Many travellers find it deeply rewarding to undertake voluntary work while backpacking. Others use seasonal work — or perhaps teaching English as a Foreign Language — to top up their bank balance. What you choose to do depends on your budget, your time constraints, and what you want to get out of the experience.

Ask yourself a few honest questions before you commit: Do you need to earn money? Is there a subject or cause you are genuinely passionate about? Do you want to gain experience that will help you in your career later on? The answers will point you in the right direction.

Working Holiday Visas: Earn While You Travel

If you could do with earning some money on the road, a working holiday visa is one of the most practical options available. Countries including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Japan all offer working holiday visas — or student working visas — that can last anywhere from one to three years depending on the nation.

These visas allow you to take on paid work legally while you travel, which means you can fund your trip as you go rather than arriving home with an empty bank account. Bar work, fruit picking, hostel reception shifts, farm work — the range of jobs available is broad, and the experience of working alongside locals is often one of the most memorable parts of the trip.

When it comes to teaching English as a Foreign Language, it is worth taking the time to find a reputable school, ideally through a personal recommendation. Standards vary enormously, and a good placement can be a genuinely enriching experience while a poor one can be frustrating and isolating.

Good sources of information on working abroad options can be found at Prospects and UCAS.

Volunteering Overseas: What Has Changed

Volunteering overseas has changed considerably over the years. The old model of sending well-meaning but unskilled young people into communities — sometimes doing more harm than good — has largely given way to a more thoughtful approach that focuses on enabling local communities to drive change themselves. This shift matters, and it is worth being aware of it when you are choosing a project.

Here are some of the most reputable organisations to consider:

VSO — Voluntary Service Overseas

Founded in 1958, VSO is one of the longest-established UK volunteering organisations. It recruits professionals with a degree or equivalent and at least three years of relevant experience in their field. That means it is probably not the right fit for those travelling immediately before or after university — but it is still worth knowing about, and worth looking at for the future.

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

For a more accessible entry point, IVHQ offers voluntary placements in a wide range of fascinating locations. For around £300 you could carry out a week of voluntary work; for just over £1,000 you could spend two weeks on the Galápagos Islands. Either way, a project with IVHQ makes a compelling focus for your travels and looks excellent on a CV.

The Mighty Roar

The Mighty Roar offers wildlife, marine, medical, childcare, and teaching voluntary projects. If you have a specific interest — conservation, healthcare, education — it is well worth exploring what they have available.

Working Abroad

Working Abroad is another provider worth checking out. Among other things, they offer opportunities to gain experience that could help develop a career in conservation. They even have projects on the small island of Carriacou — where I worked while making the second series of BBC Rough Science. A small world.

Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS)

WVS mainly recruits vets, veterinary students, and veterinary nurses as volunteers, but will also consider less experienced volunteers on many of their projects. If you have any interest in animal welfare or veterinary medicine, this is an outstanding organisation.

A Word of Caution on Sources

There is a wealth of information out there about working and volunteering abroad — but not all of it is trustworthy. Stick to sources you know and respect.

Your school or university is often a good place to start, because they may already have established contacts and projects with a track record of positive outcomes. A personal recommendation from someone who has actually done a placement is worth far more than a glossy brochure.

The Bottom Line

Whether you are looking to earn, to give something back, or to gain experience that will shape your career, there is an option out there that fits. The key is to be honest with yourself about what you want from the experience — and to do your research before you commit.

The best placements are the ones where you leave having genuinely contributed something, and where the community you worked with is better off for your having been there.