Enrolment Policies and Application Process
Upon receipt of your application and deposit, we will start to process your project placement. We ask that you apply and pay in full at least 30 days before your departure. For applications received less than 30 days before your start date, you will be request to pay the full program fee. The program deposit is non-refundable, unless the volunteer placement you request cannot be made.
Upon receipt of your enrolment and deposit, you will receive:
* An email indicating receipt of your application from your Volunteer and Culture Xp Advisor within one business day.
* A project confirmation email within 3-5 business days. This confirmation will include your payment schedule and a volunteer placement questionnaire (applicable on certain projects only).
Upon receipt of full payment you will receive:
* A volunteer manual, with training information and details about our local partner organization.
At least two weeks before your scheduled departure, you will receive:
* Any final information, such as airport pickup details, and any changes that might have occurred between registration and departure.
Project Changes
If you would like to change the dates or any details concerning your volunteer project placement, you can do so before 30 days of your departure. You must do so in writing, via email or fax, to your Volunteer Travel Advisor.
If you change your volunteer placement less than 30 days before your departure, you will be charged additional $100 to the program fee.
Project changes cannot be made within 2 weeks of your departure.
If you are interested in extending your volunteer project once it has begun, you can add extra weeks at the project location for the additional cost stated on the price list.
Although we will do everything possible to ensure placement on your desired project, there is always the chance that your placement may be disrupted by an unusual event or circumstance that Volunteer & Culture XP could not have reasonably foreseen. If this event is serious enough to significantly affect your placement, we will try to arrange a suitable alternative placement at another location. Volunteer and Culture Xp will not be responsible for any loss, damage, expense or claim of any description you suffer as a result of your changes.
Insurance Coverage
All volunteers would need to buy their own travel insurance by contacting their local travel agent. Volunteer and Culture Xp is not responsible for that.
Refund and Cancellation Policy applies:
1. If you cancel 61 days or more before your start date, you will receive the full amount paid, minus the program deposit.
2. If you cancel between 31 and 60 days before your start date, you will receive 50% of the amount paid minus the program deposit.
3. If you cancel 30 days or less before your start date, no refund will be issued.
4. If you cancel once your project has started, no refund will be issued.
5. If we cannot place you with the volunteer project for which you enrolled, you will receive a full refund.
The initial program deposit is non-refundable.
Accommodations, Meals and Other Inclusions
It is the responsibility of the volunteer to confirm what is included in the project cost. The eating and living facilities at your project location will be of a local standard, and may differ from what you are used to in your home country. You may be required to share a bedroom and/or bathroom.
If you choose to be away for a weekend or a holiday during your placement, you will not receive a refund for the time you are away from your project for any meals or accommodations.
Flights and Transportation
You are responsible for arranging and paying for flights to and within your chosen country. It is your responsibility to confirm what other transportation is included in the project cost.
Volunteer and Culture XP is not responsible for refunding or reimbursing any flight costs or any other costs incurred that arise as a result of your placement not proceeding or being cancelled, curtailed, withdrawn or changed due to circumstances outside our control or the control of our partner organization. This includes changes made by airlines for cancelling, changing or transferring flights, or any other events out of our control.
Excursions
At many locations, activities and excursions are provided to the volunteer at no additional charge. However, some activities and excursions at some locations require the volunteer to pay an entry fee to participate.
Volunteer Behaviour
It is understood that any participant in a Volunteer and Culture XP program will obey the laws of the host country. This, of course, forbids the use of illegal drugs and alcohol consumption by minors. Volunteers are expected to be courteous and respectful at all times, and abusive behaviour will not be tolerated.
Volunteer and Culture XP reserves the right to expel (without refund) any volunteer whose behaviour violates the project provider's policies or those of special program providers, tour operators, etc. Furthermore, any expenses incurred by the project provider in terminating the program of a volunteer who violates the centre’s policies will be the responsibility of the participant.
Documentation
It is the responsibility of the volunteer to obtain all necessary documentation to enter the country and travel to, from, and within the program. Some countries have additional requirements for minors. You should check with the airlines and the embassy or consulate of the country to which you are travelling (www.embassyworld.com).
Release of Liability, Assumption of Risk, & Insurance Requirements
This document is a legally enforceable waiver of my legal rights.
I. Release of Liability and Assumption of Risks
I am voluntarily participating in a study abroad program as either a student or a volunteer, or have enrolled in a teaching certification course, with Volunteer and Culture Xp. ("VAC Xp”). I acknowledge that travel to, from and within the foreign country in which the program is located, including at my chosen volunteer site, school, accommodations and any in-country excursions, have inherent risks and dangers that I may be exposed to and possibly harmed by. These include, but are not limited to, personal injuries, property damage, accidents involving motor vehicles, aircraft and other forms of transportation, sickness, diseases (including food, water or insect borne diseases that are not commonly encountered in the United Kingdom), riots, political instability, crime, acts of terrorism, detention by government authorities or individuals, burglary, assault, encounters with dangerous wildlife and other hazards. I acknowledge that as a participant in the program, I may travel to remote rural areas and will lodge and eat with the residents in those areas. As such, the accommodations, food and sanitary conditions may be below, or substantially below, the standard I am accustomed to in the United Kingdom. I also acknowledge that healthcare facilities, medical supplies and medical personnel on the program may be very limited and, if available at all, may be below or substantially below U.K. standards.
I understand that Volunteer and Culture Xp has contracted with independent local organizations, outfitters, suppliers and vendors for the provision of certain aspects of the program, including, accommodations, food and excursions ("Vendors"), and that Volunteer and Culture Xp does not own or operate any of these Vendors. While Volunteer and Culture Xp has used its best efforts to select reliable and safe Vendors, Volunteer and Culture Xp is not responsible for any negligent or wilful act or omission of a Vendor or other third party, and I hereby release Volunteer and Culture Xp from all claims arising out of, or related to, the wilful or negligent acts or omissions of these Vendors.
I represent to Volunteer and Culture Xp that, to the best of my knowledge, I am in good mental and physical health. I am voluntarily participating in the program, with knowledge of the risks and dangers involved. I expressly accept and assume all known and unknown risks on behalf of myself.
In exchange, and in consideration for participation in the program, I hereby release Volunteer and Culture Xp and its employees, agents, volunteers, officers, directors and representatives (each, a "Releasee") from any and all injuries, deaths, losses, liabilities, damages, claims, actions, suits and judgments whatsoever including costs, expenses and attorney fees (collectively, "Claims") that I may have now or in the future, directly or indirectly, arising from, connected with or related to my participation in the program, including with respect to the attached medical durable power of attorney, whether caused by any Releasee or some other person or cause. I agree that I will not, at any time, directly or indirectly, on behalf of myself, my child and my heirs, commence or prosecute any action, suit or other proceeding against any Releasee arising from, connected with or related to my participation in the program. I agree to indemnify, hold harmless and defend each Releasee from and against any and all claims whatsoever that the Releasee may suffer arising from, connected with or related to my participation in the program, whether inside or outside of the U.K.
Further, I hereby grant full permission to Volunteer and Culture Xp to use any photographs, videotapes, motion pictures, website images, recordings, comments I make in questionnaires or letters or any other record of the program for purposes of commercial advertising, marketing or promotional literature without the need for further consent from me.
II. Insurance Requirements
I acknowledge that I have been fully advised and warned by Volunteer and Culture Xp that it is compulsory that I purchase and maintain both personal travel insurance and health insurance which covers medical expenses, emergency medical evacuations, accidental death or dismember ship and repatriation of remains for the period that I am travelling and participating in the program. It is my responsibility to make certain that the insurance covers such costs incurred outside of the U.K. Volunteer and Culture Xp may, from time to time, offer health or travel insurance coverage’s through selected insurance providers so that I can obtain a group rate, but they are under no obligation to do so. Should I choose to select any insurance package provided through Volunteer and Culture Xp, I acknowledge that I have independently verified the sufficiency of the coverage for my needs.
III. General; Signatures
* Governing Law. This document shall be governed by the laws of the United Kingdom, and shall be honoured in any jurisdiction where it is presented.
* Binding Effect; Modifications. This document shall be binding upon me and all persons having or claiming rights on my behalf. If any provision of this document is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this document shall be not affected thereby and shall be valid and enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law. This document may not be modified orally.


