addition to your accommodation and meals being provided throughout.
Au pair arrangements in the UK are not formally regulated in the same way as employment, and it’s worth familiarising yourself with the relevant guidance before you begin. You can read the UK government’s full guidance on au pair arrangements and employment law at www.gov.uk/au-pairs-employment-law/au-pairs.
Yes. Living with a host family provides a structured, supportive environment from day one, making this one of the most accessible placements we offer for people new to travelling or living independently. You’ll have a home base, a ready-made community, and the NVW team behind you throughout.
Volunteers consistently highlight the combination of genuine cultural immersion, personal growth and varied experience as the standout takeaways. Living with a British family gives you an authentic insight into everyday life that no tourist experience could replicate, while the community volunteering adds real purpose and professional experience to your time in the UK. The independence, interpersonal skills and global perspective you develop tend to stay with you long after you return home.