Volunteer in Europe | The Career Break Site

Volunteering is possible in Europe! From working with refugees to helping out in orphanages, plus wildlife conservation, there are volunteering opportunities all over Europe as well as here in the UK.

Projects (8)
Organisations

Paid volunteering with vulnerable adults, Scottish Highlands, UK

L’Arche Highland is a community of more than 100 people with and without learning disabilities. You have the opportunity to join this vibrant community on a year-long career break. Full training provided, plus accommodation, meals and an allowance.

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An informal black and white picture of a group of people, including those with special needs at a party outdoors.

Paid volunteer placements with vulnerable adults, West Sussex, UK

As a live-in assistant, you will be at the very heart of this diverse and welcoming community, living and working side-by-side with people with learning disabilities. Come for a year and get a wealth of experience money can’t buy!

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Volunteer with vulnerable adults, Kent, UK

Live and work in a Christian community on your career break. It is truly inclusive - those of all faiths and none are welcome - and you will be working alongside some fantastic people. Plus you will get accommodation, meals and an allowance.

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Paid volunteering with vulnerable adults, Ipswich, UK

Challenging and rewarding work as an assistant for people with learning disabilities. You will live in a community helping a range of people live life to the full, in a vibrant and inclusive environment.

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Social Starters project in London - volunteer in social enterprise for entrepreneurs

Social enterprise volunteering in London and Brazil

If you want to use your skills to make an impact, you could volunteer on this unique placement in London or Brazil. You'll be assessed and matched with an entrepreneur or social enterprise, where you will use your skills to get a project off the ground.

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Live and work with adults with learning disabilities in the Brecon Beacons, UK

Spend a year as a volunteering in the foothills of the beautiful Brecon Beacons National Park, living with people with learning disabilities and supporting them in their daily lives. Challenging, rewarding and life-changing.

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Two women and two men with downs syndrome put their arms around each others shoulders and smile.

Paid volunteering with vulnerable adults, London, UK

Spend a year as a L'Arche assistant in the London: living, working and celebrating together with people with learning disabilities, building a community where everyone can belong. You'll be supporting people to live their lives to the fullest, and you will find yourself transformed as a result.

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Volunteer on a refugee project, Italy

You will work directly with refugees and migrants, assisting them as soon as they arrive on the Italian coast, and helping them access services and support as they adjust to their new lives.

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Europe is not usually the first place career breakers think about when they're considering doing volunteer work abroad. But there are projects available - and they need you!

Where can I volunteer in Europe?

Most volunteer projects in Europe which are open to career breakers from other countries are in Eastern Europe. Places like Russia, Romania, Albania and Poland all take volunteers. Greece is another place that has volunteer opportunities. It's also possible to volunteer in Western Europe, particularly in teaching English and conservation, and countries like Italy need volunteers to help with the refugee crisis.

It's also possible to volunteer full-time in the UK. This is quite rare amongst career breakers, but ideal if you can't or don't want to travel.

What volunteer work can I do in Europe?

Most volunteer placements in Eastern Europe involve conservation or working with children. The children could be in orphanages where your project would involve a range of child care tasks, or you could teach English in a school instead. Conservation work in Eastern Europe can often involve volunteering in sanctuaries for rescued wildlife or abused animals.

In Western Europe, the options tend to be teaching English to children but not care or working in orphanages. There are volunteer opportunities in conservation in Western Europe as well.

Italy has a particular need for volunteers at the moment, due to the refugee crisis. Refugees arriving there need help getting processed and moving on and volunteers are a vital part of this.

How long can I volunteer in Europe?

It's up to you, but it's worth knowing that volunteer placements in Europe can often be shorter than those in other parts of the world.

What will I get out of volunteering in Europe?

You can brush up on your language skills while helping people or places which need you! You'll also develop a better understanding of the European country that you're placed in, due to working closely with the people there.

One advantage of volunteering in Europe is its proximity to the UK and the availability of short-term placements, which means that you can take a shorter, cheaper mini career break.

If that sounds like the sort of thing that you'd like to do on your career break, see all our partner volunteer organisations working in Europe here.