Skip to main content
Spaces now limited for February 2025 Expeditions. Don't miss out!

Why choose Raleigh

Our mission is to create young leaders through life-enhancing journeys and transformational international experiences.

Expeditions with purpose

Raleigh International is not just a gap year organisation; we are not a travel agency. Our mission is to create life-enhancing journeys and transformational experiences for young people where they can challenge themselves, disconnect form technology and reconnect with people and nature – all whilst making a positive, long-lasting impact in the communities where we work.

Our volunteering programmes are called Raleigh Expeditions for a reason. An Expedition is a journey taken by a group of people with a purpose.

The purpose of a Raleigh Expedition is to provide the platforms and opportunities for young people to establish themselves and become global citizens.

“My son has recently been a venturer in Costa Rica and I can see the growth in him from his experience, beautiful to see.”

Raleigh Alumni Parent

Real impact and cultural immersion

We run real, measurable projects that we manage with local communities. Our relationships with these communities – and our full-time staff in all the countries where we work – allow volunteers to really immerse themselves in the cultures and places they visit.

Volunteers will leave an Expedition:

  • Having experienced ‘real-world’ challenges and developed the resilience, self-motivation, self-awareness, initiative and leadership and communications skills that will benefit the rest of their personal and professional lives.
  • Volunteers will be more aware of and understanding the wider world and their place in it. Young people will be inspired to take an active role in their community and work with others to make our planet more equal, fair, and sustainable.
  • Being more aware of and understanding the wider world and their place in it.
  • Inspired to take an active role in their community and work with others to make our planet more equal, fair, and sustainable.

Specialists in what we do

Raleigh International are specialists in running Expeditions for young people. Since 1978 Raleigh has been delivering Expeditions for those aged 17-24 – we know young people and understand the importance of letting them forge their own path. Raleigh has:

Over 55,000 alumni from 100 countries, forming a world-wide community of global citizens

Delivered over 600 Expeditions

Contributed to more than 100 million volunteering hours

Operated in over 50 countries including Tanzania, Nepal, Nambia, India and Borneo

Raleigh International is ever evolving but it has and will always focus on supporting young people to act and create change for themselves, their communities, and the world.

Dedicated team

From the moment you get in touch or apply to the moment you leave Expedition; we’ve got your back.

From our events coordinators who deliver information webinars, to our volunteer journey coordinators who help you get all the information you need to choose the right Expedition for you, we are here for you all the way. Once you apply you will be assigned a Volunteer Coordinator is there to support you plan your Expedition and answer any queries or concerns.

From the moment you arrive in your Expedition country, you will be supported by our full-time staff who are highly experienced, committed and resourceful individuals selected and trained to ensure they uphold our high safety standards.

In addition to our full-time staff, we are supported by Volunteer Manager team who undertake support roles in our office and leading project teams on the ground. Volunteer Managers come from various backgrounds; all have broad basic skills and where necessary, we recruit volunteer managers with technical or recognised national governing body qualifications such as medics or mountain leaders.

“The whole programme is designed to bring the best in people and let them find out what really matters.”

Martin | Raleigh Alumni

Responsible Volunteering

What makes Raleigh International a responsible volunteer programme?

We run and manage our own projects and have teams made up of trained and experienced people managing things on the ground.

Our projects have long term goals in line with the communities we work in, and embrace sustainable best practice.

Our volunteering initiatives are 100% integrated with local communities – we won’t run a project unless the community wants us there and has ownership of the project.

Volunteers are immersed in the culture and communities they are in. They are encouraged to learn about the people and history of the countries and embrace diversity.

All volunteers undergo a comprehensive induction program upon arrival to prepare them for project work, introduce them to the local landscape and brief them on safety.

We have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and have comprehensive child protection policies. You can read our policies on both these issues here.