Ask away!
Hello Leapers!
As The Leap’s resident Agony Aunt and a regular Leaper myself (that’s right, meet itchy feet personified!) I’ve tried and tested most of our placements and I'm on hand to impart my advice and experience at any time!
As you've probably read by now The Leap offers a variety of placements to suit different ages or interests. To help you decide which is your perfect Leap and answer those all-important niggles that are keeping you awake at night here are the answers, plus a few tips that should help you to get the most from your gap experience. Be inspired…
BUT please feel free to email at alice@theleap.co.uk
What's your question?
Making the Right Choice
Making the Right Choice
Why the Leap?
Our placements are unique, as is the way we think about volunteer travel. We know that the success of a placement rides on matching, and surpassing your expectations. We offer unrivalled back up and support to you both before and during your placement, meeting every Leaper, where possible, and making sure you select the trip that will best suit you.
We are able to do this because we are a small, family run company with years of expertise in organising gap years. Last year we sent just 300 people overseas (and have sent over 2500 since 2002), knew every Leaper by name and had regular communication with them and their family whilst on their placement. With us, you are not just a number and the success of your experience is our priority.
We're not a charity but our placements give you real value for money and honesty about where your funds are spent. A donation to the community is made on your behalf, and used to finance on-going development projects chosen by Leapers and community leaders. Want a gap experience that leaves a lasting legacy? Choose The Leap.
What makes our placements special?
The Leap is the only organisation that allows volunteers to combine community, conservation and eco-tourism projects all in one placement, with the chance to do some amazing adventure travel at the same time. This ensures that Leapers are constantly challenged and stimulated in different ways, getting the most from their experience and ultimately making a valued contribution.
Regardless of which Leap you choose, we provide you with opportunities and in-country expertise that would be impossible to find on your own. Whether it is running a kids club in the Amazon or managing a luxury safari camp in Botswana, we have got the knowledge and contacts to facilitate a unique experience for your gap year.
The projects we run are well researched and managed by experienced in-country hosts, and above all are sustainable ensuring that the efforts of volunteers really make a real difference to local lives and environment. The communities we work with have a great, pro-active attitude to development, get fully involved with Leapers and ultimately feel a sense of ownership of the projects. We are not interested in paying lip service to development and neither are Leapers. It is as simple as that.
How do we financially support our placements?
On average approximately 63-64% of the cost of the scheme is spent in-country amongst the community (independently verified by Price Pie) ensuring volunteers receive a first class placement and you can, therefore, be confident that the community, wildlife and environment really benefit. Last year we spent over £395,000 overseas. Our ethos is to employ as many local people as we can to help us facilitate the projects recognising that an employed individual in the developing world tends to support a much larger extended family.
In addition we include a donation in the cost of our placements to help fund community or conservation projects specifically chosen by our volunteers. We are proud of the fact that since 2002 we have invested over £1.7 million overseas helping in a number of ways - building new classrooms, sponsoring kids through school and improving water to mention a few. Leapers make a big difference to some of the worlds poorest people and come home feeling proud of their impact and lasting legacy they have left.
Can you really help?
You bet, the majority of your money is spent in the country you are visiting (between 63-64% on average), by the project host, in the local economy to pay for your food (this obviously supports small local businesses), accommodation, project materials, their running costs like fuel for vehicles and basically looking after and delivering you the projects and most importantly staff salaries. Employment of local people is one of the best ways your money can make a difference as they tend to support family members without jobs. Leap volunteers are very important to the overall success of these projects and obviously the many small businesses and communities that rely on the projects.
Included in this expenditure is, if applicable, the £80 per person (sometimes more) you personally directly donate on things you feel are important. This is in addition to the main bulk of funds sent overseas and is traditionally used to also help fund direct projects in communities like buying the nails, cement, wood etc to build a new classroom or improve the water. Although this seems quite little in UK terms when it is converted into local currency and when multiplied up by say 14 in your group to £1120 (given the local wage is probably no more than about £45 per month), it becomes a reasonably significant extra project fund.
This enables many local people to benefit. In many countries we operate in even the local teachers are not paid as the communities cannot afford it, so your help does make a terrific difference.
Which Leap is for me?
Volunteering
Volunteering Leaps are our most popular placements and take place in 10 different country destinations in Africa, Asia and South America. The big idea is to give Leapers a chance to experience several different types of volunteer work in one trip, community, conservation and in some cases eco tourism projects. These are the 3 Leaps.
What this means is that rather than committing to a single task for your entire stay e.g. teaching the same class for 2 months or spending every day of your trip in the back of a jeep counting antelope, Team Leapers take part in a series of different small-scale, achievable projects that really make an impact and are very rewarding. By trying your hand at the 3 Leaps you will be challenged and stimulated in lots of different ways, ensuring that you maintain your enthusiasm and enjoyment of your gap year. You will develop loads of new skills that will benefit you in the years to come and may even discover talents and passions you never knew you had!
On a Volunteering Leap, no two days are the same. For example, one week you could be teaching indigenous kids, the next you would be thatching people's homes and putting in irrigation systems before heading out to the bush to study elephants or dolphins, all topped off with organizing a local football league or putting together a drama performance to educate villagers about AIDS or Malaria.
Mixing it up allows you to really get under the skin of a country. In addition to this, some of our placements are split between two or even three different environments giving you the chance to experience life at the beach, bush, mountains and jungle. Variety is the spice of life!
Intern - Teaching, Care, Medical, Law, Media, Business
Intern Leaps gives you the chance to spend 6 weeks specialising as an intern on work experience that is directly related to your career choice: Teaching, Care, Medical, Law, Media or Business.
Uniquely you travel with the Volunteering Leaper's so you are part of a larger 'team' and whilst during the day you will be heading to your specific work experience organisation, usually in pairs, you will live with the Volunteering Leapers allowing you to benefit from a wider social group.
We also give you the opportunity to extend your stay to 10 weeks and spend the last 4 weeks doing volunteering (conservation, community and ecotourism) alongside the others, with the added benefit of changing locations so you see more of the country and in some places some time to carry out some adventure activities.
Volunteering and Intern Leaps ideally suit young people aged 18-27 with lots of energy, who want to spend 6 or 10 weeks in an amazing environment, making an impact to local lives and being stimulated and challenged in loads of different ways. If you are sociable and fancy making new friends and having fun with like minded people of a similar age, go for Team every time.
Horse riding Leaps are our most specialised placements. These trips run for between 6 days and 10 weeks and allow you to make sports the focus of your gap experience. You don't need any previous experience, although a good level of fitness and, if you choose our Polo placement, competent riding skills, are a must.
We offer Horse riding Leaps in 2 continents with activities as wide ranging as team horse riding in South Africa and polo in Argentina. These placements ideally suit adrenaline junkies and fitness fanatics aged 18-27, looking for a fun, physical challenge in an exotic environment. Experience new cultures, acquire and develop your skills and make friends for life on a Sports Leap.
The Perfect Summer Gap solution...
If you don't have much time then look no further...Spend 6 weeks next summer: volunteering, as an intern or in the saddle and we'll have you back in time for your results.
With all our programmes you'll experience different projects in different places with the aim to challenge both your mind and your muscles while exhausting your travel bug!
You'll join a leap team which we put together - made up of volunteers from the UK and overseas. Average size of team 12+, mix of girls/boys, 18-27 yrs.
Great team spirit and huge rewards, perfect!
Perfect for: Gap + Uni.
If I'm on my own can I join a team or do I need to apply with friends?
This is an easy one. You're welcome to apply as a group of friends (in fact we can offer an attractive discount for group bookings), but it's not necessary. We put the teams together and although some Leapers may know one another from home or school, most do not. Group sizes range from 3 to 26 like minded people, depending on the popularity of the placement. We will put you in touch with the other group members before you go and you'll hopefully have a chance to meet some of them at our training days.
Our Volunteering, Intern, Summer and Horse Riding Leap placements are a great way to make friends for life and find travel buddies. it is really common for Leapers to extend their flights and take an adventure together once their placement is up.
What's the average age of a Leap Volunteer?
Most of our Leapers are predominately school leavers with a reasonable number of recent graduates. Usually the teams have a good mix of ages and genders, although we can't really control who applies for which placement! If you are over 20, worried about feeling old on a team placement - don't! I was one of 2 graduates in the Ecuador team last year and we all got on amazingly! It was a really pleasant surprise to find that age was but a number, and some of the 18 and 19 year olds on the trip were more mature than us in many ways! I made friends for life, The Leap experience was new for everyone and we were all seeing Ecuador for the first time - which really helped to even out the playing field.
How many people choose to travel after their Leap has ended?
Most Leapers last year decided to spend extra time travelling once their placement had finished. Some stay on for a few weeks, others months and even those who have previously had no interest in independent travel usually change their minds! A 6 or 10 week Leap is a fantastic way to gain the confidence and in-country knowledge to get yourself around as a back packer- and equip you with the contacts, friends and knowledge to travel safely and cheaply.
After my placement had ended in Ecuador, I travelled with a Leap friend to the amazing Galapagos Islands, climbed a volcano and trekked to Macchu Picchu in Peru, where we met up with the rest of the team. Before the Leap I couldn't speak a word of Spanish and didn't feel ready to backpack safely around South America, but I left the placement feeling inspired to travel, full of confidence and really knowledgeable about the culture and customs of Ecuador! My memories of that time are some of the best from my gap year and I'd urge all Leapers to budget for some independent travel at the end of their trip. You will not regret it!
It's important to remember to extend your insurance, and your flights with STA are valid for six months so it's easy to change your return date with the payment of a small fee.
Argh! I still can't decide which Leap is right for me...
If you are finding it hard to choose between our placements but know you would like to take The Leap, do not delay! Send in your Booking (Application) Form and select more than one programme option. We call you for a consultation and give you plenty of advice and guidance, then get you along to the next training day (and offer online videos for those that cannot attend) where you can meet us and other Leapers face to face, wade through our photo albums and listen to the briefings for each of the countries that take your fancy. There is no better way to help the decision making process!
If in doubt we will happily put you in touch with past Leapers so you can hear it from the horses mouth.
Failing that, well there's always the option of doing more than one placement! This is becoming an increasingly popular choice for gappers and a great way to make the most of your year off. A gap year is actually more like 15 months in length, so there is plenty of time and opportunity to have more than one adventure. And with the generous discounts we offer to Leapers doing multiple placements, it makes financial sense too! Woop.
Money Matters
How much will it cost?
Please look at the Dates and Prices 2013 and the Dates and Prices 2012 pages.
Discounts and Special Offers: We offer attractive discounts to 3+ friends booking together, siblings of previous leapers, past leapers and people doing 2+ placements. We also have special offers and competitions.
Any hidden costs?
No. Please see the placement pages for a cost breakdown. For personal expenses, such as drinks, partying and any independent travel at weekends, we recommend approx. £300 for 6 weeks and £450 for 10 weeks. If you want to do specialist sports like scuba-diving or white water rafting in your spare time or you have a taste for swanky hotels, this will cost more. It's worth considering for when the placement has ended. Many Leapers decide to do some independent travel together when they have finished, this is something you may need to budget for.
Why pay to do voluntary work?
Volunteer, Horse Riding (in South Africa), Summer and Intern placements involve helping communities from far poorer backgrounds, such as teaching local African primary school children to read English and play sport. They clearly cannot afford to pay volunteers to share their skills. Placements need to be self-sustainable and have lasting benefit, allowing volunteers to go into these communities in a safe and effective way to make a real difference. Your chance to give something back.
On average the cost of our scheme comes to approximately £25-£35 per day which our volunteers tell us is good value for money to be able to participate in unique projects that no tourist or back packer could do, and not a lot more than they would spend if they were travelling and having to pay for transport, food and accommodation every day. Considering the additional benefits of 24 hour back up and support, training and having an in-country host on hand to help you make the most of your time, that's pretty good value!
When do I pay?
The payments for your trip are broken down into easy to manage installments, so please don't worry about finding the full amount straight away. We ask for a £100 deposit to secure your place on the trip, cover initial registration and pay for the UK training day (if applicable). This is included in the full cost of the placement it is not a hidden extra.
A second payment of £500 is due six months prior to departure which covers ongoing planning and research of your placement and is an inherent part of any successful placement, and we don't ask for the final instalment until two months before you go. Having taken two (entirely!) self-funded Leaps, I can testify that this system makes it much easier to work and save for your gap year as it helps you to set financial goals and manage your money better.
NB this is simply a guide - we take bookings up to a week prior to departure and given a lot of people book 4 months or less prior to departure. We are flexible and can alter the payment dates to suit you and your fundraising efforts ensuring you can afford the experience of a life time!
How do I raise the money?
One of the challenges you will face in your gap year is raising the money to pay for your it, but fundraising is all part of the experience and in many ways is as valuable as the adventures you will have with the results! The sense of achievement that comes from earning and saving for yourself is hard to beat, and it will look great on your CV.
Do not be put off the idea of a Gap Year by the costs, it is possible to be completely self-funded, over 70% of Leapers raise more than £2400 towards the cost of their gap year through a combination of work, sponsorship and fundraising events. It is not uncommon to hear Leapers raising around £3,500 or more. If they can do it, so can you.
To give you a idea of what is possible, I worked for 6 months before embarking on my first Leap to Kenya, doing a range of character building weird and wonderful jobs and really putting in the hours. I earned £1000 a month and saved as much as I could, which is fairly easy when you live in the middle of nowhere! The cost of my Solo Leap, including airfare and kit was £3000, which left me with over £2000 in the bank to spend on independent travel adventures, parties and all important souvenir shopping! I was able to stay on in Kenya for an extra 12 weeks.
Fundraising?
The Leap provides gap year volunteers with an effective and comprehensive Fundraising Guide. The aim is to give confidence and the advice needed to help reach financial goals.
The Fundraising Guide provides details on:
Setting a financial target
Sorting out a plan to achieve your target
Getting a job
Sponsorship and fundraising
Charities
How should I manage my money when I'm abroad?
I recommend setting up an internet bank account before embarking on your gap year. It is a hassle free way of keeping tabs on your (hopefully!) growing funds and managing your finances. And when you are halfway across the world and need a cash top up from the bank of Mum and Dad or want to report a stolen card, it's simple as pie to organize!
Also, consider getting a credit card. Even if you've never owned one before and have no intention of using it after your gap year, the benefits of having an instant pot of money to fall back on should there be an emergency such as suddenly needing a flight home, are obvious. It's a stress free solution and you needn't worry about keeping it safe whilst you are on your placement as the in country host will happily take care of it for you.
More tips are available in the Pre Departure Travel Booklet Leapers receive before their placement.
During the Placement
Independent Travel
Leapers have time and days off during their placement to travel, have fun and experience local attractions. Leapers on our Placements get weekends off. Air tickets are booked with a 6-month return and insurance is easily extendable should you want to travel further a-field at the end of your placement.
What behaviour is required?
The hosts expect high standards of behaviour where you must be punctual, friendly and polite. We have kit lists in My Leap (available for those that book). You will not be allowed facial jewellery: nose rings, tongue studs etc (because you spend much of your time amongst conservative communities and in some cases teaching where appearance is important. The work can be physically demanding, sometimes in challenging conditions. It does require you to be motivated, enthusiastic and be prepared to get your hands dirty when necessary.
Accommodation and Food
You are met at the airport by the host and transferred to and from the placement at the start and end of the scheme. Accommodation varies depending on the environment, destination and project phase: It may be a safari lodge with pool, comfortable safari tents and bandas on the beach, western style houses or local cabanas or long houses; on some of the conservation and community phases you may sleep in more basic tents, hammocks or huts. All meals and drinking water are provided and the food is good. Please refer to the specific placement information pages.
Are you paid?
No - all placements are voluntary. Please read Why Pay To Volunteer and Price Comparison.
How hard will you have to work?
Please do not expect a holiday. The placement will certainly be fun and you will get time off, but you are going there to contribute and complete a placement. You will have to work hard and the hosts expect you to. These placements require you to be motivated and show determination and initiative. Failure to perform to the standards set by the host will, if serious, result in your placement being terminated early with no refund. Ultimately this is your chance to put something back, and the more you put into it the more you will get out of it.
Working hours and time off
Hours on the placements are normally 8am to 4pm (may differ for Interns) with a break at lunch to chill and you get weekends off to travel. The message is to please remain flexible. Monday to Friday you will be kept busy 6-8 hours a day on rewarding and fun project work.
Communication and Preparation
You will have no problem communicating as English is either the official language or is spoken widely. In Latin America it is a little more difficult as many of the locals only speak Spanish. The Team Leaders will, however, speak English and in certain places we provide translators but it is an excellent opportunity to improve or learn Spanish. It is useful to learn as much about the country you are visiting including the local language - you will gain more from your experience. Excellent travel guides such as Lonely Planet, Footprint etc can be found in all good bookshops.
Security Overseas
We only offer placements in countries that are safe and stable, although there are obviously risks in any overseas trip. Our aim is to manage these risks to an acceptable level and base our advice on thorough risk assessments, medical evacuation plans and safety audits of the countries and placements we operate in.
In addition, we source professional and expert advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and our in-country directors, placement managers and friends who actually live overseas. You will be thoroughly briefed prior to departure and on arrival overseas.
Project Leaders, Safety Overseas and Our UK Support
We provide resident professional, caring, well trained, English speaking Project Leaders, usually on a ratio of 1 adult leader to 8-12 volunteers. They are supported by other local staff and are responsible 24/7 for ensuring you are kept safe, happy, healthy and busy. Clearly if you head off independently at the weekend the project leader will be at the base location but available to help.
The Leap also provide 24/7 back-up and support whilst you are overseas. We see you off at the airport and communicate regularly with you and your parents whilst overseas to ensure all is well.
The Nitty Gritty
Booking Conditions
Please read The Leap Overseas Booking Conditions here.
Non-UK Residents
Non-UK Residents are welcome to participate in the scheme but must be able to speak reasonable English. In the past we have had volunteers from across Europe and as far away as America and Australia!
Can I use my time abroad to count towards my Duke of Edinburgh Award?
Yes. Use your placement experiences, conservation, community, expedition, trekking, to count towards your DOE awards (Bronze, Silver or Gold) on their Abroad programme. We will happily sign your Award Handbook on your return. It is highly thought of.
What do we provide before you travel?
- Initial consultation followed by a comprehensive Briefing, Training and Open day - for those that cannot attend or live overseas we have online training video.
- Organisation and preparation of entire placement from start to finish.
- Access to MY Leap a community area for those that have booked and their parents covering: kit lists, flights, insurance, health, safety, travel tips, fundraising, visas, training and much more
- Supporting travel documents including effective Fundraising Guide.
- Management, advice and 24-hour backup and support.
- The Placement Guidelines describe your responsibilities, accommodation and contact details.
Briefing, Training and Open Day
We match, as best we can, your skills with the hosts requirements ensuring you are in the right placement to suit you. We hold a comprehensive Briefing and Training Day (to which your parents are also invited) usually once a month, to which you will be invited. This enables us to brief you on all aspects of the scheme, including health, welfare, security, work placement responsibilities and so on. It also allows you to meet past Leapers and the other members of your team, where possible. This is one of the most important aspects of what we provide as it allows us to assess and match your expectations and ensure the success of your placement.
We also run Open Days at the same time allowing you to pop in informally for a chat.
Volunteers who are resident outside the UK and therefore unable to attend are provided with online briefing videos and then a question and answer session on skype/phone if needed.
Leap volunteers receive a detailed briefing and induction on arrival in-country.
Previous Experience Required?
Volunteers do not need any previous experience or any particular qualifications to participate on the majority of our placements. Whether you have circumnavigated the globe or never been further than Blackpool pleasure beach, taught a class of thirty or are still a student, yours will be a valued contribution. If any particular skills are needed (i.e. horse riding ability on a riding placement) we will discuss this with you when you are making your choice of placement.
The key attributes we are looking for are motivation, sense of humour, determination and team spirit: you will only get out of this what you are prepared to put in.
Do we have a Privacy Policy?
Yes. We are members of the Data Protections Act Z655 6000. We will, therefore, not share your details with anyone else unless we have your permission to do so. If you wish to find out what the Data Protection Act is all about please visit www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
We collect certain personal information like telephone numbers, email addresses and so on in order to manage your placement overseas and provide you with the placement that most suits you. We also ask for marketing information (where did you hear about us?) and regular feedback (what was the trip like?) ensuring people can find us quickly and that we are constantly improving our services.
Approximately 3 months prior to your departure we will share some of your personal details (name, email, mobile number) with your other teams mates so you can start chatting and getting to know each other. From time to time once you have completed your placement we may also give your name and mobile or email to potential future leapers or their parents who wish to find out what you thought of the experience. We will either call you for permission or copy you into the email. If you do not want us to do the above then please let us know.
What about Travel Insurance?
It is absolutely vital that you have sufficient travel insurance for your entire time abroad, including independent travel after your placement with The Leap.
Travel insurance is not included in the cost of the trip. We will provide you with information on a number of reputable companies when your second payment is due. You will not be allowed to participate on the placement without proof of travel insurance. UK travel insurance is only available to persons who are permanently resident and domiciled in the UK if you live overseas you will need to source your own local cover.
Since we started The Leap we have been recommending Global Travel Insurance to all our volunteers and many have used their policy. Although more expensive than some other providers, we believe their quality, level of cover and care when dealing with medical emergencies, make it money well spent. We know from experience that they are excellent in a medical crisis and pay out on claims when they say they will.
They have designed a unique policy specifically designed for The Leap to cover volunteers working abroad and it has many benefits that would not be available through a standard policy. There are principally three important reasons why they cost more but provide you with better cover:
They provide far higher cancellation cover than their obvious competitors ensuring that the entire cost of your trip, including flight, is covered in the event you have to cancel for an insurable reason. They also cover extra risks that most other companies do not, such as travel disruption cover due to a force majeure event, an important addition.
They are aware exactly what your placement programme comprises, such as working with animals, helping to build things, playing sport and so on. Many travel insurance policies, for instance, do not cover working abroad or actually doing anything of a manual nature, so please check the small print.
What about Visas?
We provide you with detailed information, approximately 3 months prior to departure (via MY Leap), explaining how you get your visa (if applicable) and the cost. In many countries a standard tourist visa is free for 90 days and can easily be extended.
What Vaccinations might I need?
We provide you with detailed information, approximately 3 months prior to departure (via MY Leap) on the vaccinations you may need and advice on staying healthy. We also cover these topics in detail on our briefing days.
Do we provide emergency back-up and support?
Yes. Both from the UK and in-country. The Safety section on this site provides more details on what steps we take to ensure you return home safe and healthy having had a fantastic time.
Skills and Jobs
We find volunteers quickly develop the new skills needed to complete the projects, whether that is building a classroom, teaching children or maintaining a clinic. These are skills that you keep for life and may come in useful at a later date. We also employ as many local people as we can to help you complete these projects.
Your voluntary work does not deprive any local person of a job. It actually creates more job opportunities for local people, which is especially good news in the developing world where there is terrible unemployment and many people living below the poverty line.
It has never been more competitive to get a job or into uni and a Leap placement will definitely help your CV and improve your life skills. We provide you with a certificate on completion of your placement outlining the skills you have developed along with personal references if required to help you get that job or place at uni.
Do we have professional accreditation?
Yes. We are proud to be members of the following:
Year Out Group - The Leap is a member of the Year Out Group, an association of leading UK organisations formed to promote the concept and benefits of well-structured Year Out programmes. Year Out Group Members Charter
Foreign and Commonwealth Office - The Leap is proud to be a partner in the FCO Know Before You Go Campaign. This campaign educates travellers about the role of the Foreign Office and safe travel overseas.
ISCO and UCAS - We attend ISCO and UCAS fairs around the UK and look forward to meeting you there.
Flights and Airfare
Flights are not included in the cost of the scheme, allowing you the flexibility to get the best deal. We use STA Travel (ATOL 3206, ABTA 99209 and IATA 9122411) to arrange volunteers flights, as they offer great value and are great at round-the-world tickets. They will happily advise you on the best combination of routes. Flights will be on scheduled airlines departing and returning to London.
Our policy is to fly you as close to the host a possible, which may mean we need to book you on to internal flights. Costs will be discussed on booking. We ensure the flight tickets are flexible too, so you can maximize the value of your flight ticket and stay on and travel around the region after you finish or head off to another continent.
Financial Security & Protection
You are 100% protected for any money you have paid The Leap, through a non Statutory Trust Account we have arranged with our bank to protect your money. Providing you with complete peace of mind.
The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 require us to provide security for the monies that you pay for your Placement and for your repatriation in the event of our insolvency. For these purposes, The Leap protects monies that Volunteers have paid us in relation to their Non Air Package Placement, via a non Statutory Trust Account we have arranged with our bank, in respect of the balance of all Placement Costs paid in respect of Placements (i.e. in relation to any unexpired portion of a Placement) and any costs in relation to the repatriation of a Volunteer. Details of The Leap’s policies in respect of this matter are available on request.
Pre Departure:
In the highly unlikely event that we became insolvent before you travel (copies of our annual accounts are held by The Year Out Group and Companies House), you will be refunded your money in full.
Post Departure:
If you are already away on your Placement and we cannot continue with our obligations, arrangements will be made to ensure you can either continue with your Placement or you will be refunded for any unexpired portion of a Placement. Your flights booked through STA Travel have a flexible return date ensuring your repatriation and are fully protected by an ATOL Insurance Bond (3206).
The Leap adheres to British Tour Operator regulations for Non Air Package tours and the Year Out Group’s Members Charter and Code of Conduct and has therefore been approved by the Year Out Group's Executive Committee in the manner in which it provides Financial Security and Protection for its clients’ money.
Once the person travelling has insurance in place he/she will be covered for all payments, including flights, if he/she books their Travel Insurance through Global Travel Insurance Ltd (GTI - our recommended insurance policy) or another company with a decent level of cancellation cover i.e. Up to £5,500 for insurable reasons as described in their policy.
We have excellent cash reserves and we strictly abide by the Year Out Groups Code of Conduct regarding protecting our clients financial security. If you wish to talk to Richard Oliver the CEO of the Year Out Group for reassurance the number is: 01380 816696.
We book flights, on behalf of the person travelling, through STA travel (one of the world’s largest student travel companies). They are ATOL bonded (3206) through the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) so your flights are fully protected and would be reimbursed in full. You are welcome to book your flights elsewhere but ensure they have an ATOL bond.
- Team Gap Year:
- Sports Gap Years
- Gap Year Destinations:
- Which Gap Year?
- Africa Gap Year trips:
- South America Gap Year trips
- Asia Gap Year trips
- Site map
The Leap is a member of the Year Out Group an association of leading UK organisations formed to promote the concept and benefits of well-structured Year Out programmes
The Leap Overseas Ltd, 121 High Street, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 1LZ Tel 01672 519922 Fax 01672 519944 Email info@theleap.co.uk
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