Safety and Security - i-to-i Venturesafe
We want you to have an incredible experience that you’ll remember for the rest of life but we also want to ensure that you’re safe and secure at all times while you’re away. That’s why safety is our highest priority.
So what are we doing to make sure you’re safe on your trip?
Well firstly we fully research and assess all the projects we work with so you can rest assured that it has been scrutinised and declared "safe" by our experts.
Secondly, we provide travel advice and support before you go. This will help you to understand the risks that you might face while abroad, so that you’re fully prepared for every eventuality.
And finally, we offer 24 hour support from the moment you leave to the moment you return. This means someone will always be available to help you through an emergency no matter what it is or when it happens. Our in-country coordinators will be on hand to help, while our UK team will work around the clock to resolve the problem.
How do we assess and monitor our projects and suppliers?
i-to-i Venturesafe is a new initiative designed to set an industry standard for overseas travellers and other travel companies to refer to.
We’re the first volunteer travel company to develop an external monitoring system to assess risk levels. These assessments enable us to make an informed decision about whether a project is secure enough for our customers. This means you can book your travel experience with confidence knowing that it’s been deemed “safe" by our experts.
How we’ll do this:
- Our in-country coordinators will assess all projects and suppliers to ensure they comply with our safety standards.
Examples of key criteria include:
- Project safety
- Accommodation safety
- Food hygiene
- Transport safety
- Fire safety
- General safety
We’ll regularly audit projects and suppliers to ensure that they continue to meet these standards.
We’ll keep a detailed database to track and record all accidents/incidents overseas.
How do we prepare for a crisis?
We have a company-wide Crisis Response Plan which was implemented with the help of crisis response experts, so in the unlikely event of an emergency you’ll receive immediate and efficient emergency care. We carry out training to all staff on how to react quickly and professionally if the worst should happen and work with our 24/7 Duty Office to make sure that we're on hand at all times.
Independent travel couldn’t be safer
And we’re not the only ones that think so…
“Project organisations have invested the necessary time, patience, and resources needed to build trust and ensure safe and appropriate projects for volunteers."
Le Ann Joy Adam, Overseas Resource Coordinator at Stanford University
If you want to know more, check out Ms Adam’s full article, "Why pay to volunteer".
