Volunteers

You will be pleased to hear the process is pretty simple with only 5 Simple Steps.

1.  Application
2. Consultancy
3. Volunteer Workshop
4. Deposit & Options
   
5. Pre Departure Support
   

1.  The application form covers your Personal Details, Professional Qualifications & Skills, Work & Travel Experience, Employment References & CV / Résumé. We will review your application and respond within 5 working days.
2. We take great pride in having a hands-on approach with all of our volunteers and would be more than happy to arrange a 1-2-1 consultation. We know it can be daunting but we’re confident that we can answer all your questions and put your mind at rest.
3. Even if you are at the early stages of considering volunteering overseas we strongly recommend you book a place on our next Volunteer’s Workshop. It’s a great way to learn about development, the role of our volunteers, meet with like-minded people and allay your fears.
4. When you are happy to proceed we require a £250 instalment of the £695 placement fee before our programmes team can source three assignment options, based on your own personal criteria i.e. your experience, availability, concerns & interests.
5. Upon confirmation of your assignment we will introduce you to your hosts, past volunteers and assist you with all the necessary arrangements.

Volunteers are responsible for their own travel, insurance & visas, however we are happy to give advice and refer you to our travel partners offering discounted fares and services.

Believe it or not it’s surprisingly easy for seemingly normal people to achieve amazing results, changing lives for the better. You don’t need the patience of Mother Teresa or the survival skills of Ray Mears to be a great volunteer. All you need is a little belief, the time and of course the will.

There are a few other boxes you will also need to tick;

• Professional accounting qualification (min. Finalist - QBEs included)
• Membership or 'affiliation' to a accountancy body e.g. ICAEW, ICAS, IIA, ICAA, CIPFA or CIMA
• A record of providing help or advice to others
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Bags of initiative and resourcefulness
• Honesty, patience and of course compassion.

Do you require references?

In addition to a successful Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check all volunteers need to provide us with written references covering their last 3 years of employment. Copies of your passport, two other forms of identification and your professional membership details are also required.

Each volunteer forms integral part of an ongoing and long term strategy to develop the skills of local people. Assignments typically range from 2 to 12 weeks depending on the agreed objectives, the range and depth of skills required and of course the volunteer’s availability. They will typically have 3 primary areas of focus;

1. Conducting a Financial Health Assessment/ Audit
2. Developing the accounting skills local NGO staff
3. Assisting with the preparation and analysis of financial plans and budgets
   
   

• Supporting International Donor (Charity) relations
• Implementation of new financial controls & procedures
• Assisting with funding proposals and project budgeting
• Teaching English, Sports & Microsoft Office skills
  
  

And finally ... 

Championing the role of the Accountant

In many developing countries the role of the accountant is still completely alien to the local population. One of the most fundamental objectives of all of our volunteers is to help elevate the profile of local finance staff, ensuring they have the confidence and the ability to become a key feature in the organisation’s decision making process and helping to create new role models within their local communities.

We completely understand that in these financially challenging times costs of any nature may present an obstacle to many volunteers, therefore we will always endeavour to source projects based on an individual’s own budget. Many of our volunteers have found their current employers to be hugely supportive, allowing either extended leave time or sponsoring the assignment as part of their staff development and Corporate Social Responsibility policies. 

Do you charge your Charity & NGO partners for my services?

Unlike some of the larger more well known voluntary services organisations, which charge local NGOs for their volunteer’s accommodation and wages, we are wholly committed ensuring no costs of any kind are made to your hosts. This means we can support a large number of small, otherwise neglected community organisations.

Why am I paying a placement fee? 

It is essential that we as an organisation are viewed as impartial in all aspects of our work and not as representatives of overseas donor interests, therefore we are entirely self funded and do not receive or seek 'restricted' funding from either government or charitable institutions.

The placement fee is our only source of funding and therefore is simply to cover the many costs associated with organising and managing a placement of this nature.

We appreciate the subject of funding is both difficult and contentious and therefore we are always seeking new, creative and sustainable ways to give our partners greater access to the skills and experience they so clearly need and deserve. 

All volunteers, and those still individuals still considering an assignment, are very welcome to attend one of our volunteer workshops, either as part of a programme or simply to find out more about volunteering and the Development sector. Each workshop is delivered by John Cammack, a highly experienced independent consultant for the non-profit sector. John has been involved with international development work for over 20 years, previously as Head of International Finance at Oxfam GB and then Senior Lecturer in Accounting & Financial Management at Oxford Brookes University.

Each workshop runs from 10am to 4.30pm, with 10 to 12 volunteers in attendance, some with an assignment and some still considering volunteering. It’s a great way to learn about development, meet with like-minded people, share experiences and allay your fears. The cost of the workshop is £99 but this will be refunded to those attendees that go on to take a voluntary assignment.

The next three workshops will be held on Friday 13 August, 10 September & 08 October at the UnLtd offices; 123 Whitecross Street, London EC1Y 8JJ.

For more information or to book a place, please contact us on 0203 287 1177 or e-mail info@afid.org.uk

Whilst the majority of our partners may be very small community organisations, with limited resources, their support will be first class and your welfare their primary concern. Unlike ‘tourists’ and ‘travellers’ volunteers will seldom find themselves alone, from airport pickups to assistance with accommodation and commutes the support will be heartfelt and personal. You will be welcomed as a new member of the team. 

AfID takes volunteer security and safety seriously. Avoiding unacceptable risk and minimising acceptable risk is a duty and responsibility shared by AfID, the volunteer and the overseas host partner. However we do our best to prepare volunteers for them and give advice as to how to avoid and deal with all potential risks. We work closely with many local and international NGOs on the ground to ensure that safety information and advice given to volunteers is as up-to-date as possible.

24 hour remote medical support anywhere in the world

A f I D has partnered with UK charity Inter Health (www.interhealth.org.uk) to provide volunteers with remote medical and travel support anywhere in the world. Inter Health’s clinical teams are available 24 hours a day to provide you with support, ensuring your well-being and safety before, during and after your trip. 

Specialist voluntary sector insurance

After detailed research we have found an insurance broker with a travel insurance policy specifically designed for volunteers travelling independently in Africa and Asia. Unity Insurance Services., specialists in youth and voluntary sector insurance, have a policy that works in conjunction with One Assist, the 24 hour emergency medical and Assistance Company, to provide a comprehensive range of services useful to A f I D volunteers.  It is essential for all volunteers to take out adequate insurance cover and care should be taken that the insurer understands the nature of your trip. Please note other similar policies may also be available

To find out more details please ring them on 01903768523 or e-mail info@unityins.co.uk.

Yes, each volunteer assignment forms an integral part of an ongoing long-term strategy to develop the skills of local people and for us to maintain the required level of continuity through successive assignments, effective communication between volunteers is vital. Every volunteer will play a fundamental role in the next placement design and briefing process, providing detailed handover notes and insights for the next volunteer.

If you would like to speak with any of our past or current volunteers, please let us know and we will be happy to put you in touch. Im sure they will be happy to help and promote the great work of their new friends overseas.

Yes, in communities where we have a network of partners there are opportunities for couples, colleagues, friends or even small teams of volunteers to work on separate local programmes simultaneously. 

The sourcing of assignments in the close proximity of other A f I D volunteers may also be possible with adequate notice and flexibility on the part of the applicant. 

Each year literally thousands of people are volunteering across developing world. Without exception they all say they return equipped with invaluable professional experience, a wealth of memories, and a whole new perspective on life. We are confident you’ll encounter a variety of new challenges, share new experiences with a diverse range of people and learn new skills that will give you confidence to face challenges in other areas of your life.

Vital ‘hands on’ experience in the International Development & Non Profit Sector

In a time when the job market is at an all time low and many accountants are still without work volunteering is not only a good and productive way to use some down time but also great way to develop vital softer management skills and really demonstrate to potential employers you are the right man or the woman for the job. Many of our volunteers look at volunteering as the only way to pick up vital practical experience in the Third sector, often deemed essential as CVs with purely commercial experience are often discarded without proper consideration.

A survey carried out amongst 200 of the UK’s leading businesses by UK voluntary organisation TimeBank found that 94% of employees who volunteered had benefited either by getting their first job, improving their salary, or being promoted. 73% of employers said they would employ a candidate with volunteering experience over one without.

Don’t for one minute think that just because you’ll be working with serious issues that it won’t be any fun. Many volunteers are surprised at how much they genuinely have in common with those they came to help and how much laughter they share together. A good sense of humour and the ability to laugh at oneself are probably two other boxes you will need to tick.

So whether you want to improve your career prospects with new skills, meet new people or just feel good about yourself, we can help you find a volunteer opportunity that will change your life for the better. Trust me you’ll be inspired and get back so much more than you give!