EXPEDITIONS
40 YEARS
IN THE FIELD.
It began with people willing to leave familiar ground — to take on real
challenges and do something that mattered.
Over 40 years of
Raleigh.
2024 marked 40 years of Raleigh International. 40 years of dedication to our original mission.
To transform young adults into global citizens and leaders who have the skills and confidence
to work with others to build a fair, inclusive and better world for everyone.
THE IDEA
KEPT GROWING.
Raleigh began with a simple belief: that adventure could
bring people together, challenge them and create
meaningful contribution — not just memories.
57,000+
Young people have taken part in Raleigh programmes in countries all across the world.
RECONNECT WITH
RALEIGH.
Has Raleigh been a big part of your life and does it continue to be? If you’ve lost touch with any of your fellow Venturers or Raleigh, we’re on a mission to Reconnect as many Alumni as we can. Help us in our next mission to spread the word.
The journey
so far.
Over four decades, Raleigh has evolved from a single voyage to a global community still challenging themselves and creating a positive impact.
1978
Operation Drake was launched by King Charles III and Colonel John
Blashford-Snell, with scientific exploration and community service as
its aims. It was a round-the-world voyage with the participation of
young people from many countries, sailing in the brigantine Eye of
the Wind. It inspired a generation of young people to change the
world.
1984
Operation Drake evolved into Operation Raleigh, a trailblazing
programme providing the space for young people to volunteer on
projects around the world. Almost 4,000 volunteers took part in
Operation Raleigh.
1992
Operation Raleigh became Raleigh International Trust. The charity
worked with thousands more young people across the world to
create sustainable change on a wide range of projects around
climate change, water and sanitation, sustainable enterprise and
social accountability. Through Raleigh Expeditions and national
youth programmes, young people made significant contributions
towards the achievement of the UN’s Global Goals for Sustainable
Development.
2019
Raleigh International’s global community of volunteers and alumni grew to over
50,000 people across more than 100 countries. Former volunteers set up
projects engaging other young people in 14 active national alumni societies;
went on to form charities of their own; work in politics; fight for the planet and
take on the world’s biggest problems.
2020
Raleigh International officially became a global youth action organisation,
however, it was a challenging year for Raleigh, as it was for many charities. All
international volunteering programmes had to be cancelled in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic and volunteers returned home safely. This is the first time
Raleigh ever had to close international programmes on such a scale.
However, vital work with young people continued and a global consultation with
over 100 young people took place to understand their views and concerns.
2021
The pandemic continued to have an impact on young people and Raleigh
International’s work. But despite being another year of uncertainty, in 2021
Raleigh proudly launched its first youth-led global environmental campaign,
Action Not Excuses where young people led environmental campaigns in their
home countries in Malaysia, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Tanzania, Nepal and the
United Kingdom.
Raleigh International also launched Re:Green, its first UK programme based in
Scotland, providing volunteering opportunities for young people in the UK. The
organisation was also able to put young people back in the driving seat of
development and relaunch Expedition in Costa Rica after an 18-month break due
to the pandemic.
2022
2022 marked 30 years since Raleigh evolved from Operation Raleigh into
Raleigh International. In May the Raleigh International board of trustees decided
to close the organisation permanently.
In July 2022 the Impact Travel Group acquired the Raleigh International brand
and committed to upholding the values at the core of Raleigh International:
supporting young people to take action on the world’s most important issues
through international volunteer programmes.
2024
Now under the Impact Travel Group, Raleigh has turned 40! What a journey the
organisation has been on since becoming Raleigh International. At it’s core the
organisation still strives to develop young adults as global citizens and leaders
who have the skills and confidence to work with others to build a fair, inclusive
and better world for everyone.
Entering adulthood is a transformational life stage. Raleigh International supports
young people in gaining independence and new experiences to forge their own
paths. We know that young people face many barriers to reaching their full
potential.
Through Raleigh Expeditions we work to provide a programme which supports
young people to build resilience and skills to overcome challenges and life’s ups
and downs – creating society serving citizens and future leaders.
2026
In 2026 we re-branded Raleigh.
A new look. A new focus. And a refined Expedition, designed to maximise challenge, adventure and transformation.
Centred around creating challenge experiences for young people, our new brand is defined by our new strapline: Prove Yourself. It’s more than a slogan; it’s a call to action to young people to rise to the challenge to prove what they are capable of.
From the beginning Raleigh has been built on the conviction that young people are capable of far more than they know. Through Expeditions that challenge young people to achieve more, thousands have returned from Raleigh feeling stronger, more confident and self-assured, all because they proved to themselves they can.
Our new brand brings this to the centre for a new generation.
THE WORLD
CHANGED.
THE IDEA DIDN'T.
Raleigh has evolved with changing circumstances — but its belief in adventure, people and purposeful action has remained.
BECOME A FRIEND
OF RALEIGH
Have you travelled with Raleigh before and would like keep giving back?
One way to do that is as a Friend of Raleigh. It can be as simple as spreading the word among your family and friends to representing us at local events or telling your story in a case study to go on the site and inspire other.