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Gap Year & International Volunteering - Gaps in Development

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The issue

With volunteering overseas on development projects rapidly growing in popularity and increasing numbers of adventure tour operators offering ‘voluntourism’ packages, serious questions have arisen about how some such projects are managed and how the benefits are being shared. It is also a challenge for prospective volunteers to identify organisations that embrace best practice.

Tourism Concern therefore believes that it is vitally important for volunteer organisations to demonstrate that they have attained a recognised level of responsibility in the way they recruit volunteers, find placements and manage the volunteering process. This is why we have developed our Gap Year and International Volunteering Standard (GIVS).

Download our GIVS Information Leaflet

Tourism Concern's solutions

GIVS was developed following requests for help both from UK volunteering organisations and from returned volunteers. The input and support of organisations who send volunteers overseas will help establish it as a credible standard, answer media criticism of the sector, and appeal to and guide the increasing number of volunteers who are seeking rewarding and worthwhile placements.

GIVS: The Principles

The framework of GIVS is based around a set of eight principles. 

1. Purpose
   

2. Marketing
   

3. Recruitment
   

4. Pre-placement Information
   

5. Pre-placement training
   

6. Volunteer support
   

7. Risk Management
   

8. Monitoring & Evaluation

For each principle, a set of benchmarks and indicators have been developed as a means to assess a volunteer sending organisation's degree of adherence.

The GIVS process

GIVS is a three part process: initial assessment; working to improve practice; and external audit. The process is facilitated by Tourism Concern, and overseen by the GIVS Advisory Panel.

1. Initial Assessment
Once signed up, organisations will be assessed by Tourism Concern using a questionnaire which explores each of the GIVS principles. This is a shared process allowing discussion of issues arising in relation to the questionnaire, and recognising variations in practice according to specific organisational context. A report summarising the findings of the assessment will be sent to the organisation.

2. Improving Practice
Tourism Concern will provide a range of training materials and workshops according to need, in order for organisations to explore ways of improving practice in areas of concern. These will include downloadable materials, training days on specific issues and peer group workshops to facilitate sharing of ideas and challenges.

3. External Audit
When an organisation is ready, it may apply for the final audit. This is conducted by an external, independent and qualified auditor, and will seek documented evidence of how the organisation fulfils the requirements of GIVS. The audit will be guided by our GIVS Audit Manual and the report produced will be sent to the Advisory Panel who act as the final arbiters of the standard. Organisations judged to have attained a sufficiently high standard of practice will be awarded the GIVS mark.

Accreditation remains valid for two years, after which reassessment must be sought.

For more information about GIVS or to register your interest, email Peter Bishop at Peter@tourismconcern.org.uk