i-to-iNature conservation across New Zealand
Project details:
In New Zealand we work with a conservation charity called CVNZ. Founded as CVA in 1982 they are the biggest conservation charity in Australia and have now started operations in New Zealand. They are involved in a range of projects around the North Island of New Zealand, current examples of which include the creation of a network of walking paths for Hamlins Hill Regional Park in Mutukaroa and construction and invasive weeding projects at the Hunua Ranges Regional Park and trips to Waiheke Island where the project involves walking track maintenance near a crescent shaped beach on the south side of the island known for its mature coastal forest. The beach is home to the rare NZ Dotterell which can be observed on the beach. Some teams travel further afield to Whirinaki Forest just south of Rotorua's geothermal region - the volunteers will help to restore native birdlife habitats and enjoy discovering geothermal activity on a bush walk in the forest.
Why the project needs volunteers:
The work of the projects is important in helping to preserve, monitor and re-establish the natural environment in rural areas of New Zealand. These projects are dependent on volunteers to run.
What kind of skills you need to go on this type of project:
Conservation volunteers will be hands on people who love the outdoors. You should be in good health and reasonably fit. Be prepared to take part to the best of your ability and work well in a team. You must be prepared for some hard physical work, Conservation volunteers need to be willing to get stuck in and get their hands dirty. You will need to be flexible and be prepared to move around the country and stay in various types of accommodation. Conservation is the priority and you must be willing to go where you are needed.
Your role as a volunteer:
There are a variety of conservation projects and the nature of work will vary depending on the time of year you visit. Typical projects include: creation of walking paths, trail maintenance, weed removal as well as other ad-hoc activities and manual labour jobs to support the conservation projects.
Project days are usually 5 days per week, typically Monday to Friday, starting at 8am and finishing at 4pm. However, this does vary, particularly during extreme weather conditions. Occasional projects in remote locations will see you working up to 10 days in a row, followed by a 4 day break.
Where the project is based:
Prior to your project you will spend 2 nights in Auckland. During this time you will have the option of a trip to the Bay of Islands or a sightseeing trip around Auckland City. You will then transfer to your project which will be based around the Auckland area.
Your accommodation in Auckland will be in a multi-share dormitory in a hostel:
There is a wide variety of accommodation at the projects including hostel-style, houses and camping (your project will provide tents and equipment). You will need to bring a sleeping bag and sleeping mat.
You will need to arrive into Auckland Airport (AKL) on the specified arrival dates.
We need to confirm your trip with our team overseas and will confirm with you once this has been done (normally within 2 working days). If you have not heard from us and wish to book your flights please give us a call.
US$ 945.00 for 2 weeks, US$ 205.00 for every week thereafter
Not available.
Early airport pickup not available.
No. Enhance your experience with a TEFL course - Save 10% with our Combination Deals
Flight, insurance and visa costs
Creation of walking paths, trail maintenance, weed removal and other ad-hoc activities and manual labour jobs.
Usually 5 days per week, Monday to Friday, from 8am to 4pm, although this can vary.
Equipment and training supplied at projects. You will need to bring a sleeping bag and sleeping mat.
Included in your project fee. A wide variety including hostel-style, houses and camping (tents and equipment provided).
First two days in Auckland breakfast is included. At your project, all meals are included, cooked on site. Vegetarians welcome.
What exactly do i-to-i provide?
It may seem like a strange concept to pay for your volunteer experience. You'd be right if you think you shouldn't and the truth is you actually don't! Your placement is free; it's the benefits around it that you pay for. It's important to note that i-to-i is a travel company and not a charity. We provide a professional travel service. We are responsible for finding and assessing worthwhile projects across the world, preparing you for the volunteering experience and supporting you whilst you're there.
Here’s some more information about what your placement fee covers….
Project sourcing and assessment
We work with hundreds of locally run partner projects around the world and are constantly sourcing new opportunities. We visit all projects to check that they are worthwhile and legitimate and we also conduct a thorough safety assessment before we'll send volunteers there. More
Expert help-desk
Almost everyone who works for i-to-i has traveled extensively or worked overseas. This means we're a goldmine of information; we're always available to offer support and guidance before, during and after your trip.
Thorough project briefing materials
Once you book on to a project you'll receive a Welcome Pack that contains loads of general information about volunteering, about your chosen country and project, and a DVD about how to have fun and stay safe. We'll also give you advice on visas and inoculations.
TEFL training
If you are volunteering on a Teaching or Community Development project then a 40-hour Online TEFL course is included in your placement fee. This is an internationally recognised and accredited certificate that will help you to make the most of your time overseas. More
Airport pickup
It can be pretty daunting arriving in a different country for the first time… especially after a long flight! If you arrive on your project start date, there'll be a welcoming face at the airport to pick you up and take you to your accommodation.
Arrival orientation
Soon after you arrive you will attend a thorough orientation with our in-country team. This is to cover important safety and security information. You'll also get some tips about sight-seeing options for your time off and maybe even learn some of the local lingo!
Accommodation and meals
Accommodation is included with all projects and meals are even included with some. We only use locally-owned and operated accommodation so that part of your placement fee is filtering back into the local economy. Most projects offer homestay, guesthouse or shared volunteer houses as standard accommodation, but some offer the chance to upgrade to a more comfortable living standard. More
Local in-country coordinators
Your in-country coordinator (ICC) will pick you up from the airport and conduct your orientation upon arrival. All ICC's are English speaking and are locals of your destination country. They won't be at your project every day, but will be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need them. More
24/7 emergency support
Aside from the local support from your in-country coordinators you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line manned by i-to-i staff in case any problem should arise while you're overseas. We also hire crisis management professionals Docleaf to be on hand in case of a situation that requires additional expert support. More
Ongoing training
The safety and security of our volunteers is paramount. For this reason we provide ongoing crisis management and emergency response training to our local teams around the world. At the end of 2006 we flew all our in-country coordinators to the UK for thorough training to help them offer the best safety to the thousands of volunteers they support each year. More
Supporting our projects
We don't fund our projects directly, but once a year they are all invited to apply for funding for special projects or resources from our registered charity arm, the i-to-i Foundation. i-to-i funds the operation of the i-to-i Foundation and is the largest single donor. Along with the generous support of our volunteers, we have distributed over US$200,000 in funding in the last two years alone! More
Recruiting people like you
We make no secrets of the fact that part of your placement fee is reinvested in to recruiting volunteers just like you! The volunteers recruited in one week will typically deliver over 2000 man-days of service. The difference this makes to projects overseas is immeasurable. Many of our overseas projects rely on assistance from international volunteers, so it's necessary for us to put together brochures and websites to find the people who can support them. This recruitment process is vital to ensure programs have a constant stream of reliable volunteers.
The intangible benefits
Volunteering through a company like i-to-i has a lot of intangible benefits to developing overseas communities and the individual projects that we work with. To find out more about our placements. click here
What we will do after you've booked:
- Once booked on you will instantly receive a welcome email confirming your booking with access to your online account
- We will send a Welcome Pack in the post containing further information and a t-shirt, the information in this pack should answer most things you need to know
- Community Development and Teaching customers will receive an email introducing them to their Online TEFL course
- Community Development and Teaching customers will be requested to complete a police check (where relevant) or send through a reference
- We will contact you if we require anything else e.g. CV/resume for some projects, doctors note for medical conditions etc.
- We will hound you to complete your forms and pay your final balance when they are due
- We are available for any questions you may have on 800 352 1794 or operations@i-to-i.com
- We will prepare for your trip and send you an email with final project and accommodation confirmation 21 days before you go
What you need to do after booking your place with us:
- Book your flights
- Arrange suitable travel insurance
- Fill out some extra details through our online interface:
- application from
- travel details
- insurance details
- medical information
- emergency contacts
- Complete your police check or request your reference (where relevant)
- Do your Online TEFL Course (where relevant)
- Make final payment at least 60 days before you go
- Make sure you have a visa for your trip if its needed
- Visit a nurse or travel clinic for advice on inoculations and malaria prevention
- Read all details and prepare as much as you can for your trip
- Take contact details of the in country team and where you're going in your hand luggage - just in case!
- Get on the plane!
Orientation Information
Please make sure you have your voucher with you that will be sent via email along with your confirmation - this will ensure your ride is free. You will spend 2 nights at Auckland City Backpackers, including a tour but will not meet the CVNZ staff until Monday.
You will be met on Monday morning by a member of CVNZ at approx 07.30 am and will then go to the Conservation Volunteer Auckland office for an induction between 8am-9am before being taken to your project site.
Conservation Volunteers New Zealand - Auckland Youthline House 13 Maidstone St Ponsonby Auckland NZ 1309 +64 9 376 7030Insurance
It's important that you get adequate travel insurance for your i-to-i experience and as many of you will be working this often means standard policies won’t work. The good news is that no matter where your coming from we have already found a policy to suit you.
The best time to get your insurance is when you book your project as this means you can get a fully tailored policy exclusive to i-to-i, just ask your consultant for further details at the time of booking.
If you have already booked but still need insurance then you may still be able to take our tailored policy. If, however it was more than a few days ago then try the links below:
Australian customers - find out more here >>
All other customers - find out more here >>
Flights
As with insurance we advise you get these booked as early as possible to avoid high prices and to make sure you arrive on the right day. The i-to-i team is right up to date with the best deals no matter where you’re flying from; their insider knowledge could save you some time and money.
Country Guide
New Zealand
A little bit of history…
New Zealand was the last significant island to be occupied by humans, with the Polynesian Maori not reaching this extraordinary land until 800AD.The country was first discovered by the Europeans in 1642, but it wasn’t until Captain James Cook rediscovered the country in 1769 that New Zealand started attracting European settlers. As the colonies began to expand problems began to arise between the Pakeha (settlers) and the Maori, and a settlement was desperately needed. In 1840 the Maori, whose presence on the Island and right to lands had been acknowledged (a situation very different from that of the Aborigines in Australia), agreed to accept British rule over the islands in exchange for the protection of their land. In the aftermath of the Treaty of Waitangi the Maori and Pakeha lived in peaceful harmony… in some regions at least. In others bitter feuds arose over land.
In 1844 the Northern War broke out between the two races. Though it only lasted two years it was shortly followed by four others. The Maori people were significantly hampered by the introduction of European diseases that they were completely unprepared for and, though there was no formal resolution to these battles, the Maori people came off significantly worse than the Pakeha. This injustice remained at the forefront of Maori civilisation and only recently has the government sought to address the issue. In 2005 the Maori Party was formed to give the Maori people a voice. The Maori culture is now making an impressive comeback with the Maori population increasing significantly faster than the Pakeha. Relations between the Maori and the Pakeha have drastically improved in recent years and the country appears to be moving toward a successful integration of the two peoples.
The British colony of New Zealand became a dominion of the British Empire in 1907 and though they were given the opportunity to become an independently ruled country in 1931 they did not accept this until 1947. New Zealand played an important role in the Boar War, both World Wars and the Vietnam War and yet it was one of the first countries in the world to publicly stand against the testing and use of nuclear weapons. In the mid-1980’s the New Zealand Parliament introduced anti-nuclear legislation which led to the country pulling out of the ANZUS defence alliance and falling out with the USA.
Best time to go...
The weather in New Zealand is unpredictable at best. Certainly there is a large amount of sunshine but that could be quickly followed by rain and even snow. Both the north and south islands suffer from continual winds that range from gentle breezes in the summer months to gale-force gusts in the winter months, and that’s about the only thing the two islands share when it comes to the weather.
To the east of the Southern Alps of the South Island travellers will find a dry climate that is ideal for lazing on the beach and water-based adventure activities, while to the west of the mountains they’ll discover that the climate is much wetter and generally less desirable (unless that is, you like white water rafting or kayaking and then you’ll be happy as Larry!). The rain is a lot more evenly spread in the North Island and it’s also slightly warmer than the South Island.
Most travellers opt to visit New Zealand in the summer months (between November and April) but both islands also boast a wide array of skiing resorts which are becoming increasingly popular with tourists in the winter.
The weather can be so changeable in New Zealand that we thought it only fair to provide a couple of links to some website that will give you a fairly accurate forecast. They’re in the useful links section further down this page for you to peruse at your leisure.
Getting around...
Flying
Flying is undoubtedly the best form of travel in New Zealand and the breathtaking views which it affords will leave travellers speechless. Discounted flights are common so this can also be an economical travel option (though you might want to offset your carbon emissions with a small donation to one of New Zealand’s reforestation projects). Air New Zealand offers flights to locations across the country including some of the more remote destinations, while Origin Pacific flies to all the main airports. There are a wide array of smaller airlines to pick up any slack and take travellers to those locations that domestic airlines overlook.
Trains
There are very few train routes between different cities so this is not always a viable option but when it is it proves to be really good value for money. Though the Tranz Scenic no longer runs between Wellington and Auckland, travellers can still pass from Picton to Christchurch and Christchurch to Greymouth in relative comfort. Trains may not be an ideal form of transport if you’re travelling long distances but if you’re travelling within Auckland or Wellington they’re perfect. Both cities offer excellent suburban rail services that run throughout the day.
Buses and coaches
The bus network in New Zealand is extensive and travellers will find they can get almost anywhere in the country on a bus (with the exception, of course, of getting across the Cook Straight). Intercity is the main operator on both the north and south island providing routes across the country. Their subsidiary Newmans is also popular and travellers will find the fare for the Auckland to Wellington route to be of particularly good value for money. If you’re planning to travel extensively then a basic TravelPass could save you up to 40% on Intercity and Newmans coach journeys. You’ll also get either an Interislander ferry crossing or a Kings "hole in the rock" cruise in the Bay of Islands. There’s a link to the website further down this page in the useful links section if you want more info.
New Zealand also boasts a number of shuttle bus companies that are cheaper and friendlier than their larger counterparts. These companies can be particularly accommodating to foreigners and a lot of independent travellers opt to use them instead of the countries better known coach operators.
Car
Travelling by car is one of the best ways to see New Zealand. You don’t need a 4x4 to see the best places and can usually get where you want to go in a campervan or similar accommodation-included vehicle. As long as you remember that New Zealanders drive on the left side of the road you shouldn’t have a problem. If you’re planning to rent a car you will have two choices – get a brand spanking new car from a big name company at a relatively high price, or use one of the many smaller rental companies and make do with an older car and money in your pocket. The choice is yours.
Ferry
If you’re planning to travel between the islands you might be tempted by the ferry. This is certainly an appealing option (assuming that you don’t get seasick) and will provide some stunning views of both islands. The ferry sails regularly but be prepared for delays or cancellations if the weather is stormy.
Currency and living costs
The New Zealand Dollar is the currency used across New Zealand. The current exchange rate is: $1 to 1.46275 NZD. Check www.xe.com or equivalent for the most up to date exchange rate.
The average costs of life’s little essentials are as follows:
- Accommodation: Renting a room in a shared house or flat will cost around NZ$65-100 a week, plus NZ$15-20 worth of bills excluding phone calls. Seven nights in a two star hotel will cost between NZ$250 and NZ$500.
- Buses: Bus fares normally start from NZ$2.00. The longer your journey, the more it will cost but concessions are available for students and senior citizens. Many of New Zealand’s larger cities provide a free bus that follows a set route around the city centre and the surrounding areas.
- Taxis: Taxi charges vary depending on location but most start at NZ $2.00 and then charge NZ$2.00 per kilometre after that.
- Ferry across the Cook Straight: A one way ticket between Wellington and Picton for an adult without a vehicle is about NZ $52.00 off peak.
- Food: You can expect to spend about NZ$50 a week on food. A good meal can be had for just under NZ$7.
- Fast Food: You can get a Big Mac in New Zealand for NZ$4.45.
- A cappuccino/latte: You can get a regular cappuccino or latte for around NZ$3.50 or a large one for NZ$4.50.
- A pint of beer: This will cost around NZ$6.00.
- Entertainment: NZ$12.50-65 per week depending on how often you go out and what you’re doing. If you’re planning to take advantage of New Zealand’s adventure activity scene then you’ll need to increase your budget accordingly.
- Cinema: You can get a movie ticket for around NZ$15.
- Entrance to a nightclub: Between NZ$5 and NZ$20.
- Round of Golf: You can play a round of golf for between NZ$20 and NZ$100.
- A stamp for a letter abroad: This will cost about NZ$0.80.
Useful links
http://www.lonelyplanet.comLonely Planet are leaders in the travel guide sector and their website is a great source of travel information.
http://www.metservice.co.nz/default/index.php
New Zealand’s National Meteorological Service.
http://www.fencepost.com/home.jhtml
Extensive weather forecasts for across New Zealand.
http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz
Air New Zealand, the leading domestic airline in New Zealand.
http://www.tranzscenic.co.nz
For scenic train travel.
http://www.intercitycoach.co.nz
Intercity is the main coach company on both the north and south islands. Find out times and book your tickets on their website.
http://www.travelpass.co.nz
Save up to 40% off travel across New Zealand.
Why i-to-i
We do everything we can to be a truly responsible travel organisation and we believe that everything we do should minimise the negative aspects of foreign travel and make a positive contribution to the places that our travellers visit.
Our achievements
In the last year alone we have assisted over 6,000 volunteers to have a life-changing travel experience in 34 countries around the world. We are very proud of all the volunteer projects we work with, which are sustainable and produce a positive long-term impact and are equally proud of our volunteers who devote their time and efforts into contributing to the projects which continue to develop communities abroad. Click here to see some of our volunteer achievements.
Our benefits to communities around the world
All of our projects overseas are based in the local community and are local initiatives. When you travel with us, you will stay in locally run accommodation and travel on locally owned transport. In this way we can ensure that the part of your placement fee assigned for transport and accommodation goes directly into the local economy. That means that before you've even lifted a finger on your project, you've already made an important contribution to the local economy.
Our support for our volunteers
We appreciate how special our volunteers are and offer our full support every step of the way. Our in-country coordinators are on-hand for you while you're in-country, providing airport pick-up and arrival orientation while we also provide 24/7 support for all our volunteer travellers.
Against aid reliance
We do not give direct funding to the projects we work with. Many experts believe that the constant flow of financial aid into the developing world causes an over-reliance on foreign aid, which harms the long-term stability of developing economies. It is your time and effort (rather than cold hard cash) that makes a difference. We truly believe that by working together and forging relationships with the developing world, we can make a real and lasting difference.
Your experience
When you travel with i-to-i, you'll experience a truly unique travel adventure which will change your life forever. We're all different, which is why we'll all experience a unique voyage. In addition to gaining a deep immersion into a new culture, you'll learn valuable skills for life which will open-up your eyes to the world and warm your heart in the knowledge that you're giving something real and lasting back to the places you visit.
Why Volunteer through a travel company?
The reason there are so many volunteer providers is not only because volunteering abroad is growing so popular, but because there is a genuine need for companies who can organise your trip for you. Volunteering on your own can be very difficult. Especially if you haven’t travelled very much or are a little soft spoken and arriving in a foreign country without a plan can be rather stressful. Volunteering with a company like i-to-i offers many benefits.
Pre-arranged
You can try searching for a volunteer opportunity on the internet, but you won’t find much that doesn't involve a volunteer travel provider such as i-to-i. Think about it: the places that need volunteers are likely to be poor and underdeveloped - they probably won't even have access to the internet. I’m sure if they had internet access they’d post a volunteer position, but that hardly seems feasible.
It’s virtually impossible to pre-arrange a volunteer opportunity abroad by yourself. Many people don’t want to take the risk of going overseas on their own, with no guarantees of work. An organisation has been there in person and worked out all the finer details for you. They've checked that it's safe, made sure that it's worthwhile and taken the time to make your arrangements for you.
Support
Most organisations offer you support both before and during your trip. Even though you probably won’t have any problems on your trip, it’s reassuring to know that someone is there if you need them. This is particularly comforting for younger volunteers’ parents.
Something as little as meeting you at the airport can really mean a lot. Those first few hours in a foreign country can be really disorienting, and having someone there that can speak the language, knows where they’re going and can help you with your bags is will take a huge weight off your mind.
Time saving
If you decide to just go to Ghana and see what comes up, you could - and probably will - spend a considerable amount of time wandering around looking for volunteer positions. This is not very effective and you could waste a lot of time and money this way. By travelling with a volunteer organisation you avoid all the confused and aimless wandering, and can get straight to work.
Information
If you volunteer with an organisation, they’ll provide you with information about the country you’ll be going to and the project you’ll be working on, as well as general pre-departure information. Some organisations, like i-to-i, provide an in-country orientation. This is a good way to learn about an area and get answers to any questions you might have.
Guaranteed Placement
If you decide to jump on a plane and look in you could find yourself spending hundreds of pounds without actually doing what you can to do - volunteering. Going with a volunteer organisation guarantees you a volunteer position when you arrive, so you won't go home disappointed.
Can I really make a difference
There are good reasons why you pay a placement fee when you volunteer with i-to-i. As a travel company our responsibility to you is wider than if we were a charity. Our focus is not only on the benefits to the project but also on your safety and satisfaction.
The common question and the understandable doubt on the lips of every volunteer before they choose to embark on a volunteer trip is: "Will my contribution actually be worthwhile?" The answer when you volunteer with us? Yes, it definitely will! Whether you volunteer for one week or six months, you will make a difference to communities abroad. After all, what is the point in making the effort to volunteer overseas if you can't be assured that your contribution will really make a difference and have a profound effect on the communities and environments they are aimed at benefitting?
Experts in providing overseas volunteering projects
As an international volunteer organisation with over 12 years experience in sending volunteers abroad to work on vital overseas community and environmental development projects, we are experienced volunteer travel project providers.
Long-term impact
The trouble is that many 'short-term' volunteers can't see the bigger picture or the difference their contribution is making. When you volunteer with i-to-i, you are part of a much greater picture and can rest assured that your work will be continued by future i-to-i volunteers as we make sure all our volunteer projects are sustainable and worthwhile.
Your help is appreciated and really does help!
When you volunteer with i-to-i your contribution will make an immediate and lasting difference which will be thoroughly appreciated by overseas communities.
Why is there a Placement Fee?
There are good reasons why you pay a placement fee when you volunteer with i-to-i. As a travel company our responsibility to you is wider than if we were a charity. Our focus is not only on the benefits to the project but also on your safety and satisfaction.
If a project is badly run, volunteers’ hard work can be for nothing. Your fee helps us to source worthwhile projects so you can be sure you’re making a difference. Accommodation is included in our placements and often, so is food, and by staying locally your fee remains in the community you’re there to help.
We also provide you with thorough information about how to prepare for your trip as well as information on volunteering in your chosen country. What’s more, if you are volunteering as a teacher or on a community development project, we will include our 40 hour TEFL qualification!
Don’t think we forget about you once you’re out there! You’ll be met at the airport and introduced to the local area by one of our in-country co-ordinators so there’s no chance of getting lost! As well as providing you with all the support you need, the self-funding nature of i-to-i means we can continue to support more and more worthwhile projects in the long-term.
In-country Coordinators
We have in-country coordinators in every single country we operate in. They’re there to make sure you're getting the most out of your travel experience by introducing you to the country, answering your questions and dealing with any problems that might arise while you're away. They’re on hand 24 hours a day so, in the unlikely event of an emergency, you know there will always be someone beside you to help you through.
So how will you benefit from our overseas teams?
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Face-to-face support
Our in-country coordinators are your first port of call if you have a problem. As well as sorting out the little things, they're available 24/7 to help you through any emergencies that you might encounter while abroad. They'll be right there by your side to provide a friendly face and a reassuring word when you need it the most.
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Airport pick-up
Our in-country coordinators will pick you up from the airport and make sure you get to your project without any problems.
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Orientation
Your in-country coordinators will give you a full cultural orientation on arrival. This will cover everything from health and safety to where you can get an emergency bar of chocolate.
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Local
All of our in-country coordinators are local people with a wealth of information about the land and its customs. They'll be able to advise you on where to go, how to get there and what to do while you're there.
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Friendly
Arriving in a new country can be a daunting experience but our friendly in-country coordinators will be there to settle you in and calm your fears.
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English speaking
Language barriers can be a huge problem when travelling abroad, but not when you travel with i-to-i. All our in-country coordinators speak English so you won't have any trouble communicating with them.
International conferences
From time-to-time, we hold international conferences designed to encourage global understanding within the i-to-i team and improvement from our in-country coordinators, to ensure our travellers receive the best possible support and service while on a project with us.
The conferences are attended by our in-country leaders, who pass on the knowledge they have learned to their in-country teams. Our global conferences are the perfect opportunity for training and offer quality training sessions on topics including extensive customer service skills, to help raise the level of service across the global i-to-i network.
Our international conferences are vitally important because they allow our in-country coordinators and global staff to share their experience and help to build on our success in answering and fulfilling the changing needs of our volunteers.
Crisis Response Plan
With the help of Docleaf, our crisis management specialist, we have developed a comprehensive crisis response plan to prepare for and guide us through any emergency. We operate a 24/7 emergency support service so that this plan can be put into action immediately no matter what time of the day! Our crisis response plan covers:
Our crisis response plan covers:
- Emergency support
All travelers are issued with the UK based emergency support number in pre-departure literature.
Duty officers
The duty officer is the first point of contact. They deal with any incoming calls and initiate the appropriate response to the crisis. In more serious cases the duty officer will then call a senior officer (a member of i-to-i management) for advice, assistance and support. Should the situation require it, they will activate the full global response team.
- In-country coordinators
We regularly bring our in-country coordinators to the UK for crisis response training, so you can rest assured that your in-country coordinators are well versed in our emergency protocol and will know exactly how to react in the unlikely event of an emergency.
- Crisis response teams
All UK staff have been pre-assigned specific roles which they must take up in the event of a major crisis. Should their services be required these staff will be called into the i-to-i office to take up their role in the crisis response team. The team will co-ordinate the emergency response, advise in-country coordinators, contact insurance providers and organize assistance.
- Emergency travel teams
Should the situation require it, we will mobilize an emergency travel team to assist in-country.
- Global communication
We’ve create a 'triangle of confidence' between the UK response team, the in-country coordinators and the traveller.
- Crisis training
We carry out regular training sessions to ensure all staff are fully informed about our crisis response procedures.
- Docleaf training
Every year i-to-i Staff are fully briefed and simulation trained by DocLeaf.
- Monitoring systems
All i-to-i staff are fully informed of any changes to our crisis response procedures through the company intranet.
Note: i-to-i closely follows global travel advice when it comes to deciding the safety of our travelers abroad. We monitor government communications from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the US State Department and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, to ensure that we can make informed decisions about the risks posed to our customers.
Watch our video
For more information, watch our 'i-to-i support network' video.
