The oldest person to join a Mission Direct trip so far has been in his late 80’s and there are many volunteers in their 70’s.
Age is not necessarily a limiting factor, although there are some issues you may want to consider. The pace of the journey is not slow, and tropical, humid heat can be a factor in some countries. Please call the Mission Direct office for specific information on climate or accommodation if you are unsure.
Everybody is encouraged to contribute at their own pace; in consultation with your in-country staff it may be appropriate to opt out of a particularactivity to rest, and there are always less physically taxing activities available.
The youngest child to have come on a Mission Direct trip is 7 years old. Please do call to discuss the suitability of a destination for younger children, as we love families to come. If you are over 80 please check with us about health insurance.
Included:
Excluded:
Our programme costs are difficult to estimate accurately in advance with major fluctuations in sterling, airfares, oil prices and the cost of living in unstable economies. Mission Direct is a charity and does not make or distribute any profits.
Your contribution also excludes Gift Aid. If a gift aid form is signed, the Government will give 25p for every £1 you raise to Mission Direct. This means that every time a UK tax payer makes a gift to us, there is a multiple ready to be collected. Please do all you can to get gift aid forms signed, as the financial impact is huge.
This is a day enabling you to get personal answers to any question and provide appropriate expectations. You will get to know your fellow team members, learn in detail about the trip and how to prepare for it. It is an integral part of the volunteering ‘package’ helping you to prepare both practically and emotionally for the trip you are about to go on. Amongst other things it helps in the following ways:
As we share vital details, we find those few who do not attend really miss out and often find acclimatising at the start of their trip harder. Whilst we accept there are sometimes diary clashes, please, if at all possible, give this your highest priority to attend. The orientation day will be held on a Saturday in Luton and we provide lunch and refreshments throughout the day.
You are requested to join us at an orientation day, after the trip we hold a reunion day.
If you feel you want to do more, you could always consider joining us for two or more teams as overseas staff. See our vacancies page for more details.
All-inclusive mission – We arrange everything for you: Return flights, visas, insurance, accommodation and more. Before you go we also brief you thoroughly about your trip on an orientation day.
No specialist skills required – or superhuman strength! We work with local builders and tradesmen, so ask you to just come willing to lend a hand. If you have any specific skill you would like to utilise, please contact us.
You can watch every penny make a difference – Once you’ve raised you trip contribution, which is easier than you would think, all further money you raise goes direct to the project and the people – and you’ll be there to see it being put into action.
See the lasting impact your work has made – Imagine the smiles of a family moving from the slums into a home that you have helped to build, or a child able to attend school without walking miles each day. The gratitude of the people you go out to support will overwhelm you, and we’ll keep you update on the project once yo’re home so you can see it through to completion.
Change your life – As one volunteer put it: “I thought I was going overseas to give to others; in fact, they gave back so much more to me.”
Share your faith with actions as well as words – During projects we regularly show The Jesus Film, pray for the sick and invite people to discover Christ for themselves. We are living out the words of Jesus, serving others in love.
Joining a Mission Direct team will not only allow you to make a direct personal impact upon the lives of the vulnerable, it is likely to alter your whole outlook on life. Below are just a few comments from former volunteers providing insight:
A cry has gone out to “make poverty history” and there are many ways to help make this a reality. Our focus is on the people behind the statistics. We offer you the chance to make a visible and significant difference to one specific community. And by meeting and serving real people, you have a chance to be transformed yourself.
Our trips are open to people of any faith or religion and you will not be asked to subscribe to our beliefs. However, as this is a team experience, we do ask you to join us in all activity – some of which include church services, prayer and worship, though we don’t expect you to contribute. These experiences immerse you in the local community and give you a further insight into their daily life. They can also be very bonding for you with your team.
Yes – see more information on group bookings.
You can choose a trip to apply for here!
Complete the form and press submit – your space on team will not be reserved until you contribute the non-refundable £150 deposit required. You can send this either through the online payment prompt for deposit, or by cheque to: 27 Bury Mead Road, Hitchin, Herts. SG5 1RT. Alternatively you can call us with your card details on 01582 720056.
If you can’t complete an online application for any reason, please contact us for a paper form.
If you have a question that you can't find in our FAQs, please send us your question as it might be useful for someone else.
