We work with people from the age of 21, generally with a degree level education, right up to people taking career breaks after 20 years experience or more. Our service is all about helping people use volunteering to make important changes in their career - either by gaining work experience in the field, or by transferring skills from the commercial to the charity sector. As long as you are over 21 and have at least 3 months to volunteer please do contact us.

Yes, we only accept applicants aged 21 or over, unless in rare cases. We don't have a maximum age.

Yes, we work with couples and groups of up to 2 people.

Yes.

Through our automated application process.

We have partnerships with over 100 grassroots development organisations in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

We offer numerous types of work, from environmental projects to economic development. Where you go is entirely dependent on the skills you have to share.

Generally three months to two years. We are entirely flexible so can work around your needs.

You choose the date you want to leave.

3-6 months approx.

You will be presented with three options that match your criteria initially - these are handpicked for you by two members of staff. Based on your feedback we can present you with a further three options if needed.

We only offer placements that are suitable to your preferences and pre agreed criteria. We will generally not go beyond 10 placement options unless you can clearly demonstrate why each choice has not fulfilled our original agreement. It is extremely rare that volunteers don't easily select a placement choice from our options. But if you really can demonstrate that none of our placements match your criteria, you receive your money back in full.

No, we provide a link to already established grassroots organisations that we have partnerships with. We believe this is a far better way to match your skills and ambitions to the needs of a community.

Yes, your host organisation will meet you off the plane or nearest transport station.

Once you are overseas, we believe it is right to hand over responsibility of your placement to your host organisation. All our partners have been carefully vetted to ensure they are capable of providing you with necessary support and guidance. You will have your own supervisor, and they will also arrange your accommodation for you. We also have our own log in area for volunteers that contains advice and updates at key stages of your placement.

Your host organisation will be able to advise you on local medical facilities. We also strongly recommend you take out adequate travel insurance before you leave, as well as receiving all necessary injections and medication for your trip. You will receive more detailed practical guidance from us in our manuals for volunteers.

We only send you to destinations that the foreign office deems as safe. However in the event of unforeseen difficulties, your host organisation and insurance company - with the advice of 2Way Development and the British High Commission or Embassy in your country - can help to evacuate you if necessary.

The process of obtaining a visa for each country we work in is outlined in our manuals that you will receive once you have chosen your host organisation. If you don't want to organise your visa yourself, or if it proves difficult, we recommend a third party that can arrange your visa on your behalf.

At 2Way Development all our placement recommendations are personally tailored to suit your abilities and ambitions, meaning we'll only send you where your skills are genuinely needed.

£850 flat rate administration fee - no matter the length of your placement or where you choose to go.

All fees go on administration as this is our only source of income . Our partners do not pay to receive volunteers, allowing you access to a variety of otherwise neglected charitable groups. 2Way receives no government funding so we don't eat up precious government aid budgets.

A £350 installment is required to begin our service. The remainder of the fee is due once you accept your placement.

For most placements, your accommodation is provided free of charge by your host organisation.

No.

No, the entire cost of running 2Way Development is met by the fee we charge to volunteers, meaning that valuable government aid is freed up to be spent elsewhere.

You will receive a fundraising pack from 2Way Development to assist you in generating your own money to help you cover the costs of your placement.

Yes. Here is a list of approximate costs of a placement: £850 our fee, £500 flights, £100 vaccines, £50 visa, £20/month insurance, £100/month personal effects. 3 months = £2000, 12 months = £3000 approx.

We started placing volunteers in September 2003.

120-150.

2Way Development doesn't run its own programmes - instead, we link up volunteers with the existing development organisation that would make best use of their skills. 2Way receives no government funding, which means the cost of organising the placement is entirely funded by the volunteer - with none of the precious government aid budget being eaten up by your trip. This means we're flexible over location, start date, the length of your trip, and particularly the skills and experience we make use of.

All our partners have undergone a comprehensive vetting process by 2Way Development. Our staff have a unique knowledge of the sector, and have close links to organisations that would be otherwise inaccessible to potential volunteers. Our strong relationships with partners and returned volunteers means we're the first to hear out about potential new partner organisations.