National and international volunteering

As well as giving you the chance to gain valuable skills, experience and contacts, national and international volunteering lets you experience different communities and cultures.

Please note – the Active Student Volunteering Service is not involved in the promotion or administration of volunteering opportunities outside the local area. Please direct any queries regarding these to the Careers Service.

Have a question? Contact us

Where can I find opportunities?

National

  • Prospects – Volunteering in the UK
    Covers a wide range of sectors including the arts, conservation, education, social work, sports, work with animals and more. Includes links to national vacancy sites.
  • Vacancy service
    The Careers Service advertises some volunteering opportunities outside of the local area.

International opportunities

  • AIESEC
    Facilitates international exchange of students and recent graduates either in paid traineeships or as volunteers.
  • British Overseas NGOs for Development (BOND)
    UK network of voluntary organisations working in international development.
  • Cross Cultural Solutions
    Global opportunities in health, child development and girls’ and women’s empowerment.
  • Kaya Responsible Travel
    Opportunities in the arts, business, conservation, community work, education and healthcare. Locations in Latin America, Africa and Asia-Pacific. Fees payable.
  • Love Volunteers
    Opportunities worldwide in the arts, childcare, community work, construction, disability and special needs, education and sport. Moderate fees payable.
  • Médecins Sans Frontières
    An international humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency medical aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare.
  • Mondo Foundation
    Short-term placements with education, gender equality and livelihood projects in Himalayan India, Nepal and Tanzania.
  • Original Volunteers
    Ethical, flexible, placements across 18 countries. Includes teaching, care, medical, construction, conservation and sports placements. Moderate fees payable.
  • Plan My Gap Year
    Opportunities in Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Programmes include childcare, community projects, English teaching, healthcare, mental health and psychology. Fees payable.
  • Raleigh International
    Overseas volunteering opportunities for 17-24 year olds and Volunteer Managers aged 25 +. Environmental, community and adventure projects in Tanzania, Nepal, Malaysian Borneo and Nicaragua & Costa Rica. Fundraising required.
  • United Nations Volunteers
    Opportunities for graduates with relevant experience in a range of skillsets. Online and field volunteering available.
  • Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO)
    Graduate opportunities in education, health, natural resources, business and social development and technical professions. Locations include Africa, India, Pakistan and South East Asia.
  • WWOOF International
    Global opportunities to volunteer on organic farms. Transportation and personal expenses payable.

Where can I volunteer?

Use these resources to find out more about the country/countries you wish to volunteer in.

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Office
    Includes an A-Z directory of locations worldwide including advice on local social, political and health issues of interest to travellers.
  • TargetJobs
    Advice on destination and career choices, exchange programmes, visas and work permits, and more.

Country profiles

  • TargetJobs country profiles
    A directory of 40 profiles, each includes job seeking resources, advice on visa requirements and more. Content provided by AGCAS (Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services).
  • Working abroad
    A directory of country profiles from Graduate Prospects Ltd. Includes entries for Iceland and South Africa, not included in the TargetJobs directory.