Mission Direct (MD) is a registered Christian charity that takes relays of self-funded, volunteers on short term mission trips to help some of the world’s most vulnerable people.
The people MD help live in basic and challenging conditions and, although the mission itself is not inherently dangerous, MD takes every care to ensure the safety of both the volunteers and staff and strives to minimize any risks during our trips. The local contractors that will be used on the mission will operate to in-country practices and therefore volunteers should be aware of all risks involved and take responsibility for their own actions.
The contributions made by volunteers to MD cover (a) the costs of the volunteer’s trip to an area where the volunteer will be part of a team involved in constructing or rebuilding hospitals, classrooms, homes and related facilities; (b) costs for setting up the mission campaign; and (c) UK elements of the overseas aid provided by MD.
The following conditions shall apply to the mission trip. They are to be read in conjunction with the appropriate MD Country Handbook, the MD Volunteer Application Form, and the MD Volunteer Guidance for working with Children and Vulnerable Adults, the terms of which shall be considered part of these conditions.
1.1.1 Overseas Mission
Payment of the initial deposit contribution donation, minimum of £150, will secure registration of your booking. The balance of the contribution donations shall be provided as follows, at least 50% of the balance 24 weeks before the departure date and the remainder at least 12 weeks before the departure date. Flexible, monthly payments may be an option under certain circumstances – please contact us for more details.
1.1.2 UK Mission
Payment of the initial deposit contribution donation, minimum of £50, will secure registration of your booking. The balance of the contribution donations shall be provided at least 6 weeks before the mission date. Flexible, monthly payments may be an option under certain circumstances – please contact us for more details.
The contributions may be made by;
1.1.2.1 Cheque payable to Mission Direct
1.1.2.2 Debit or Credit Card – Debit card payments are free, but Credit card payments attract a 3.5% surcharge.
1.1.2.3 Bank transfers and Direct Debit: If you wish to make a bank transfer or set up a DD, please contact the MD office on 01582 720056 or email info@missiondirect.org.
1.1.2.4 Please note we do not accept CAF payments for contributions.
1.1.2.5 Through a fundraising portal – we suggest Just Giving or Virgin Money Giving as they take less commission.
To allow time for processing please allow 10 days after posting for cheque payments and 14 days after making a card transaction.
Your place on the mission trip will be secured once your initial deposit contribution donation has been accepted, along with your completed application form – and on the basis that you wish to commit to make a full contribution.
1.3.1 Overseas Mission
MD will reserve your travel and accommodation arrangements and will issue either by post or email confirmation of your mission arrangements. The confirmation will also show the total cost associated with the contribution, the value of the initial contribution, the balancing contributions and due dates, which will be at least 50% of the balance 24 weeks before the departure date and the remainder at least 12 weeks before the departure date. Your travel will only be booked once adequate contribution has been processed. A request for an additional contribution may be made if costs are incurred due to late contributions.
1.3.2 UK Mission
MD will reserve your accommodation arrangements and will issue either by post or email confirmation of your mission arrangements. The confirmation will also show the total cost associated with the contribution, the value of the initial contribution, the balancing contributions and due dates. A request for an additional contribution may be made if costs are incurred due to late contributions.
MD will issue your travel and information documents at least 2 weeks prior to your departure. If we are unable to meet this target, we will notify you by email of any delays.
The contribution will cover the:
Subject to additional fuel surcharges which are imposed by an airline or any government tax levied, which shall be your responsibility, the value of the requested contribution will not change unless you amend your booking in any way or there are changes to Government imposed taxes or charges prior to completion of your trip.
The contribution will cover the:
All flights, timings, itinerary and arrangements are subject to change by airlines. MD will make all reasonable endeavours to give you as much notice as possible when changes are made.
If circumstances outside the control of MD make the mission trip unviable, MD will seek to reschedule the mission to another country and/or another time. MD may cancel a mission at any time for any reason, for example in the event that:
– The UK government issues an adverse travel advisory. In such case you may be offered a substitute mission trip or be offered a refund of contributions made depending on what MD is able to claim back, except that any monies that have been raised by donations from third parties, subject to clause 4 herein.
– Fewer than the minimum required team places have been filled by the 12 weeks (Overseas) or 6 weeks (UK) before the departure date or for any other reason the mission trip becomes unviable as determined solely by MD. In such case, you may be offered a substitute mission trip or be offered a refund of contributions made except for any monies that have been raised by donations from third parties, subject to clause 4 herein.
MD reserves the right in any circumstance to cancel the mission trip. However in no case will MD cancel your mission trip less than six weeks (Overseas) or two weeks (UK) before the scheduled start date unless it is for reasons outside of MD’s control. If MD has to cancel the mission trip before the start date (other than where Force Majeure) you will be offered either (i) an alternative mission trip of comparable type, or (ii) a refund of contributions made except for any monies that have been raised by donations from third parties, subject to clause 4 herein.
2.1 In the event that MD is negligent in the performance of its duties, taking into account all relevant factors, MD will pay you reasonable compensation provided that you are able to show that MD has been negligent and has caused loss or damage (excluding consequential loss or damage).
2.2 MD will not be responsible or pay you compensation for any injury, illness, death, loss, damage or expense, cost or other claim of any description if it results from:
2.2.1 The act(s) and/or omission(s) of the person(s) affected;
2.2.2 The act(s) and/or omission(s) of a third party unconnected with the provision of the services contracted for and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable; or
2.2.3 Unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond MD’s control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care had been exercised, or,
2.2.4 An event which MD could not, even with all due care, have foreseen or forestalled.
The amount of compensation if MD are found liable under this clause shall be limited to the cover provided by the Emergency Medical Expenses and Travel Insurance held by MD.
Your trip is confirmed when we issue your confirmation by email or post.
3.2.1 If you need to cancel, your cancellation must be made in writing, either by email or post. If you cancel MD will retain your initial contribution of £150 (Overseas) or £50 (UK).
3.2.2 If your cancellation is made up to 30 days before the start date MD will return any of the outstanding costs that are not at that point paid or owed to third party suppliers, except that any costs that have been raised by donations from third parties, subject to clause 4 herein.
3.2.3 If your cancellation is made within 30 days of the departure date MD will not be liable to make any refunds.
3.2.4 Your booking is accepted on the basis that the refund decision of MD is final.
If you decide to extend your trip for a period of independent travel, MD may be able to extend your travel insurance cover under our policy for up to a period of one month. You will be liable for any additional costs incurred by the trip extension and for a £25 charge to cover administrative costs. You must check the insurance policy to ensure it covers your proposed activity.
4.1 In the event of cancellation in accordance with clauses 1.7 or 3.2 above, within one week of cancellation the volunteer shall send any money donated by third parties to MD together with details of the donors.
4.2 Unless third party donations are expressly conditional on the volunteer completing the mission trip, they will be treated as unconditional donations to MD and retained by MD.
4.3 Regarding any donations that are expressly conditional on a specific volunteer completing the mission trip, MD will, so far as reasonably practical, seek the permission of donors who have given more than £25 to retain the donations, despite cancellation. If such a donor does not give permission, MD shall return the donation to the donor.
4.4 If a donor cannot be contacted after making reasonable efforts, MD shall retain the donation.
5.1 It is your responsibility to ensure that you and all those travelling with you have a valid passport. In some countries your passport is required to be valid for a defined set of months after the mission date.
5.2 MD will apply for any necessary visa and immigration requirements for holders of UK passports. For destinations where it not possible to obtain visas in advance you will be required to obtain it at the point of entry.
6.1 It is your responsibility to check regarding the vaccinations necessary to gain entry to any country visited and obtain any vaccinations as required.
6.2 MD mission trips are physically demanding. Physical disability or a medical condition should not prevent you from taking part – MD will attempt to accommodate you. If there is a problem we will let you know and may suggest an alternative (e.g. another mission trip where medical facilities are more easily accessible).
6.3 It is your responsibility to determine your physical and emotional preparedness to serve, and you should consult with your doctor to determine your readiness, making arrangements for your health and physical requirements. Accordingly, the medical questionnaire in the MD Volunteer Application Form must be completed accurately and MD informed of any pre-existing medical condition, or condition that arises subsequently to your completing the application form that may adversely affect your involvement on the mission trip, or the involvement of other participants.
MD will hold emergency medical expenses and travel insurance cover for all volunteers, specialist arrangements will be made for anyone over 80 years old, any additional cost will be requested as an additional contribution. Any costs incurred that fall below the excess stated on insurance policy will be the responsibility of the volunteer. Details of the terms of the policy are available on request.
MD will provide your personal information, as well as any personal information you provide in relation to those other persons who form your booking party, to suppliers and carriers who might be located outside the UK and/ or EU, to enable the operation of the services requested by you. If you make special requests, which include, but are not limited to, special dietary, religious or disability-related requirements, which constitute sensitive information, the relevant data will also be passed to relevant suppliers and carriers to enable provision of services to you. Full details of how Mission Direct deal with all personal data supplied to them can be found in our Privacy Policy.
The availability or provision of accommodation is subject to the ‘house rules’ of the accommodation or site. Your project will be taking place in a country where travel and accommodation standards are less developed than you are used to in the UK. Standards of accommodation will vary from extremely basic to adequate and in some locations, you may have to do without essential services. The mission trip is based on using twin or triple accommodation (where applicable), and if you join a project alone, you may be partnered with another member of the same sex to share accommodation.
Volunteers must comply with the laws and regulations of the countries visited and comply with all reasonable instructions of the MD mission leader relating to the safety and organisation of the mission. If in the opinion of MD, any airline pilot, accommodation manager or other person in authority feels that you are behaving in such a manner as to cause danger, distress or annoyance to others or cause damage to property, your mission arrangements may be terminated by us or the supplier concerned. In such an event, we shall have no liability to you and will not be responsible for making any refunds, paying any compensation or meeting any costs or expenses you incur as a result. Furthermore, you must meet any expenses we incur as a result of your behaviour.
Volunteers must be a minimum of 18 years old and in suitable physical condition to undertake the mission trip as set out in the itinerary. Participants should be fully aware of the possible risks inherent in a mission trip. 7-17 year olds may also participate in certain mission trips with the agreement of their parent or guardian and when accompanied by a parent or guardian on the mission trip.
You will be responsible for providing your own personal equipment and kit as set out in the MD handbook.
All volunteers are taken to give their consent for their picture to be reproduced and published and distributed within promotional material of MD. It is not possible to give any remuneration for any image or other material that is used.
If a volunteer passes on their own images or written contributions to MD we receive it on the understanding that they can be used on the same terms as outlined above.
Your contract will be governed by English law and any disputes will be dealt with in the courts of England and Wales. If you live in Northern Ireland or Scotland, the courts of Northern Ireland and Scotland (as appropriate), can deal with any disputes.
