Since that very first meeting in a Gambian garden we constantly strive to demonstrate our transparency and accountability.

people and places is a social enterprise and is not run for the benefit of shareholders.

We report to a non-executive Advisory Committee to whom we are fully accountable. Professor Harold Goodwin is Chair of the committee, and it always includes at least one previous volunteer. Neither Sallie Grayson nor Kate Stefanko will ever be members of the committee.Read More.

Harold, Sallie and Kate, co-founders of people and places, have signed a legally binding agreement stipulating that we cannot and will not pay dividends. Any company profit is covenanted to charitable purposes through TravelPledge. We work with Travel Pledge to offer volunteers an efficient, accountable and transparent means of donating to their chosen projects.To read more about how we work with TravelPledge click here.

The bulk of each volunteer’s payment (over 80% on 4 week or longer placements) is paid directly to the relevant local partner in the host community – it doesn’t even cross our desks! The actual percentage varies for each project, but how and where a volunteer’s money is spent is always clearly spelled out for each individual project and placement. Our local partners have also committed to financial transparency and accountability.

In short, people and places is not a traditional tour operator. With apologies for paraphrasing the Cape Town Declaration, people and places is committed to adopt equitable business practises, and to harnessing the power of volunteering for the benefit of local people.