This Message is written on the behalf of hundreds of young volunteers who have worked, fundraised and paid potentially hundreds of thousands of pounds to fund volunteer trips to give back to vulnerable communities in Costa Rica And Nepal in 2022/2023 with Raleigh International.

However on the 19th of May 2022, Raleigh International ceased operations with immediate effect entering ‘creditors voluntary liquidation’.

Hundreds of young people woke up across the globe to find out the news that there hard earned money was gone!

Volunteers have worked and fundraised over the last year for the opportunity to make a difference in small vulnerable communities.

Just Cancelled, like that with little to no chance of receiving any of our money back.

Us volunteers had been given a deadline for fundraising money to be provided on the 16th of May just three days before Raleigh went into liquidation; there was no warning to volunteers, months, weeks or even days prior. This was once Raleigh management had received the majority of the hard-earned funds. (We must mention that a lot of staff weren’t aware of this either.)

Usually directors don’t just wake up and decide to liquidate a charity therefore, this must’ve been known about for months by higher management.

They have chosen to with hold information, quite frankly they have basically scammed us out of our money.

Trips should not have been continued to be booked out if there was a chance of this happening!

We Volunteers have paid for an experience. This was not just an Ordinary donation to Charity, it was payment for an experience and giving back to underdeveloped rural communities. 

We feel Robbed and disgusted that this has been allowed to happen, adding flights/ vaccinations some individuals are out of pocket nearly £7000

Our Volunteer fundraising amounts ranged from £800 to £4,000. This is the equivalent to 300-750 hours of work at minimum wage for 18-year-olds. As well as many hours of preparation creating fundraising activities,

 These include running marathons, sponsored walks, bake sales, cleaning cars, busking and charity dinners!

Most often however volunteers work long hours in low paid jobs and give every spare penny towards paying for a trip that was due to be the experience of a lifetime, giving us a great value of skills to take forward in life.

It’s not exclusively just us volunteers however who suffer!

The rural communities who rely on Raleigh's aid will be significantly impacted by the reduced support even more so than us!

We are all passionate and believe in Raleigh’s efforts across the globe over the last 35 years and would just love for it to be able to carry on.

We have made this petition as we want to spread awareness as to what has happened and create some noise.

We want to use our money we have fundraised via Raleigh to use elsewhere on other volunteer charities and companies where we can make the change we wanted to initially.

If anyone reading this can offer any support then please get in contact. This would be so beneficial and hugely appreciated.

The Volunteers