ImpacTrip

I had an amazing time in Barcelona and met some lovely people both through the volunteering and the organisation of the trip! The communication beforehand was really great and I felt comfortable and welcomed before I’d even arrived; it has definitely changed the way I look at my future😁 Best wishes to everybody on the team and those who are looking to take part as well, I would recommend this experience to anyone, it can be a scary thought at first but is such a confidence booster!! Thank you❤️

I had an amazing time in Barcelona and met some lovely people both through the volunteering and the organisation of the trip! The communication beforehand was really great and I felt comfortable and welcomed before I’d even arrived; it has definitely changed the way I look at my future😁 Best wishes to everybody on the team and those who are looking to take part as well, I would recommend this experience to anyone, it can be a scary thought at first but is such a confidence booster!! Thank you❤️

I spent 6 weeks working at Assis through ImpacTrip and it was well worth the time. My Spanish speaking abilities were lackluster, but I was still received very well by the locals. Overall, the work kept me busy, the people made it fun, and the location was peak. Thanks Clara, Buse, Davide, Alex, Amalia, and everyone else I met!

I volunteered three weeks in Barcelona and it was truly an eye opening experience. I got to step outside of my comfort zone and experience day to day life with other volunteers and I got to meet incredible people in both of the places that I volunteered. I was two weeks volunteering at the communal showers and another week in the communal cafeteria where I got to talk to really cool and inspiring individuals. The only downside that I saw was that since the hostel is quite far away it took me a while to get to the center of the city and it was inconvenient at times. Other than that the coordinators were incredible and super understanding and I learned a lot from them too!

I had a great time food waste voulenteering in Barcelona. The team at ImpacTrip were all super friendly and very helpful every step of the way. My friend and I felt really involved with the team at Fundacion Tochete and we're very hands on from day 1. I'll definitely look to volunteer with ImpacTrip again!

While I only stayed for one week, I had an amazing time in Barcelona. The coordinators are extremely helpful and always contactable, and make sure you’re set up well at the hostel and with public transport in the first couple days. Looking after the cats each day was an amazing experience, no matter how what task I was given. Would definitely come back!

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I volunteered with ImpacTrip in Barcelona in the Community Support / Homeless Program, and overall, it was a really meaningful and positive experience. I loved meeting volunteers from so many different countries — the atmosphere was super open, friendly, and international. The coordinators were always supportive, kind, and well-organized, which made everything run smoothly. The volunteering itself was eye-opening and felt impactful, especially the daily interactions with the people we supported. The only downside for me was the accommodation: the hostel we stayed in was quite far from the city center, which sometimes made it a bit inconvenient. Still, the overall experience was definitely worth it, and I’m glad I chose this program. I learned a lot, met amazing people, and would recommend ImpacTrip to anyone looking for a meaningful way to volunteer abroad.

I ended up staying in the program for a week. I loved working with the cats and the people there, who were all really sweet. The program coordinator makes sure you get there the first day and is always responsive to and questions you have. Overall, I would 100% go back!

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This nine-week trip was an incredible opportunity to discover the flora and fauna of the Mediterranean Sea. We had amazing instructors who, over the course of the weeks, trained us at different levels and in different activities (deep diving, night diving, etc.). The ImpactTrip team was also incredibly kind and supportive, whether it was helping us upon arrival, giving us advice, assisting us, or organizing games during our weekly meetings. The atmosphere in Barcelona is exceptional, with many beautiful monuments and activities to enjoy. In short, it was an incredible program that I highly recommend.

Volunteering is a powerful way to give back to society, and my recent two-week experience in community service taught me the true value of teamwork, compassion, and responsibility. I joined a local organization that supports underprivileged families by providing food, tutoring children, and organizing recreational activities. During the first week, I helped distribute groceries to elderly residents who struggled with mobility. Seeing their gratitude reminded me how small actions can make a big difference. The second week, I assisted in a study program for primary school students. Many lacked access to proper learning resources, so helping them with homework and encouraging their curiosity was incredibly rewarding. Beyond practical help, this experience strengthened my connection to the community. I realized that collective effort is essential for solving social issues. Volunteering not only benefits those in need but also enriches the volunteer’s life with purpose and joy. I hope more people will participate in such initiatives to build a stronger, kinder society.

This was a wonderful experience. Our scuba instructors were very knowledgeable&funny. Learning about the efforts to clean the Mediterranean and then being able to help was life changing. The underwater world was both magical and challenging. I saw lots of fish, an octopus, and sea urchins. Learning to scuba dive was hard but worth it! I needed a couple of days to adjust to city living but by the 3rd or 4th day I was a pro at using public transportation and finding new places in the city. Discovering local cafes, meeting new people, and exploring the city filled my free time. Getting to know the other volunteers and learning about other cultures opened my eyes to the bigger world around me. I will definitely do this again!

It was only two weeks (definitely could have stayed longer); after finishing SSI coursework and closed water dives for skills, I was able to complete eight open water dives and do the job of removing garbage from the ocean. The instructors were clear, encouraging, and kind making learning a breeze.

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For two weeks in May 2024 i volunteered on the youth support programme in gorgeous Barcelona! Elian and Clara (my local coordinators) were great- super responsive to any questions before and during my stay, always going the extra mile to check in on us whenever needed. I enjoyed my time at the school and this felt very rewarding. The staff at the school were good, however at times i felt my days were unclear or I needed clearer communication from the team at the school. I also feel i should have been told before hand that some of my time there fell on school holidays- i now feel as though i have paid for 9 days volunteering and only received half.

I loved my experience at Escola Pere Villa! I had a great time interacting with the kids at lunch time and then at recess! They all made my day everyday and are all so cute! The staff were generally nice and helped me learn the ropes of the school and how lunch time works… Overall I had a wonderful time learning Spanish, working with the kids, and being immersed in a new culture!

This stay in Barcelona was amazing. To be able to discover a city and to work at the same time is a great thing for me. I worked in a cat shelter for 2 months and I felt so welcomed. Every morning, I was excited to go to work. Moreover, the staff is always there for you. I never felt alone. I can't wait to go on another trip with Impactrip.

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I can honestly not think of anything bad about this program! I am so glad I chose to volunteer here and I am grateful to everyone at Impact Travel for making the experience as brilliant as it was and being so helpful, supportive and friendly. The work was so rewarding and I met so many wonderful animals and people while there. I will never forget it and would highly recommend!

I'd highly recommend this program if you're looking for a responsible way to travel and be in a new culture. My roommates and I had a blast despite our different backgrounds and the local team was so supportive and helpful. I came away feeling I had been blessed more than I was able to give in return.

I had the best time doing the special needs assignment in split. The ladies in charge of impact trip are the best super helpful super informative I felt safe always. The assignment was lovely as well, kind of sad they did not have as many kids as I’d like but that is due to the summer time a lot of kids go on vacation so understandable. I would love to do the program again it taught me so much and being in Croatia was a dream come true !

I spent five weeks at the food rescue program in Barcelona, Spain. Words could not describe the amount of respect and admiration I have for the coordinators, fellow volunteers and the local volunteers is astronomical . Each day was filled with so much purpose and excitement. I spent my time in an air conditioned, food safe facility that provided roughly 4,000 meals/week to various people. The relationships I built with the people inside the kitchen are lifelong friendships I will always cherish. The coordinators in Barcelona were incredibly friendly, professional, and supportive. I can only recommend this program, but more importantly Barcelona. The metro is incredibly easy to use, it’s a clean and fairly safe country to be alone in. This entire trip was a dream.

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Overall a very disappointing experience. I did one week of youth support in Lisbon. My main issue is with the cost and ImpacTrip’s refund policy. The program is already quite costly but I thought it would be worth it due to a week of free accommodation and food plus the opportunity to volunteer which I had never done before. The cost includes an airport pickup if you arrive on the Sunday prior to your week starting. I was initially meant to arrive on Sunday but had last minute itinerary changes due to severe weather that meant I had to change my flight to a different date. My issue was not that I could not get the airport pick up. My issue was that they refused to refund me for a service I never ended up using due to circumstances out of my control. I have emailed and texted ImpacTrip several times asking for a refund or at least an explanation as to where my money is going to go. They responded once saying it is not a part of their policy and could not provide an explanation as to where my money is now going. This is about £45 and as a young backpacker this is a lot of money to me. I think it is unethical and unfair that a volunteering organisation to whom I have given my money and time is happy to keep money for a service I never used. I find it incredibly rude that they can’t even give me an explanation as to where this money has now gone nor an apology. Secondly, not an issue as such but more advice. It is advertised that volunteers have to speak English. At the after school care, neither staff or kids spoke much English. Language classes are offered during your week of volunteering. However, I had already spent £550 for this week and this was out of my price range. Also, as I thought English was the required language I did not think this would be necessary. It is also advertised that you can offer to teach English in an informal way to the kids. However, the afternoons are already organised by the teachers weeks prior. I understand the necessity for this having worked in after school care myself at home. However, it just really limited my opportunity to interact with the kids. In addition to the language barrier I really felt like an outsider. I am not blaming anyone for the language barrier or trying to suggest the school should know English. I know we are volunteering in disadvantaged areas which makes this really hard. I just wish someone had told me before that this program would be better suited to people who know Portuguese or are trying to learn Portuguese. In fact, interacting with young kids would be a great way if you are a beginner Portuguese learner ? Another frustrating experience was transporting to volunteering. I know the website states you should be expected to travel to your volunteering venue. However, I thought this would be within walking distance or a short bus/train ride. I had to take 1.5hrs worth of public transport each way and also pay for this myself. This ended up being 50€ for the week. Again, while I understand this is advertised, it was more expensive than I thought. Also, while Lisbon is safe city, it is always worries me to have to travel so far on my own as a solo female traveller at night. Some volunteers were younger than 18 and raised this with ImpacTrip who simply stated that they should have known they had to travel to and from volunteering on their own. I think that’s quite a harsh explanation to someone who’s literally a child on their own in a foreign city. Finally, the staff at the hostel were rude and unaccommodating. I did not feel welcome and was made to feel like everything was such a chore for them to do. This is with the exemption of the cleaners who do a very thorough job. The hostel is really clean which is always nice. The linen is clean and there are fresh towels for volunteers which is a bonus. In terms of food, it is advertised in the program that the food is prepared on site which it isn’t. It’s prepared in another kitchen and brought to the hostel you stay at. This doesn’t apply to me, but there were several people with severe food allergies such as coeliac disease who were often not accommodated. The hostel staff would tell them their food was prepared with the other food and that it was still fine to eat. Some days there were no GF or allergy-friendly options available and they were told to find their own meals for the day even though food is part of the cost. As said, it is a shame that this was overall a disappointing experience. I think there is a lot of potential for this to be a lot better and the positive volunteering experience people are looking for.