Linking volunteers and charities worldwide
Links for Change Volunteering Opportunities
Welcome to Links for Change
Welcome to Links for Change, the enterprise dedicated to supporting development, conservation and human and animal dignity through linking volunteers and charitable organisations around the world.
Whether you are looking for a change of career, a year-out, a chance to improve your skills and experience or you are an organisation looking for a volunteer, Links for Change can help.
We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to give something back regardless of age or disability.
Here at Links for Change, we are passionate about volunteering. We don't run our own projects; we link volunteers with appropriate organisations around the world.
We are here to help you at all stages of the volunteering process, from choosing your placement, to support during your adventure.
Click on the Volunteer button for more information.
Whether you need someone for a month or two years, we will work to support you in hosting a volunteer and making the most of the opportunities a volunteer brings.
Latest News
[08.07.2010]
Our 100th partner organisation is approved for volunteer placements.
Click on the Organisations button for more information.
Email: info_links4change.com Skype: links4change
Links for Change UK Registered Company Number 7177828
Latest Volunteer News
Our 100th partner organisation approved for volunteer placements.
[01.04.2010]
Links for Change officially opens, bringing support and assistance to volunteers and charitable organisations worldwide
Whether you are just looking for inspiration, ready to set out on a new adventure but need some guidance, or know exactly what you want but not sure how to get it, we can help. Whatever your reason for wanting to volunteer, Links for Change can support you and find the right placement for your needs.
We don't run placements, instead we work with charities on all five continents to develop their own placements. Our aim is to enhance development, conservation and dignity by linking volunteers' skills with urgent need throughout the world.
How It Works
Click on the side menu to find out more.
Why Volunteer
There are many reasons to volunteer. Scroll down to find out more.
FOR YOU
Learn to adapt to new environments
Volunteering in another country will expose you to many new experiences and learning to live in a different environment will make you more adaptable.
Make new friends
Whilst living in another country and working in a new job, you will meet a whole range of new people who will become life-long friends.
Experience other cultures and develop cultural awareness
A new country will present you with entirely different ways of living. You will learn about the way other people live and develop an awareness of different cultures that will stay with you long after you leave.
Explore the world
There are many ways to see the world, travelling is one way. But living in a different county will help you see the world in a different, authentic way. Living in a country also allows you to explore the surrounding areas with a local insight. This way of exploring the world gives you so much more than just a holiday.
Increase your self confidence
Going it alone in a new country may seem like a daunting notion but the thrill of realising that you are capable of living in a completely new world, making new friends and learning new skills can dramatically improve your confidence and make you realise how capable you really are.
FOR YOUR FUTURE
Improve you CV and increase your employability
Volunteering abroad will contribute greatly to your CV. Potential employers are always looking for something that makes a candidate stand out from the rest, and volunteering does just that. Not only does it show initiative, it shows that you are adaptable, able to work with other cultures and have the confidence to undertake different and potentially challenging work. Your placement is also likely to provide you with significant work experience which is highly prized by potential employers. The whole process of volunteering will make you a more attractive candidate and set you apart from the crowd.
Learn new skills
When you look at the job description for any placement, you may be able to see the areas where you will improve your skills and gain experience but we can guarantee that there will be a thousand more skills that you never even imagined you would learn that will suddenly feel like second nature to you.
Develop your existing skills
You may have studied a specific subject or trained in a certain area, but being 'on the ground' really develops your existing skills at an alarmingly rate. Also, it is likely that you will be sharing your skills with others around you, and there is no better way to clarify your understanding and abilities than having to teach someone else. You will return from your placement with new confidence in your abilities.
Focus your mind
Many people choose to volunteer after completing their education and before they start their professional career. Others decide to volunteer when they are feeling frustrated by their work or need a change. Whatever reason you have for choosing to volunteer, the experience will provide you with valuable insight into your own abilities and what you really want. Many people return from a placement with a new perspective, knowing what they really want out of life and have used this newly found focus to change their careers or their lives for the better.
Develop your language skills
Obviously this depends on where you are going and the languages spoken but living in a country and having to speak the local language definitely makes you learn quickly! Whether you have basic language skills or are fluent, spending time with native speakers will help you improve. Not only does this boost your CV but also opens up whole new job markets.
Links for Change will not place individuals in a placement where basic language skill requirements are not met by a candidate, however we are able to help with the arrangement of pre-placement language courses either in your home or placement country.
FOR OTHERS
Give something back
It is all too easy these days to forget about life outside the safety of our own homes. It's understandable; you have your own commitments: work, bills, family. But for many in the developed world, life is generally good: a roof over our heads, food on the table, clean water. We take these things for granted but for so many, even achieving these simple things is a daily struggle. That's why it is important to occasionally stand back and think about this, and give something back.
At Links for Change we believe that if you have the opportunity to help, then you should seize it. Of course we understand that we can't dedicate our entire lives to volunteering (we also have to survive and have our own lives) but giving just a short period of your life to volunteer can really have an impact on other people's lives.
Help communities develop
Volunteering with an organisation can have a hugely positive impact on the organisation's ability to perform its work. You can provide an extra pair of hands, new skills, experience and energy to help an organisation grow and develop. This allows the organisation to work more efficiently and effectively meaning its ability to help those people it sets out to support is increased.
By living in a community and working with its people, you can provide skills and experience to the wider population, not just the members of the host organisation. You can teach them practices to improve their lives and their livelihoods and help empower people who really need it.
Improve lives
The organisation you are placed with will be working to improve lives. By working with them, you too improve lives. Be it improving sanitation, teaching children, protecting the environment, working with governments to improve policy or simply helping an individual establish their business, these things have a real impact on peoples lives.
Educate others
We all see footage on the news or documentaries about how other people live difficult lives, but many of us are now becoming hardened to these images. Your experience of life in a different country will reawaken people's interest and concern for the plight of others. Through sharing your stories and experiences, you can help other people develop a better understanding and maybe even move them to be involved and help too.
Your connection with the wider world is also a great asset to the community, as you can provide an international voice to people often without a voice of their own.
Interested? Register today for a FREE consultation.
Need more information? Click on the FAQ section or email info_links4change.com
Locations
Click on the map markers to see just some of the locations and types of placements we offer
Am I Suitable?
Are you aged 18 or over?
Do you have a degree or suitable work experience?
Can you dedicate at least a month to volunteering?
Do you enjoy a challenge?
If you can answer yes to all of the above, we can help you make a change.
At Links for Change, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to give something back so, even if you cannot answer yes to all of these questions, please contact us and we'll see what we can do. Unfortunately, we do require all applicants to be aged 18 or over and cannot help place people under this age.
Our ability to link volunteers is based on the skills and experience needed for a specific placement. We will not link people without the required skills but we have a diverse selection of placement options and will always do what we can to help link people.
Our Service
When you sign up for our linking service, you will receive much more than just a list of potential placements. Our service includes:
Interested? Register for a FREE consultation
Why Choose Us
We understand that you may be overwhelmed by the different services offered when deciding to volunteer. At Links for Change, we believe that we are able to provide a superior service as a result of our passion for and understanding of volunteering. However, if that's not enough to convince you, here's how we outshine the competition:
Sound good? Register today for a FREE consultation.
Cost
Price for one placement (regardless of placement length) is £500.
This includes:
An initial payment of £250 is required before linking can begin. Following your choice of placement from the options provided, an additional payment of £250 must be received before your placement can be confirmed.
Your fee does not include: flights, transfers (unless stated), visas, vaccinations, insurance, criminal records check, accommodation and basic living costs (unless stated)
Your fee covers administrative costs and 5% of Links for Change's profits are donated to charity.
FAQ
LINKING
Where can I go on my placement?
We have host organisations all over the world so you can decide. You indicate your region of preference and we will find you the right host organisation. Sometimes, if your request is very specific, it may take us longer to find appropriate placement options but we will work hard to meet your needs.
What type of work will I do?
Engineering, healthcare, conservation or government? It depends on the type of placement you undertake. When you complete our form outlining your requests for a placement, we will try to link you with the areas that you have highlighted. All placement options will include a job outline so you have a clear idea of the work you will do. As is often the case, it is highly likely that, as well as the areas of work you request to undertake, you will find yourself undertaking a whole host of other work, learning skills you have never even thought of!
Will I be living in a city or a rural area?
It depends. We have host organisations in both rural and urban areas. When you provide us with your placement request, you can indicate the surroundings you would like. When we provide you with placement options, we will provide you with details of the location so you can be fully informed of the location that you would be choosing.
Can I volunteer with a friend?
Yes, it is possible for us to arrange a placement for you and a friend or partner although it make take slightly longer to arrange than our usual linking time.
How long does it take to arrange a placement?
It depends on how your skills and experience fit our placements. In some cases, we may have to investigate new placement opportunities to make sure that you get the best possible placement. Generally, we suggest that you make contact with us at least three months before you would like to volunteer however, we can work within a shorter or longer timescale upon request.
What if I don't like the placement options offered?
We work very hard to ensure that the placement options fit your requests and the organisation's needs. However, in some cases we may be unable to find you a placement you feel fits your desires. In such circumstance, we offer a refund of your costs if you can show that the options we have provided you do not fit your specific criteria.
Is there a minimum or maximum age limit?
We do not accept people under the age of 18 however there is no upper limit. In fact we encourage all ages to become involved in volunteering.
I am disabled. Can I still volunteer?
We pride ourselves on being an inclusive linking service. We have placement options suitable for people with disabilities. When you provide us with your information form, you can outline your specific needs. We will work hard to place you correctly although this can sometimes take a little longer than our usual linking time.
I do not speak the language of the place I would like to volunteer. Can I still go there?
We feel it is important to link volunteers correctly. The host organisation will provide details of the language requirements for each placement and we will only place volunteers if they meet this requirement. However, you may have basic language skills and we can help arrange pre-travel or initial training on arrival to get your language skills up to speed.
Do you undertake any reference checks before linking a volunteer?
When you register as a potential volunteer, we will request two references from you. I also require all volunteers to undertake a criminal records check and cannot place a volunteer until we receive this. You will be responsible for making this request to the police and paying the required fee.
PLACEMENT
Will I be met on arrival?
Most host organisations will arrange for you to be met on arrival however, this may not always be possible. In such circumstance, we will inform you of this when we give you your placement options and we will provide you with details of how to reach the organisation.
How long does a placement last?
How long is a piece of string? We understand that not everyone can take a year off from their lives to volunteer so we try to accommodate all time scales. However, we try not to arrange placements of less than a month. We are flexible and can work with your needs.
Will I have holidays during my placement so I can travel?
When we offer you placement options, all details of holiday time will be set out. Normally, for longer term placements, organisations are happy for you to take time off to see their country. However, for shorter placements, it may seem fruitless to spend much time away from the organisation during your stay. There is always the option to travel before or after your placement period and Links for Change are happy to help you with ideas and travel arrangements.
How many hours a week will I be expected to work?
Your placement options will include all information relating to your working hours. Normally placements include one or two days of rest per week.
It is safe?
All travel involves some element of risk but Links for Change works hard to help ensure the safety of volunteers. Specific details on safety and security measures for each placement option will be provided. It is up to you to choose a placement that you feel comfortable with.
With all placements, we advise volunteers to research the region they will be travelling to for safety measures and personal security. Links for Change cannot guarantee your safety and does not accept any liability in relation to your safety during your placement. Links for Change advocates comprehensive travel insurance and can help you arrange this.
Will I be supported during my placement?
Yes, yes, yes! We understand the importance of having someone there to help and smooth out any concerns that may arise. If during your placement you have any concerns, we will be on hand to help. If, as we often find, you are enjoying yourself so much we don't hear from you, we will check in with you regularly to make sure that everything is going well.
What if I am not happy with my placement when I arrive?
We try to ensure that all placements are correctly linked but there may be occasions when you discover you are not happy with the placement. Whenever a volunteer takes a placement, we conduct a follow-up survey to screen for any placement problems. If we have received negative comments, we will always explain these to potential volunteers before they accept a placement.
If there are any problems during the placement period, Links for Change are here to help. We will support you however we can. If you find that you really are not happy with the placement and cannot continue, we will help with a FREE reassignment service. This is not always a possibility but we will make every effort to ensure your welfare and enjoyment.
COSTS
Are my flights included in the price?
No, but we can help you with your travel arrangements to ensure you get the best price.
Is my accommodation included?
It depends on the placement. When we offer you placement options, you will be provided with details of types of accommodation and if you will be expected to pay. In some cases, the host organisation can provide you with free accommodation but if this is not an option. In most cases, you will find that accommodation options are relatively cheap.
Are my basic living costs included?
It depends on the placement. Some host organisations offer full board with their placements, others are unable to. With all placement options provided to you, the details of this will be included. In cases where costs are not included, we will provide you with costs for basic goods so that you can get an idea of the budget you will need.
How do I pay for my linking and placement period?
We deliberately pass the administration costs on to the volunteer to avoid impacting on the host organisation. We encourage people to fundraise to cover their costs. Not only does this help you make the money you need, but it also highlights your placement to people around you, meaning they are more likely to support you during your placement.
Can I get refund?
We only offer refunds if we are unable to provide you with the type of placement you have requested. You must demonstrate that the options we have provided you with do not fit your specific criteria.
What does my fee cover?
Your fee covers our administrative costs and we donate 5% of our profits to charity.
Can't find the answer you are you looking for? Email us at info_links4change.com
Volunteers
Latest Organisational News
[30.04.2010]
New advice 'hot-desk' introduced for all our partner organisations.
Whatever advice you need to help your organisation grow and develop, we're here to help. Just email advice_links4change.com
Our passion at Links for Change is linking volunteers with organisations around the world.
Find out more by clicking on the side menu.
We have now introduced an advice 'hot-desk' for all your organisational needs. Once you are partnered with us, you are entitled to free support and advice on all your organisational activities. Click on the side menu to find out more.
Why Host
There are many reasons why hosting a volunteer can be beneficial. Scroll down to find out more.
FOR YOUR ORGANISATION
An 'extra pair of hands'
The simplest and most obvious benefit. By hosting a volunteer, you have extra man power to implement your organisation's goals.
Staff learn new skills
A volunteer can bring a whole host of new skills to your organisation which your staff can learn. You may choose to have your volunteer provide training events or meetings in order to impart these skills to staff but, even if you don't, you are guaranteed that just working together will provide your organisation with new skills and education.
Improved fundraising ability
Many volunteers will be fundraising savy and be able to help you raise money for projects. They will also have good language skills allowing you to access donors from foreign countries in a more accurate and professional way. The volunteer may also have links in their home country which can be used to help with fundraising both whilst you host the volunteer and in the future.
Raise organisational profile
With so many different organisations around the world, it can be difficult to be seen by potential donors, partners and supporters. A volunteer can help raise your profile with potential media coverage (both in your county and the home country of the volunteer).
Volunteers are also often very technologically minded and so can help your organisation develop its technology use to raise the profile of your organisation around the world.
International support and worldwide links
Volunteers do no just volunteer and then leave. Once they have been so closely involved in the work that you do, they are unlikely to just forget about you when they finish. The volunteer can maintain support and communication with your organisation long after their departure, providing continuing fundraising opportunities, skills support and potentially linking you with other people or organisations for future support.
FOR YOUR COMMUNITY
Improve services
With an extra pair of hands, new skills, better fundraising opportunities and new enthusiasm, your organisation can grow and develop in ways that help you deliver services more efficiently and effectively, helping the people of your community.
Learn about another culture
All communities benefit from understanding other cultures and seeing different ways of doing things. Your community's interaction with people from other countries and other cultures leads to increased understanding and greater tolerance.
Raise the profile
By hosting a volunteer, the community as a whole will benefit from increased awareness of their needs and concerns through information passing back to the volunteer's home country and beyond. This helps increase the interest in your community and so provides opportunities to improve lives through increased funding and support for work in the region.
FOR THE VOLUNTEER
Learn about your culture
Although volunteers may have read books or seen documentaries about the region where your organisation is based, nothing compares to seeing it for themselves. The experience of living with a different community and in a different culture can have a profound effect on a volunteer. This can make them more aware of the issues faced by people in your community and improve their cultural awareness and tolerance. They also have the opportunity to learn about your culture and daily lives which can greatly enhance their own lives.
Help them spread the message
When trying to raise support for projects, volunteers benefit greatly from having first hand experience of the issues they are promoting. Experiencing things for themselves makes them able to campaign and talk on subjects with conviction and enthusiasm. This energy makes them much more able to convey the needs of people and encourage others to be involved and support projects.
Interested in becoming involved? Email info_links4change for more information and to regester your organisation.
Are We Suitable?
We accept all types of organisations, as long as they fit with our ethics and standards policies.
In order to be sure that we provide the right linking service we take the information you provide us with and we consider it against our guidelines.
We don't discriminate because of your size or funding, we just make sure that the basic needs required for the volunteer are met.
When you join our linking service, you will receive much more than help finding volunteers for your organisation, we will be here to support you every step of the way. Our service includes:
Interested? Email info_links4change to register
Advice
We are excited to introduce our new free advice hot-desk to our partner organisations. Our dedicated and experienced team is on-hand to provide your organisation with advice and support in any area of your organisation's growth or development.
We can offer advice on:
Fundraising
Advertising
Website development
Grant writing
Training
Database development
Partners
and more...all you need to do is ask.
Whatever your question, we are here to help. Just email advice_links4change.com
Our service to charitable organisations is offered FREE of charge. We pass our administrative costs on to the volunteer so that your organisation is not financially burdened.
We do not insist that you help with the volunteers costs but if you can provide accommodation or help with basic costs, this is always welcomed. If you cannot provide such support, we're still confident we can find volunteers for your organisation.
How much will it cost my organisation to host a volunteer?
NOTHING! We pass all the administration costs on to the volunteer to ensure that your organisation is not impacted on.
Do we have to provide accommodation or basic living costs for the volunteer?
It depends. It can help a volunteer if accommodation and/or basic living costs can be provided to them but it is not a necessity. When you complete the volunteer request form, you can indicate if you can provide support and the type of support available. Volunteers are often happy to have to bear the costs themselves and they understand that budgets for organisations are often too stretched to cover their costs.
Do we have to have specific roles for volunteers?
We do ask that you provide a basic outline of the job that you would expect the volunteer to undertake. However, we understand that work arises up that you hadn't expected. If this happens, you will be able to speak to the volunteer to discuss their role. More often than not, the volunteer is very happy to help where they can.
Do we have to provide an individual request for each volunteer we need?
Not always. You may have specific projects where you recognise that a volunteers involvement would help. However, you may also have ongoing projects that continually require support and more staff. In these situations, you can provide us with one volunteer request and indicate that this is an ongoing request. We will then highlight this on our database so that all potential volunteers can be considered for this position.
How can we be sure we will get the right volunteer for the placement?
Links for Change understands the importance of receiving the right volunteer with the appropriate skills and experience. When you request a volunteer, you can set out the required skills and experience necessary for the job.
When we link volunteers, they provide us with details of their work and educational history and we use this to ensure that we find the right volunteer for you. We also request two references from the volunteer so that you can be sure that the volunteer is right for you. We also request a mandatory criminal records check from all volunteers to help ensure the safety of all parties.
Before any placement is confirmed, you will be provided with full details of the potential volunteer so that you can approve the link.
How long will a volunteer stay?
You decide. When you request a volunteer, you can indicate the timescale of their placement. We try to arrange placements of at least a month but all timescales can be considered. Often, a volunteer may want to stay on after their placement finishes to continue their work. It is up to you to decide whether this is a possibility.
Does Links for Change provide support for the host organisation?
Yes, yes, yes! We know that continuing support throughout the placement period is vital to ensure that both parties receive the greatest benefit from the link. If there are any problems or concerns, we are here to help. As usually happens, host organisations are so happy, that we don't hear from them whilst the volunteer is there. However, just to be sure, we will keep regular contact with you to ensure that everything is running smoothly.
Can find the answer you are looking for? Email info_links4change.com
Register here for a FREE consultation
If you have a specific question, let us know when you register
About Us
Contact Us
Email
info_links4change.com
victoria_links4change.com
Skype
links4change
Office Address
Apartment 52
Moskovyan 31
Yerevan
Armenia
Registered Company Address
(for legal correspondence only)
Devon Cottage
Churchill Way
Northam
Bideford
North Devon
EX39 1NS
Links for Change was established by Victoria Leat in 2009 after she returned from her own volunteering experience in Africa.
During her time in Africa she had many wonderful experiences but felt that the experience as a whole would have been greatly improved if she there had been someone to prepare her, help her find work and support her. This inspired her to start her own business so that she could help others experience the amazing things she did, without the headache!
Victoria is British but she currently lives in Armenia where her husband works. She is passionate about volunteer work and hopes to pass on that enthusiasm.
Links for Change's mission is to link volunteers with appropriate charity placements around the world without prejudice; maintaining a high level of integrity, respect and environmental awareness.
Links for Change Limited is a UK registered company.
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