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Pod Volunteer Reviews

4.8 Rating 495 Reviews
97 %
of reviewers recommend Pod Volunteer
4.8
Based on 495 reviews
Customer Service
Communication Channels
Email, Telephone, Live Chat
Queries Resolved In
Under An Hour
Customer Service
4.8 out of 5
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About Pod Volunteer:

Pod Volunteer is an award winning non-profit organisation arranging ethical, inspiring and supported volunteering opportunities around the world since 2001

Visit Website

Email:

info@podvolunteer.org

Location:

5, Noverton Lane, Cheltenham
Prestbury
GL52 5BA

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Anonymous
Anonymous  // 01/01/2019
i found my time at the game reserve quite dissapointing although i was experiencing opportunities that hadnt been able to before...for further input i would like to speak to somebody direct,its taken until now for me to get back to you as i am fully aware of just what a fantastic company you are and do not want to feel like i have you or myself down.there are a number of issues that need highlighting and since i have been back i have debated every week as to wether reply but ive finally decided to,and also a reason why is that i would love another project in january 2018...if i could speak to somebody direct when you have a spare few minuites that would be great.i understand how busy you are so shall await your call.im not at work until 19.30 this evening if this helps, thank you so much for your time and regards to you all, deborah-anne davies
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Posted 8 years ago
Hi Deborah Thank you very much for your feedback. We greatly value all volunteer feedback and take it very seriously. I have just left a message on your answerphone as unfortunately my call went straight to voicemail. It would be great if we could arrange a time to discuss your feedback as we’d of course like to hear more about your time at the project and any changes or improvements that we could make. We look forward to hearing from you! Erin, Pod Volunteer
Posted 8 years ago
The expierence, organization, follow up and help was great!!!
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Posted 8 years ago
Pod is very friendly and helpful. You can ask anything you want and you will have a quick answer.
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Posted 8 years ago
When emailing with questions or advice they were always quick to reply and helpful
Pod Volunteer 5 star review on 28th October 2016
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Posted 8 years ago
They helped me organise a fantastic trip and contacted me throughout to ensure I was on time and organised.
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Posted 8 years ago
Very helpful and quick to respond to messages, helped to set up a great experience.
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Posted 8 years ago
Way too expensive, used the advised service to book flights but regretted this when we found out we had to pay extra for luggage half way though our journey and we were not told! Had to also pay extra for our journey to the airport due to a failure in the flight booking service. Next time I will book through the (for example) elephant park direct. Also followed an out of date handbook!
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Posted 8 years ago
Hi Amy-Louise Thank you very much for your feedback. We greatly value all volunteer feedback and take it very seriously. We would like to respond to your points. I'm sorry you feel it was too expensive. We operate on a non-profit basis in order to keep costs as low as possible for volunteers whilst still ensuring a high level of service and that the projects are receiving enough money to cover the costs of volunteers on the ground. For many, the additional support that we provide to volunteers is why they choose to book with us. By booking a project with us, they know that the project they are joining has been visited and vetted in terms of both ethics and health and safety. We offer ABTOT payment protection as well as all the back up 24/7 support in case something goes wrong. I know for example we were able to help you with your flight details when you couldn't locate them while you were away. With regards to your luggage allowance, this is unfortunately set by the airlines and so is out of the control of Pod Volunteer or our recommended flights agent. I understand this was because your international flight allowance was 30kg which but the domestic flight allowance was a lower level of 20kg. This is detailed on the tickets and we advise all volunteers to check the weight limits in the flights section of our Volunteering Guide. I'm sorry that this was missed and you had to pay an additional charge. We will talk to our recommended flights agent to see if they can make it clearer for volunteers. The additional pick up cost that you incurred was due to booking your return flight for a non-standard departure day. All volunteers who fly on the Monday following the guidelines that we send to volunteers when they book are provided with an airport transfer included in the cost. Unfortunately when volunteers choose to book their flights outside of these times and days, the project has to organise a private transfer, the cost of which needs to be covered by the volunteer. The additional cost was communicated to you when you sent your flight details 2 months prior to your trip. Our volunteering guides are regularly updated and these are sent to volunteers at three stages (on application, on confirmation of booking and two weeks before they travel) in order to ensure that they always have the most up to date information. If there are any particular sections you felt were out of date please let me know and I can check these. If you’d like to discuss this further or arrange a phone call, please just let me know. Best Wishes Erin, Pod Volunteer
Posted 8 years ago
Organised and efficient. Provided all the help I needed and made everything as easy as possible while remaining a trustworthy and reputable firm.
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Posted 8 years ago
I felt Pod was well organised and safe
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Posted 8 years ago
Our time as Pod volunteers was amazing! We learnt so much and it was a privilege to be part of such an enthusiastic and dedicated team. We are missing our New Heaven Conservation family and are looking forward to returning again.
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Posted 8 years ago
Being with rescued elephants, feeling like you are taking part in making a difference in their lives and it allowed me to make new life long friends.
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Posted 8 years ago
Pod volunteer was very helpful. They always got back to me within a few days. The only thing I would say is that I was worried I was staying just I we 30 days and didn't need a visa, and when I asked pod they assured me that I would be fine. When I got to the airport I was almost in not trouble because I was there just over 30 days. But other than that I would recommend pod to anyone.
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Posted 8 years ago
easy, fun and a fantastic thing to get involved in!
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Posted 8 years ago
They were very organized, provided detailed information about the placement and kept in regular contact. I especially appreciated being able to phone them.
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Posted 8 years ago
Everything was well-organised and I was made to feel very welcome and supported. Such a rewarding experience, from helping the school children to access an education to organising crafts and games at the orphanage and disabled school. There was also many opportunities to also experience the culture.
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Posted 8 years ago
Helped me out heaps
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Posted 8 years ago
I ended up doing an amazing volunteer placement and everything ran smoothly.
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Posted 8 years ago
Pod is an excellent choice for volunteering abroad and the support they provide for both volunteers and the different projects is outstanding. I have recently returned from the children's day care project in Arequipa, Peru where I spent 6 weeks and had the time of my life!! I can't stop telling everyone how amazing it was. I really feel that I have returned a better person.
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Posted 8 years ago
Great customer service, very friendly and kept you informed every step of the way.
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Posted 8 years ago
It was easy to get in contact with people and i felt very supported throughout. As soon as I had a question it was answered.
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Posted 8 years ago
Pod Volunteer is rated 4.8 based on 495 reviews