|
about ventureco > what makes us unique?
What makes VentureCo unique?
1. VentureCo’s unique multi-phase Ventures:
VentureCo have pioneered their multi-phase travel programme to combine cultural orientation, project work and adventure travel. These three phases enable you to learn about your hosts, work as part of their community and join an expedition.
Phase 1
is crucial because the language course and cultural orientation allows you to participate fully in phase 2. We ask you to go through a language course (Latin America only) and cultural orientation to learn about your hosts and once armed with these skills you are better able to contribute to the project, and to get more out of the experience.
Phase 2
is the development project where our aim is to provide indigenous communities with the wherewithal to become more self-sufficient, we don't want to create dependence on external aid. The group work as volunteers alongside local people on one of VentureCo’s projects. You will find specific details about the projects here...
Phase 3
is the expedition where you and your team explore the back-country and neighbouring lands including jungles, deserts and mountains. This is the phase where you explore the full variety of habitats, micro-environments and both urban and rural jungles.
2. A company committed to charity
We are unique in that VentureCo is a commercial company that operates in tandem with The VentureCo Trust, a UK registered charity. We would not be comfortable operating solely as a charity because many of the activities contained within a Venture are primarily for the traveller’s benefit and should be treated as such. However, all our development projects are sound causes, worthy of charitable status, and it is right and proper that they are operated by the Trust (see Trust info). So the VentureCo business model is unique, language schools, cultural orientation and expedition activities are operated by VentureCo the company; development projects are the preserve of the VentureCo Trust.
3. VentureCo’s approach to environmental responsibility and responsible travel
VentureCo are accredited by Responsible Travel.com and have active environmental responsibility policies(see responsible travel).
4. ATOL bonded
In-house booking leads to more flexibility. ATOL licence holders VentureCo take care of international flights in-house. Group flights, extended stays in-country or round-the-world itineraries are all options!
Financial security guaranteed: VentureCo hold their own ATOL licence number 5306, which guarantees your financial security. We are both ATOL (Air Travel Organiser Licence) bonded and have Travel Organiser Failure Cover in place so that we can guarantee your financial security whatever might happen. We are completely legitimate and conform to both EU and UK legislation.
VentureCo is also a full member of the Year Out Group.
If you wish to extend your stay, and travel on independently after your Venture we can tailor-make your flight itinerary, or even provide Round-the-World tickets and refund your group flight altogether. Flexibility is the watchword. Our ATOL licence permits us to deal with all the world's airlines under our own contracts, so whatever you can think of doing, we can arrange for you (and probably have for someone in the past!) What we don't do is half the job: provide an overseas programme and expect you to trawl around travel agencies looking for flights to match.
5. Pre-departure preparation and training.
Travel Survival course. Information VentureCo produce two handbooks. All Venturers are provided with The Handbook parts 1 and 2. Part one is pre-departure information and contains such things as equipment and vaccination lists, fitness guidelines and fundraising advice. Part 2 is overseas information and is designed to be taken with you when you travel. All Ventures start with a build-up weekend, held at our base in the Peak District, 6 weeks pre-departure. On-going training is provided throughout the Venture.
Ventures suit people who care about their role in the community. Projects are small, human-scale initiatives that address immediate local needs, so you need to be a person who is comfortable working as a team member, and be willing to adapt to a foreign culture. We look for energy, enthusiasm and a willingness to join in: above all a spirit of adventure and desire to see what lies beyond the horizon. Before you commit yourself to joining a Venture we ask to meet you, just to ensure that you know what you're committing to and that you will enjoy the team working environment. Applications are welcome all year.
about ventureco
| history
| ethos
| responsible travel
what makes
us unique? | year
out group | talks
& presentations | travel
videos
|
home