Safety & Backup
Providing industry-leading staff support so you can travel with peace of mind
Our approach to safety
We truly believe that we provide the highest level of safety and security in the ethical travel space. Every single one of our projects is thoroughly risk assessed with every member of staff, at all stages of your journey, trained to the highest standards.
Your safety is not a compromise. We go to great lengths to ensure:
- all our staff are fully background checked and trained to the highest standards
- host families are vetted and interviewed to assess suitability for housing a variety of nationalities and language levels
- you are supported at every stage of your journey, especially by our amazing teams in your destination(s)
- every project and destination undergoes a thorough risk assessment to confirm they are suitable, safe, and politically stable for our participants
- we are always conforming to the standards laid out by BS 8848 British Standard
- you have access to personalised advice from our network of medical consultants, who can work with your doctor
- we maintain comprehensive crisis management plans across all destinations, with protocols that address the full spectrum of potential risks
Here, we’ll take you through how our approach to safety and backup is different.
Support from start to finish
From the moment you enquire until you land back on home soil, our staff are there to help with any questions or concerns. All our staff are carefully background checked and trained to the highest standard.
Firstly, a Project Expert will help find the perfect project for you based on where you want to go and what you want to achieve.
Once booked, your dedicated Destination Expert will work closely with you to ensure you are happy with your placement and accommodation arrangements. They’ll also provide comprehensive preparation advice and essential information for your trip.
Then, no matter what time you arrive, a member of our in-destination staff will meet you at the airport. They will also take you to and check your accommodation, give you a thorough induction and safety briefing, and give you a tour of your new surroundings.
From that point, they’ll be there whenever you need them. If you ever have a problem, question, or just want someone to chat with, you can reach them 24/7.
On Teen Programmes, you will benefit from round-the-clock supervision and support from the Projects Abroad team. We will be there no matter what you need or when you need us.
We also have emergency telephone numbers so that you or a family member back home can contact us at any time, if needed.
“The staff Projects Abroad provide throughout your trip are incredible, they are some of the nicest people you will ever meet and they most definitely make your experience remarkable.”
Fully vetted accommodation
Most of our participants live with a local host family, providing instant access to the local culture.
Every host family is carefully chosen based on a range of factors, including security, comfort, and friendliness. We’ve been working with many host families for years, but of course, we always stop by before your arrival to make sure they’re ready to welcome you into their homes.
Many hosts are associated with our programmes – for example, a teacher or headmistress at one of our partner schools, or a doctor at one of our medical placements.
We also try to place you with fellow travellers of a similar age and gender. This makes your stay sociable and gives you the chance to make friends with and share your experience with like-minded people from around the world.
If you join a project with alternative accommodation, such as a hotel or lodge, these will have also been hand-selected and thoroughly checked by our staff. This is often the case for our conservation projects, where you’ll live in the heart of the wilderness.
“Once I had been taken into the family it truly felt like I was one of their own. With the culture of everyone in the surrounding area dropping in on others daily, I got to know a lot of the local community well within a short space of time.”
A personal service
You’re not just a number to us. Our staff know the transformative power of travel and are passionate about making sure you get the most out of your time with Projects Abroad. We will tailor your project to your specific needs to the best of our ability.
Let our teams know what you might need far enough in advance and we will move mountains to make it happen safely. This includes picking your preference of department on medical placements.
If your needs can’t be met on a specific programme, we can recommend one where they can!
If your project allows for exploration in your free time, our local teams can provide personalised recommendations depending on your preferences. They’re part of the community themselves, so they know all the hidden gems!
“From the very first day, our support quite literally could not have been better. Our main Projects Abroad contact and our two other support staff, did quite literally absolutely everything they could to make our stay easy, enjoyable, stimulating and any other adjective you can think of! They were wonderful, we could not have asked for more. Would I do it again? Tomorrow, without a second thought!”
– Vicki James, Warwickshire Girl Guides Group Leader.
Your safety comes first
We know that you can only achieve your best when you’re in a safe and stable environment. The same is true for our staff and project partners. It’s for this reason that safety is our number one priority.
We only send our participants to places that are safe and politically stable. If they are not, we don’t go. We make sure to stay up to date with government advice regarding safety and stability.
We carry out thorough risk assessments for all of our projects and have health and safety checklists for our staff to complete regularly. We also devise and train our staff on standard operating procedures and crisis management plans, so they know exactly what to do if a problem occurs in any destination.
All of this is designed to give you and those who care about you peace of mind, so you can focus on enjoying your time abroad.
“The trip was incredibly well organised. At Taricaya, the community of staff and volunteers were super friendly, helpful and made sure we got the absolute most of our time. Outside of the jungle, we were looked after wherever our next adventure took us. Whether it was the city of Cusco or the top of Machu Picchu, the Projects Abroad staff were both supportive and helpful and knew everything about the area we were in.”
– Lucy Luck, 2nd year student, Animal Management & Zoology Degree course at Capel Manor College.
A network of medical consultants
Your physical and mental health is a top priority during your time with us. We have a network of medical consultants who are experienced in international travel and are available to consult with you and your doctor before you leave. This means you and your doctor can discuss health concerns and receive tailored advice so you can feel confident about your trip.
But our medical service doesn’t stop there. On the rare chance that you fall ill while abroad, our consultants will advise our destination teams of the appropriate precautions and next steps.
In the unlikely event of an emergency, our destination staff will take you to the closest healthcare facility and help you communicate with local doctors. They will stay with you for as long as you need and ensure there are no miscommunications in diagnosis or treatments.
Our medical consultants can also act as a link with your medical insurance company when required.
We are there to take care of everything in any situation, so you can feel and achieve your best on your travels.
“It was well organised, I was welcomed in Cuzco by a very friendly and efficient team who took great care of me (especially when I had a slight health problem)… Nothing negative whatsoever. It has been a very enriching and unforgettable experience.”
Our safety standards
Adhering to the highest safety standards, we consistently exceed British Standard BS 8848 for Adventure Travel.
We also meet the stringent requirements of the Expedition Providers Association (EPA). This involves thorough risk assessments, robust emergency protocols, highly competent staff, and transparent participant information.
Our commitment to safety is further validated by the LOtC Quality Badge, which certifies the quality of our educational offerings and the effectiveness of our risk management for learning experiences outside the classroom.
Our trusted accreditations
