International Volunteering Programme

Volunteer in the UK and Gain International Experience—Tier 5 Charity Worker Visa Sponsorship Available

About Books2Africa

Books2Africa is a UK-registered charity (No. 1152599) dedicated to improving access to quality education across Africa by collecting and redistributing donated books and educational materials. Founded in 2012, the charity operates a Processing Centre in Canterbury where volunteers sort, pack, and ship resources to schools, universities, and libraries in across more than 20 African countries. With a mission to empower learners and reduce educational inequality, Books2Africa promotes sustainability, digital inclusion, and African agency through its programmes and partnerships.

International Volunteer Programme (IVP)

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

International volunteers are invited to support Books2Africa’s charitable mission through temporary, hands-on activities and fieldwork at our UK Processing Centre in Canterbury. Volunteers take part in orientation, seminars, mission-aligned field visits and community-based activities that raise awareness and contribute to the collecting, sorting, packing, and shipment of donated books and educational materials to African schools and communities. The programme lasts up to 12 months, is unpaid, and operates under the Tier 5 Charity Worker visa. Volunteers must reside locally in Canterbury/Kent and cover their own accommodation, food, and travel expenses. The IVP programme offers international volunteers the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to a charitable cause while gaining international experience that can be applied to community development in their home countries. Details of fieldtrips and activities can be found in the IVP Prospectus attached.

Eligibility Criteria

The Books2Africa International Volunteer Programme works as follows:

Duration: 12 months.
Location: Books2Africa UK, Unit 2, Barton Business Park, New Dover Road, Canterbury, CT1 3AA.
Role Type: Voluntary and unpaid.
Living Arrangements: Volunteers must reside locally within the Canterbury/Kent area and are responsible for their own accommodation (renting or living with a host), food, and travel expenses.
Volunteer Expenses: You will be able to claim back some of your volunteer expenses on days you work – £10 per day towards lunch and £20 per week towards travel expenses. All expense claims are submitted and paid monthly.
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 are reported to the UKVI and lead to dismissal and withdrawal of your visa.
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 when required.

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.
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.
Mission aligned and committed: Passionate about educational access and community development. Adaptable, collaborative, and committed to Books2Africa’s mission. Willing to engage in physical, hands-on tasks in a warehouse setting.
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. Applications are reviewed and eligible candidates are interviewed on an ongoing basis, with approved applicants required to pay their programme fee in December. Certificates of Sponsorship (COS) are issued in February to enable you to proceed with your visa application and, if successful, commence the 12-month programme in April. 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 number of applications for only 20 spaces. Only the strongest applications will be accepted.

Programme Fee – £3,000: Successful applicants are required to pay the programme fee of £3,000 (£1,000 programme admin fee and £2,000 programme delivery fee) in full before 25th December. There is no longer a fee required at the application stage, and the consolidated programme fee covers the full costs of the IVP programme as outlined in the IVP Prospectus. The programme fee does not include your visa application fees, accommodation and living expenses in the UK. If a candidate’s visa application is later rejected, only the programme delivery fee (£2,000) is refundable.

Books2Africa DOES NOT have any authorised agents acting on its behalf to recruit or process IVP applications. We also do not endorse any YouTube channels or social media posts promoting this programme.

All applications are completed online via the online application form below.
All recruitment communications are sent via our official email [email protected].
All applications are considered on merit and live video interviews conducted by our staff.

Kindly report any persons or emails claiming to act on behalf of Books2Africa to [email protected].

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’ll begin accepting applications for the next cohort from 1st – 30th November 2025. Please set a reminder to check back later.