International Volunteering Programme

Get sponsored on a tier 5 charity worker visa to volunteer at our UK processing centre in Canterbury

About the IVP Programme

Books2Africa is a UK-registered charity number 1152599 and an A-rated Tier 5 Charity Worker Sponsor that sponsors international candidates who are accepted into our International Volunteering Programme (IVP). The IVP is a 12-months internship designed for individuals who are looking to develop work experience in the Charity or Non-Governmental Organisation sector in the UK. Candidates who are accepted to the programme will be working as volunteers and will not be paid a salary. Candidates are also required to reside within the Canterbury/Kent area and fund their living expenses – rent, food and travel.

International Volunteer Programme - UK Tier 5 Charity Worker Visa

Our International Volunteering Programme (IVP) enables you to gain first-hand experience in the practical operations of an international Non-Governmental Organisation and provides candidates with the opportunity to develop transferable skills such as teamwork, communication and organisation that are essential for any professional workplace.

Interns on our IVP programme work as volunteer Processing Support Officers at our Processing Centre in Canterbury, and are involved in a variety of tasks within the following teams: Processing Team (cataloguing, sorting and packing donated materials), Charity Shop Sales Team (valuing and listing donated books, DVDs and more for sale), Tech Refurbishing Team (refurbishing, valuing and listing donated electrical equipment) and Fundraising and Marketing Team (applying for grants and creating content). Candidates also have the opportunity to complete a range of trainings and seminars related to their role.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants are required to meet the following criteria to be eligible for the IVP programme:

Age: Applicants must be aged 18 and above to apply. Date of birth will be required during the application.
Language: Applicants must be fluent in speaking, reading and writing in English. A personal statement in English will be required during the application. Applicants who pass the application stage will also be invited to attend a video interview.
Volunteering Experience: Applicants must have previous experience of working as a volunteer. A CV and a letter of recommendation from their volunteer employer or from a Books2Africa Ambassador (former IVPs or sponsors) will be required during the application.
Immigration History: Applicants must declare their travel history, dependents and whether they have been rejected a visa to the UK before.

The IVP programme is an unpaid volunteering role. Applicants will be required to prove they have one of the following arrangements for their living expenses:

Living with a host: Applicants who will be living with a host (relative, friend etc) must provide the following during the application:
- The full address and contact details of the host within the Canterbury/Kent area.
- Letter of support from the host to confirm they are happy to accommodate the applicant for the duration of the programme.
- Proof of address of the host – council tax letter or utility bill showing their name and address.
Living in rented accommodation: Applicants who will be renting a place to stay must provide the following during the application:
- Proof of funds – a bank statement in your name showing available funds for your accommodation/utility bills for 6 months (£3,500).

The online application form for the IVP programme opens every year between 1 – 30 November. Eligible applicants are interviewed in December and approved applicants are given a COS in January to apply for their visa and commence the 12-month programme in March. The application process and fees are as follows:

Administration Fee – £500
- £10 due at the application stage and is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of your application. We encourage you to read around our website and complete a strong application to increase your chances of being accepted as we receive a significant amount of applications for only 20 spaces. Only the strongest applications will be accepted.
- £490 is due if your application is accepted by our team. This is a non-refundable fee due before you can proceed to submit your visa application with the UK High Commission in your country and pay any fees required by the High Commission.
Programme Fee – £1,500
- A programme fee of £1,500 is to be paid immediately when your visa is approved and before you travel to the UK. The programme fee is non-refundable and you will not be permitted to commence work at our UK office without paying the fee in full. Failure to pay within 2 weeks of visa approval will lead to a withdrawal of your COS and cancellation of your visa. The programme fee is not required if your Tier 5 visa application is rejected.

Applicants who are accepted on the programme can expect the following outcomes:

Shifts: You will be required to work a minimum of 20 hours per week, across a minimum of 3 days per week, between 9am to 5pm, Mondays to Fridays. Failure to sign up for shifts, unauthorised absences and lateness accrue penalty points that lead to dismissal and withdrawal of your COS.
Work Location: You will be working at our Canterbury Processing Centre located at Unit 2, Barton Business Park, New Dover Road, Canterbury, CT1 3AA, United Kingdom.
Volunteer Expenses: You will be able to claim volunteer expenses of £10 per day towards lunch/groceries and £20 per week towards travel expenses. All expense claims are submitted and paid monthly.
Training and Trips: Various training seminars, field trips and work socials are planned to enhance your skills and experience of the UK.
Certificate and reference: A certificate of completion is issued at the end of your programme showing the number of volunteering hours completed. We also provide you with a reference for job or study applications when required.

Application Notice: We have now opened applications for the 2025 batch. We’ll be reviewing applications on 1st December and we’ll contact applicants to confirm if they are invited for an interview or their application has been unsuccessful. Following a successful interview, a COS for approved applicants will be issued in January 2025 with a commencement date of April 2025. Best wishes.

We have now received enough applications for 2024 batch. We’ll re-open the application if insufficient candidates scale the interview stage. We’ll begin accepting applications for 2025 batch on 1st of November 2024. Please set a reminder to check back later.