All About Us

What seems like many years ago...

In 2002 Guy and I founded the leap over the kitchen table with the assistance of an old green dinosaur Apple (remember those!) and support from our partners Charles and Merry from Safari Drive. We have slowly upgraded our technology and The Leap has outgrown our kitchen table to the heady heights of our office in Marlborough. We now have a great team who are dedicated and a delight to work with. They have all travelled extensively and hence fully understand the motivations and needs required to embark on such a journey.

How WE stand out from the crowd.....

It\'s a tricky one because we're obviously very biased, but in a nutshell all I can say is 'we care' and will go the extra mile to make sure your placement matches your expectations, is safe and ultimately a rewarding experience for all.
We achieve this by:

• Thorough placement planning - Guy's army training makes sure of this!
• Our placements are run by fantastic people who guarantee a thorough support infrastructure in-country.
• Our projects are both wanted and effective. On average approx 60% of your cost is spent in-country. You will become part of our steady stream of volunteers departing throughout the year ensuring our projects are completed.
• We are here 24/7 before you go and while you are away.

How OUR PLACEMENTS stand out from the crowd...

• Our placements offer a unique and fascinating mix of conservation, eco-tourism and community projects often located all over the country you're heading to, giving you a varied and exciting placement.

Eco-tourism opportunities involve working in exclusive safari camps
and jungle eco-lodges: escort guests on safari, help rangers track wildlife
and ride horses amongst Africa’s extraordinary wildlife.

Community projects involve teaching English and sport to local kids,
refurbishing classrooms and building fresh water systems in remote villages.

Conservation projects involve rehabilitating injured game and
endangered species, assisting on anti-poaching programmes and helping to
protect the rainforests.

For example: In Kenya you can study a pod of dolphins in the morning, teach classrooms of African toddlers in the afternoon, before kite surfing in the evening.

For example: In Tanzania your time is split between the beach and the bush, whilst in Ecuador you’ll travel from the coast to the Andes and onto the Amazon.

• We will provide you with a one-to-one initial consultation to help direct you to a placement that we know will exceed your expectations.

OUR PARTNERS

Over the past 10 years we have developed close working partnerships with a number of travel and government agencies to ensure our Leapers are well cared for and provided with a safe and well informed volunteer experience. Here's a snap shot of our partners:

• Year Out Group. The Leap is a founder member of the Year Out Group an association of leading gap year organisations formed to promote the benefits of a well planned gap year.
• Safe Trek. Our pre departure training courses are delivered in partnership with Safe Trek, military trained experts in travel safety and gap year preparation.
• Red 24. Red 24 provides The Leap with daily security alerts and risk assesments for all of our overseas destinations.
• FCO. The Leap works closely with the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office both in risk assesment and care of Leapers whilst overseas. We noitfy local embassies of Leap team's travel dates and activities and recommend Leapers also sign up to their Locate service whilst travelling independently. 
• Global Travel Insurance. For many years The Leap has worked with GTI to provide Leapers with adequate and recommended travel insurance policies.
• STA. The Leap works in partnership with the Student Travel Parntership to arrange Leapers flights, ensuring flexibility and value for money.
• Catch 22. Catch 22 are specialists in travel equipments and stock the kit we recommend Leapers buy before they travel. Quote 'The Leap' when ordering and you'll even obtain a discount!
• Wesser. Gap Year employment specialists Wesser provide nationwide job opportunities fundraising for St Johns Ambulance. Their 'Gap Year Job' scheme offers excellent incentivisation, paying £1 towards your Leap placement for every £10 you raise for St Johns Ambulance - in addition to your salary.
• Responsible Travel. We have partnered with responsibletravel.com to help to promote a responsible travel policy amoung gap year travellers and adhere to their industry standards.
• UCAS. The Leap works closely with the University and Colleges Admissions Service to provide sixth form students with gap year advice and support during the University application process. We lecture at UCAS conventions on an annual basis in addition to speaking at numerous schools and collecges.
• Youth Connexions. We have been invited to speak at a number of connexions higher education conventions and work closely with them to deliver gap year planning advice to students in the UK.  

So don't just think about the leap - get going and TAKE THE LEAP and we'll show you how.

We look forward to meeting you,

Milly.