Finance

We have a specific Finance Page that covers how we protect our client’s money and more and provide 100% financial protection.

The Time Line covered in Planning A Gap Year in this section outlines the usual times pre departure that we require payments and amounts and advice on cards/cash with our invoices covering the payment methods.

The Travel Advice section in My Leap also goes into more detail about lost or stolen cards, how to carry cash safely and more.

Why Pay To Volunteer and Why We Are Good Value For Money
We are proud of the fact that on average we spend between 63% and 64% of our client’s money overseas, Price Pie has verified this independently. Please take a look at our Why Pay page (at the top you will see a ‘Price Pie – click here to see where your money’ goes logo top left) with further information.

Our Price Comparison page explains why we are good value for money and what’s included.

The Year Out Group (YOG) have some excellent questions for the benefit of potential volunteers and their parents to ask each organisation ensuring you whittle down the list to those that really meet your needs and expectations.

For example some companies like The Leap:

• spend far more overseas than others
• offer pre departure briefings
• see volunteers off at the airport
• have project leaders that are actually living with the volunteers and managing them 24/7 – as opposed to a ‘rep’ based 100’s of miles away (that is clearly a very different level of ‘support’),
• offer a decent quality of food (3 meals including weekends), accommodation, transport and excellent well researched and needed project work.

Many other Gap Year companies do not include many of these services or ask people to pay extra so please thoroughly research exactly what you do receive for your money and then compare whether its value for money.

“We were deeply impressed with The Leap and their dedication to the volunteers and the causes they support”. Mrs Cornick

Discounts
We offer substantial discounts for double placements and discounts for siblings, groups of 3+ and many more special offers and means of thanking people who support us - please look at our Special Offers page for more details.

Vouchers - Gift Horse
Birthday or Christmas coming up? You and other relatives may wish to help your son or daughter with their fundraising by purchasing a Gift Voucher, with the money going towards your son or daughters (or grandchild, niece or nephew) Leap placement by buying a Leap voucher.  Vouchers are available in any amount, from £1- £1,000000 (!) and can be put towards a trip of your choice. Just contact The Leap on 01672 519922 or email info@theleap.co.uk.

Raising The Money
We have specific advice on our Raising The Funds page, including a comprehensive Fundraising Guide (which has been added to by past Leapers) allowing your son and daughter the confidence that they can set their own personal financial goals, overcome this important challenge and achieve their target enabling them to experience the opportunity of a life time.

Leap Time Line
Prior to your son or daughters departure we will write to you and your son or daughter as follows, directing you/them towards the following relevant information in the My Leap section.

The following is a useful guide:

Pre Booking (Application) – Consultation Phase
•    The Leap receive a request for information, send a brochure and other promotional information (DVD’s if applicable) with links to films, feedback, facebook groups and so on.

•    At this stage we usually spend a good deal of time talking to potential volunteers and their parents, assisting them to make the right choice. Anyone is welcome to come and see us face to face in our office on Marlborough High Street if they wish. We also have Open Days usually once a month in Bristol, where you can come along and meet us, some parents and volunteers who have already booked.

•    We are very happy to put you in touch with other volunteers or their parents so you can ask them what they thought of us. Please let us know so we can help.

NB Please note: many people simply skip the above stage and go straight to Booking - whatever makes you feel most comfortable.

The Leap Receive a Booking (Application Form) – Decision Time
•    At this stage we will call you to tell you more about the placement you have chosen and answer any questions.

•    We will then send you a letter with our Placement Guidelines (a detailed document covering everything from food, accommodation, tasks, safety, weather, medical, project leader support and much more … most of which is one our website. Please also take a look at our Booking Conditions.

•    We include in this letter a Consent Form to be signed and returned along with a Deposit of £100, which reserves your place, covers the initial registration and administration and the cost of the Briefing Day. For those that cannot attend a Briefing Day we have online Briefing Videos. We usually require these back within 5 working days giving you a chance as a family to read everything and ensure you are happy before sending off the Deposit.

•   Non UK Citizens:
We will happily put you in touch with volunteers and their parents from your home country, who have travelled with us. Once you have seen the online  Briefing Videos we can set up a skype or telephone call to answer any questions and put your mind at rest.

We will also recommend easy ways to pay (credit card, Pay Pal etc), and cover in the Insurance and Flights sections in My Leap specific advice for you.

•    We also provide parents and volunteers who have booked with access to a private community area: My Leap – in the Our Experience section we cover what this area includes (Flights, Safety, Health, Visas, Medical, Clothes, Fundraising, Safety, Travel Advice, Insurance, Contact Numbers and more).

Please note: we provide all the services and information above free of charge (unlike some of our competitors who request people include deposits with their Booking Forms or pay for brochures).

We Offer Great Flexibility & Peace Of Mind - 100% Financial Protection
We accept things happen that might derail your plans so if you have to change your mind having paid The Deposit and/or other payments we try our best to ensure you don’t loose out and still get the chance to volunteer overseas, improve life skills and make a positive difference by holding your payment as a ‘credit’ against a future placement that has to be taken within 1-3 years, or with permission transferred to a sibling. Our Booking Conditions apply.

We also recommend that once your son or daughter has paid the Deposit and Second payment that you take out travel insurance so that they are fully protected financially in the unlikely event they have to cancel for an insurable reason (medical issues etc).

We believe as a small, friendly, independent family run business our moral values and ethos underpin our approach to everything and we are delighted to offer this type of flexibility and fairness, which is uncommon in business.

We wish to provide a first class service to all concerned, to develop lasting long term relationships based on mutual respect and trust and aim to be a force for good (our Mission) and demonstrate how much we spend overseas on our Finance Page in this section.

6 months 
Second payment of £500 due. This covers ongoing planning, administration and research.
This is a vital and inherent part of any successful placement.
My Leap – Insurance, flights – your flights will be provisionally booked by The Leap through STA Travel, unless you wish to book your own, ensuring everyone is on the same flight.

3 months 
My Leap – Travel advice, medical, equipment, contact details of your team, visas, flight times confirmed. Please note if you are booking your own flights, please arrange to arrive at the same time as the rest of the team in order to avoid extra transfer costs.  Please contact us for details.

Please do not pay for any flight unless you have checked with us that the minimum group size has been achieved as The Leap cannot be held responsible for any errors with flights - as the contract for flights is between the Volunteer and their travel agent.

2-1 month
Pay final balance due.
My Leap - Safety information including emergency contact numbers, latest Placement Information, itinerary and flight tickets.

NB this is simply a guide and can be tailored to suit each persons individual needs (fundraising efforts etc) and specific date of booking (Application). Many people do not follow the time line above and book 3 months or less prior to departure, in fact we continue to take Bookings right up to a week before departure.

Obviously we prefer people to book as early as they can so we all have plenty of time to prepare, book flights (which get more expensive nearer to departure) and to ensure that you get your first choice placement. We are a small company and places are in high demand.