Lattitude Blog

By Nela Statečná

Volunteering is an activity, which is supported by many different communities around the world. Although there are many different ways how one can volunteer, the main principle of free help to those that need it remains the same. The Christian Church, which belongs among the world strongest communities, considers volunteering as one of its most important pillars. The Christian Today released the information that around 2,700 young people from different churches across London signed up to volunteer during the 2012 Olympic Games in London. This number of young volunteers far exceeds the initial target of 2,000.

Most of these young volunteers come from “the2012”, which is an initiative of the Diocese of London specifically designed to train, encourage and release the next generation. These young volunteers will help with a wide range of activities, which will include a distribution of water to the audience or the operating of a community cafe in East London.

Over the past seven months, the volunteers have been receiving trainings to prepare themselves for what might be coming during the Olympics. “The2012” also launched a new messaging system, including the social networks and SMS messages, which will help to raise a challenge for these volunteers each day. Pete Graig, the founder of 24/7 prayer said that “it’s thrilling to see thousands of young people galvanised by the Olympics, catalysed by their faith and mobilised to make a difference in our communities this year.”  According to Graig, it is crucial to highlight the positive effect of the youth volunteering because media are full of negative headlines about the looting, youth unemployment or the knife-crime. Graig is, therefore, convinced that “the2012” initiative celebrates the fact that most young people in London are fundamentally good. If we also take a look at the number of the applicants who want to participate in the Olympics, it clearly speaks for itself.

Anne Wafule Strike, wheelchair racer who will participate in the 2012 Paralympics, joined the service in the St Paul’s Cathedral last week. During the ceremony, the members of “the2012” were formally appointed to their roles for the Olympics. Strike said that she is “full of admiration for everyone who is giving up their time, energy and dedication to volunteer to support others during 2012 Paralympic and Olympic Games in London.”

Lidija Mavra, the co-founder of a social project that coaches homeless people to give walking tours said that she feels privileged to be involved in the 2012 service at St Paul’s. The sharing of different ideas about how to make London a better place, and bringing the volunteers from more than 300 churches together, makes a real difference already. Not only, this volunteering activity strengthens the community, but it is also spiritually rewarding.

A recent BBC News article  detailed a new academic research centre at the University of Central Lancaster which aims to study the popularity of so called “dark tourism”.

“Dark tourism” is the term the University have applied to tourists visiting sites of death, suffering or terror such as Ground Zero in New York. According to the Director, Philip Stone, the aim of the study is to find out why people “feel compelled to visit sites like Auschwitz or Ground Zero”.

One theory proponed by Dr Stone is that such places make people face their “own mortality” and they leave with a renewed sense of security when they leave “glad it is not them”.

The article invited debate about the meaning of the term, whether it was an appropriate study and the true motivations of people who visit these sites.

Several people have criticised the theory of Dr Stone, by arguing that such sites are places of huge historical importance and often people will visit to reflect and remember those lost. One motivation suggested is that by visiting these sites one has a greater sense of understanding of the enormity of the tragedy or suffering that took place and in doing so people are better educated and informed.

The centre for research details many historical examples of so called “dark tourism” which according to Dr Stone has “always been there. You could say that a medieval execution was an early form of dark tourism.”

The relationship between tourism and such sites has always had a complicated and emotionally charged history. As long as people are willing to visit these sites, industries and opportunists will inevitably arise around them. The feeling that many are uneasy about, is the sense that others may appear to be attempting to profit in some form, from the deaths or suffering of others.

The difficulty of such studies is that people may have entirely personal reasons or motivations to visit such sites that are impossible to quantify. People may have lost loved ones, distant relatives or just shared some form of connection with the people or the locations where such events occurred. The atrocities of the Second World War for example have affected everyone and people may use these sites to pause and take the opportunity to remember.

Many people still have vivid memories of 9/11 or the attacks in London on 07/07 and while they may have been miles away they can remember the exact location and emotional response when they heard the news.

While the criticisms of Dr Stone`s theories may be valid, perhaps the ongoing study will bring to light more details about the emotional connection between people and place and may provide a greater understanding of why in such tragedies, we feel an enhanced sense of global kinship with others even those hundreds of miles away.

By Roberta Geraci

With the recent news that Heathrow Airport is struggling to cope with the number of passengers passing through immigration controls and the Olympics fast approaching, questions have been raised about how well the UK’s infrastructure is going to cope with the huge influx of tourists expected into the Capital in the coming months.

London has been preparing for years for the Olympics yet the news of the lengthy queues at Heathrow raised fears about just how thorough these plans are. According to an article in the Telegraph  “Immigration staff at Heathrow’s Terminal Five have confirmed that they have been struggling with huge queues in recent days, following a leaked memo stating that passengers had been forced to wait up to two hours to reach passport checkpoints.”

Over the weekend, one Border Force member of staff said “I have never before had so many complaints from passengers in a single shift or faced such a hostile PCP (passenger check point) environment”. The long queues have caused criticism of how well the Government have prepared for the Olympics and has matched criticism over a recent publication by Transport for London warning of travel hotspots in the run up to and during the 2012 Olympics.

A website www.getaheadofthegames.com was set up to advise people of how travel will be affected and the picture is somewhat bleak for Londoners planning to continue to work and go about their normal business during the games. A map of Hotspots advises to try and avoid virtually all major underground stations during much of the games including Kings Cross, Paddington, Euston, Victoria and Waterloo.

While the Olympics promise to be a great occasion and London is a fantastically vibrant and diverse city, such advice is likely to be impractical for many people. So how can you really “stay ahead of the games” and avoid as much of the queues and congestion as possible? If you are travelling to London for the Olympics or for any other reason this summer try and follow these tips:

1)         Check the disruptions and plan alternative journeys if possible. According to TFL “Lots of work has been done to ensure the transport system operates effectively at Games-time. However, even with this work, there are certain times and locations where it will be exceptionally busy and travellers will need to plan their journeys around these hotspots. To manage the large number of additional passengers, transport systems will operate differently.” It is worth baring in mind then that your normal journey may not be in operation or you may encounter large delays. Check the website www.tfl.gov.uk for regular updates.

2)         Leave plenty of time – this one is a simple tip but it is likely that whatever you plan to do in London this summer it will take you longer to get there and likely longer to achieve. Try to relax and enjoy the atmosphere as opposed to rushing about, keep calm and carry on as they say!

3)         Avoid the stress of Airport travel by following our previous advice  and try to avoid long airport immigration queues by following tips   such as  avoiding peak times, registering for IRIS recognition or checking in online.

4)         Try Walking or Cycling – while not an option for everyone you could try walking or cycling to work and really get into the sporty spirit. According to TFL “Many people live within cycling distance of their workplace, but do not usually cycle. By cycling, you can avoid any travel congestion on public transport and help make your journey easier.” The so called “Boris Bikes”   may be a good and cheap option if you do not have your own bike and you may find that by walking or cycling you discover more of the Capital. Central London may look enormous but many of the tube stops which require several changes to reach underground, are within walking distance above.

Hopefully London will learn from these blips in the run up to the games and all will go smoothly. Ultimately try to enjoy the occasion as you may not have another opportunity to experience the Olympics for years to come.

By Roberta Geraci

While the famous April showers are in full flow here in the UK, summer is not far away. While we all like to enjoy spending some time outdoors in the sun and it is important to gain vitamin D, too much exposure to the Sun and extreme heat can have very serious health consequences. Whether you are planning a trip abroad to some of the hottest spots on earth, travelling on a gap year or volunteering abroad, it is essential you protect yourself from too much sun exposure and remain hydrated in the heat.

Worryingly in the UK, more than 76,500 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and more than 9,500 cases of melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed each year. Melanoma skin cancer is a more dangerous and difficult to treat form of skin cancer and is one of the fastest rising forms of Cancer in the UK during the last 25 years.

According to the BBC Health guide ”the main cause of skin cancer is over-exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays. A suntan isn’t healthy – it’s a sign of skin damage. It’s thought the UV radiation in sunlight causes subtle cell damage which can lead to cancerous changes.”

To avoid over exposure to the sun the NHS Sun Safety website advises the following:

1. Use a Sunscreen with a high SPF factor and apply it generously and often. The higher the SPF the better protection against UVA rays. Likewise Sun screen with a high star rating will provide a greater level of UVB protection. Also make sure the sunscreen is still in date before applying it.
2. Do not spend too long in the Sun. “Sunscreen should not be used as an excuse to stay out in the sun. Instead, it offers protection when exposure is unavoidable.” Avoid the long exposure to the Sun between 11 am and 3 pm when the Sun’s rays are their most damaging.
3. Wear Sunglasses with UV filters to protect your eyes and wear a hat to cover your head.
4. Try to keep cool in the shade to avoid sunburn and heat exhaustion. Look out for signs of heat exhaustion including “faintness, dizziness, palpitations, nausea, headaches, low blood pressure, tiredness, confusion, loss of appetite and hallucinations.”
5. Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke or sun stroke which is more dangerous. If you or someone you are with is displaying the above symptoms “Rest in a cool place, ideally a room with air conditioning. Give them plenty of water… and use a shower or cold bath to cool them down or, if this is not possible, wet flannels and face cloths in water and apply to their skin. Loosen any unnecessary clothing and make sure that the person gets plenty of ventilation. Monitor their condition closely.”
6. Avoid alcohol and caffeine as these can increase dehydration and drink plenty of water.

With sensible precautions you can reduce the risk of suffering from the above conditions and focus on enjoying your travels.

Please remember that all content provided is for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your health always seek professional advice and consult your own GP.

By Nela Statečná

The increasing demand for volunteering opportunities that began few years ago still continues to take place. More young volunteers and career professional are trying to get a placement in the voluntary sector. One of the main appeals, among many others, of a career prospect in the volunteer sector is that it brings the people from different professional backgrounds together. As Haley Watts, the director of the Volunteer Centre in the North London said for the article in the Guardian:

“That’s what’s unique about volunteering. It’s also something that allows people to benefit individually as well as bringing benefits to their own local community.”

The results of the latest Annual Return for Volunteer Centres by the Institute for Volunteering Research, which was published in March, revealed that demand for volunteering opportunities is higher that the capacity of almost a third of the volunteer centres. To have more volunteers than work positions creates a situation that most of these organisations never experienced in the past, yet it is something that they need to deal with at the moment.

Tessa Willow, who works as the chief executive of Volunteer Centre in Liverpool, believes that the organisations are now facing a new situation because they “can cherry-pick volunteers, which means that the hard-to-engage people looking to volunteer have fewer opportunities.” Apart from the fact that the number of the people who want to volunteer is still increasing, the traditional volunteer demographic is changing. There are now more career professionals, who want to find a job in the voluntary sector, and who are mostly interested in the short-term placements.

The rising number of volunteers turned the volunteer job market into very competitive. Considering the fact that only three years ago, the situation was remarkably different, it makes the position of the volunteers today, more complicated. The people, who wanted to volunteer, were usually interested in more regular contracts, while now, they mostly come for short periods and then they leave. These changes transform the working environment of many voluntary organisations and it is, therefore, necessary to incorporate these changes and to develop a new approach. According to Lynn Green, RNIB volunteering manager, it is necessary to engage volunteers differently rather than to think that “somebody is looking for a day a week for the rest of their lives.”

While there are many changes currently going now in the volunteer sector in terms of the volunteer engagement, there are still some elements, which remain the same. This namely includes the fact that a volunteer needs to be a good listener and be up to date with the opportunities offered by the social media. As Green pointed out, the main goal of those, who will be the volunteer managers of the future, will not only be to become great listeners but also digitally aware professionals, who will know how to work with all these tools to gain the maximum benefit out of it.

By Roberta Geraci

If travelling or living abroad there is no better way to immerse yourself in a new culture then by learning some of the language. While it can be difficult to speak like a true native, often learning a few basic words or phrases will go a long way towards improving your experience and making you more popular with the locals. Languages are also a great skill to take with you into your career and can open up a lot of new and exciting opportunities.

In order to improve your languages skills follow these simple tips and you will find learning a new language can be an interesting and fun experience.

1)    Master the basics

The easiest way to begin with a new language is by learning the basics well. Before you go off on your travels or to live abroad, try learning a few simple words and phrases and practise the pronunciation. A good place to start with is numbers, please and thank you’s, and common phrases like excuse me, where is…., how much is….. etc. Learning a few basics beforehand will increase your confidence and let you hit the ground running.

2)    Pronunciation!

Pronunciation is often one of the trickiest things to master so a great way to learn is to listen and repeat. Often you will find language tapes or MP3’s at libraries or online and these can be a great way to gain an ear for the flow of a language. Practise repeating the phrases out loud (preferably not in a public place!) and try recording your own voice using your phone or video camera to see if it closely matches the original. If not don’t be disheartened just keep going at it and you will be sure to improve!

3)    Use technology

There are a whole host of technological aids to assist you in learning a new language and the days of reading or repeating lines from a book are over. Try audio books, interactive websites like the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages), Smartphone or computer applications like Rosetta stone or even skype conversations with online tutors! The key is to try and find something you find interesting and engaging and don’t be afraid to take old fashioned notes or make flash cards to help you remember key words and phrases.

4)    Real world experience

Nothing compares to real world experience and so the key to learning a language is to apply what you have learnt. Many people find it hard to have the confidence to speak in a foreign language abroad but it is absolutely the best way to learn and often people will appreciate your efforts. Try simple conversations, for example when you are buying food or clothes as the context will help you to understand. Try watching foreign TV shows or films or even picking up some foreign language children’s books.

5)    Observe and be curious

If you find yourself in a scenario with other people speaking away at an incredibly fast pace, don’t switch off but try to engage with them and ask questions. Often just listening will help you gain an ear for the language and the phrases and asking what particular words or sentences mean will help you to remember them far easier than if you were to simply read them. Obviously it helps if those you are with speak a little English but often pictures or gestures will help plug gaps in understanding. The key is to try and engage with people as opposed to spending the whole time learning alone.

Chloe volunteered in Malawi

By Nela Statečná

By the end of January 2012, the UK’s National Student Newspaper, the Student Times, released the results of a research, which estimate that 2.5 million young people living in the UK are planning their gap year in 2012. Nonetheless, STA Travel assumes that the number of the gap year students may eventually increase to three million.

As the original article explains, there are many reasons behind the 20% increase in the number of gap year students this year. The difficulty to find a job in the UK or simply their hindered university plans represent only a fraction of the reasons, why many young students consider the option to improve their CV with a gap year experience.

STA Travel shared the information that the average age of their customer last year was 23. They predict, however, that the age border will drop this year mainly because many students head off right after their A-levels.  This could be attributed primarily to the introduction of the university fees as well as to the complicated situation on the UK job market.

The new trend of “snap gaps”, which are usually mini gap trips, is also arising these days. According to John Constable, who is the managing director of the STA Travel group, during the last year the average trip length was 54 days. This fact clearly indicates that instead of spending the traditional 12 months, the students are aiming for shorter trips during which they can take part in some volunteer project or take some language or other skill course abroad. Skills gained during these snap gaps can still significantly help the students to bolster their CV.

The volunteering overseas, as a way how to spend one’s gap year represents for many students a chance to receive a relevant work experience and an opportunity to travel at the same time. During this time, the young people might get involved in different projects, which may help them to improve their skills and, therefore, increase their prospect of better employment in the future. As a bonus, they will be able to travel and to experience a life in another country.

According to Marcus Watts, the managing director at Greenforce, the young people should pick a gap year that “will help their career rather than a gap year that will help their suntan.” He believes that students should focus more on learning new leadership and management skills while they are spending their time abroad. All these young people should, therefore, bear in their minds that a gap year with some career development benefits will be, in the long run, their opportunity to get better paid jobs in the future.

By Roberta Geraci

Whether you are flying off on holiday, travelling the world or volunteering abroad, there is one item that you simply cannot leave without, namely some form of luggage. Now deciding on the ideal luggage for your trip is difficult and there is no such thing as one bag for all occasions, choosing your luggage will invariably depend on your circumstances. While it is very difficult to name one perfect bag or backpack for travelling, there are certain tips on what to look for and what to avoid,  to ensure you get the best bag for your trip.

Luggage can come in all shapes and sizes with a variety of wheeled suitcases, holdalls, backpacks or messengers available. Not only are there hundreds to choose from there are also massive differences in price from basic bags to designer cases. Luggage blog Carryology.com notes “When travelling, a good bag is one you don’t notice. Your trip should be all about your trip, not dragging a failing bag through customs as the zips split, the wheels seize, and the seams fall apart.”

In order to ensure you choose the right bag for you follow these simple tips:

1)      Wheels or No Wheels – what trip you are taking will help decide which type of bag to take. A round the world tour will most likely require a good large backpack. An extended period in one place however and you may be better suited with wheeled luggage. One common rule is that you plan on how you are arriving at your destination. If travelling to an Economically developed country with good infrastructure and travel links, wheeled luggage will save your back the weight of carrying all your things with you.  If however you are travelling large distances on foot or will be using a wide variety of transport means and indirect routes, a backpack is probably better for you.

2)      Capacity  – next up you will need to decide how large your luggage should be.  While you may be tempted to just take the largest available and cram it full of clothes this will undoubtedly cause you problems. The first rule of packing is only take what you need and our tips on how to travel light is a great place to start. You must be able to carry your luggage yourself and be able to do so over some distance. Even large cities are not great for those with suitcases, ask anyone who has wheeled a suitcase around the London Underground. The trick is to choose a backpack or suitcase based on your airlines travel requirements (seize and weight) and do not go over it! For those travelling abroad for extended periods a good tip is to leave 20-30% of your capacity empty so that you have space to bring new things back or carry things you may have forgotten.

3)      Construction –

1. Wheeled – if a wheeled suitcase is your preferred bag, next you need to decide whether  to get a hard or soft case. According to Carryology “ While Hard cases offer a little more protection (but fail more radically), and generally offer better security, they also come with big compromises. They are heavier, and if you need to jam it in to a taxi boot, squeeze extra content in, or store it when not travelling – they suck.” Try to go for a good quality brand of soft case with a longer warranty (say 5 years or more) and importantly with thicker backing. Finally try to avoid suitcases with four wheels if you need to take public transport, as these cases can roll about on buses or trains and can be difficult to keep still, two large wheels integrated into the back are often best.
2. Backpacks – try to get a bag with some degree of waterproofing or with a waterproof cover. Also a good tip is that some larger backpacks come with removable day bags which can be useful for short trips within a country. Ensure that the bag has good back and hip straps and support and get used to carrying it around. A good backpack can often make all the difference when travelling on a gap year and can become like an old friend! Finally a lighter backpack will obviously be best and extra straps for compression are helpful.

4)      Accessories – take a good combination lock for sealing your case or backpack and if away travelling a good tip is to take a cable or wire lock which you can use to secure your bag to your hostel bed if lockers are not provided. A good water bottle is often essential and those that flatten down are a good tip. Hydration sacs are probably unnecessary unless you plan on taking long hikes or treks.

Finally while you could spend a small fortune on your backpack or luggage ask yourself if it is really necessary. Try to avoid anything by designer brands and go for more practical and robust alternatives with longer warranties.  The key to good luggage is finding the balance between size, weight and durability so always check to see if you really need what you are packing!

Last week we held our Debrief workshops in London where returned volunteers joined us to look back and reflect upon their Lattitude placements and learn how they can continue to use their experiences to benefit their careers and futures.

Returned volunteers from Ecuador, Japan, Canada, Fiji and Vanuatu took part in sessions on career planning, Global Citizenship, self belief and personal vision, learning how to transfer and apply skills learnt on their Lattitude placements to life long learning and success.

Our business partner Grant Thornton kindly hosted the event at their offices in Euston and led a session on ‘Skills for Success’ as well as inviting our volunteers to meet with members of their graduate scheme over lunch to learn more about applying for jobs and going through interview processes.

It was really great to meet our volunteers again on their return from placement, to hear their stories and share their experiences, plus we had a very nice evening meal and it was good fun!

Volunteers play a game about 'Global Citizenship'

Yesterday, the Guardian published an article by Debbie Andalo, which discussed the emerging importance of digital fundraising. Different NGOs, charities and voluntary organisations seem to realise that the new trend of digital technologies and different digital platforms must become an inevitable part of their work if they intend to raise more income from their potential donors.

As the author stated, the Institute of Fundraising revealed the information that 15% of all donations to the different UK charities were made digitally during the last quarter of 2011. The rising number of donations via internet clearly indicates that the digitalised form of fundraising is becoming more common, and charities and other voluntary organisations may gain a lot of benefit from that. It is, therefore, very important for these organisations to not only develop their new digital fundraising strategies but also to focus on the role of their potential digital fundraisers, whose professional skills are necessary if they aim to succeed.

It should be noted, however, that the core fundraising skills still play a very crucial role in the process of raising donations. Despite of the fact that the internet literacy is a must-have skill today, the core professional skills do also matter. Tom Lodziak, who is the digital manager of the Institute of Fundraising, says that:

“These new emerging roles involve looking at social media, email, and other forms of online giving in their own right but you still need a solid background in marketing and communications.”

The social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook provide great opportunities for many organisations to network and to share their fundraising intentions with the others. This may create a number of opportunities for many students who are coming for their gap year volunteering, or for the volunteers who are seeking a job in the third sector. They can, for instance, utilise their core marketing and communications skills via getting involved in the digital fundraising, where people with the professional expertise are always necessary. According to Lodziak, the important thing they need to understand is the potential, which all the digital platforms do offer and to learn how to develop the most effective strategy.

Voluntary organisations and communities in Africa, or in India, or simply any NGO in any part of the world, can benefit, and some already do, from the digital fundraising. There are many different digital forums on the internet, which are designed to help and to share the best practices and digital skills. The option of getting involved is, therefore, open to everyone. The author in the Guardian mentioned, for instance, The British Red Cross, which has its own digital forum for charity.

The internet embodies a place and space where charities and voluntary organisations can interact with one another and where they can potentially increase their capital by finding new donors. The internet also provides them with the opportunity to find out more about the activities of others and network with them. Therefore, it is very essential to learn as many information and gain as many digital skills as possible in order to make the best out of what this digital era can offer.

By Nela Statečná