Global Project Package Information

1. Transportation

Depending on the location and/or duration of a Global Project, a Global Project package may or may not include the cost of travel to the Global Project destination. For shorter Global Project, participants will be asked to arrange their own travel to and from the Global Project destination.1 The official start of shorter Global Projects will be upon the arrival of participants to the Global Project destination. Short Global Projects will also have an official end in country, after which participants are free to travel home however they wish.

For Global Project packages that are inclusive of travel to and from the Global Project destination, the Global Project will officially begin upon participants’ arrival at a Global Project Briefing (most likely held in Birmingham, UK) and participants will travel together as a group on one booking. The Global Project will officially end upon the group’s arrival into Birmingham upon the Global Project’s return. Unfortunately, we are unable to book return transport from the Global Project destination to alternative locations. Global Project packages that include the cost of flights will also include the cost of any airport transfers.

Agapé UK will endeavour to make it clear on our website whether or not a Global Project is inclusive of travel to and from the destination.

Regardless of a Global Project location or duration, all Global Project packages will include the cost of local transportation within the Global Project location (and any travel in the surrounding areas) for the duration of the Global Project. This may include but is not limited to: travel passes for city public transportation systems (including buses, trains and metros), and other transportation  including inter-city bus or train tickets, coach hire or taxi travel.

Flights, and flights only, are financially protected by the ATOL scheme supplied through our agreement with Key Travel Ltd (ATOL number 3329). Participants will be supplied with an ATOL certificate. Upon receipt of an ATOL certificate, participants should  check to ensure that the correct flight information is listed on it. Please see our Global Project Booking Conditions (which participants will also receive a copy of as part of their Acceptance Pack upon confirmation of a successful application) for further information. For more information about financial protection and ATOL certificates go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLcertificate/.

2. Accommodation

Global Project accommodation will consist of either privately rented flats or public hostels (or hotels) of a reasonable standard of comparable or higher standard than a UK youth hostel; the minimum standard of accommodation will be two stars. When accommodation is a public hostel or hotel, we will ensure that only private rooms are booked, i.e. rooms will only accommodate members of the Global Project and we will avoid booking public dormitory-style rooms. Regardless of the type of accommodation, private rooms will be strictly single-sex; however, depending on the accommodation, we can attempt to accommodate for married couples in separate private rooms.

Accommodation will also always include reasonable access to washing facilities, bedding and a meeting space.

For longer Global Projects (those that include the cost of transport to and from the Global Project destination) a Global Project Briefing will be held in Birmingham prior to departure. Overnight accommodation will be booked at a nearby Travelodge, the cost of which will be included in the Global Project package.2

3. Meals/Food

Unless otherwise stated, the Global Project Price covers the cost of all meals for the duration of the Global Project. Meals may include self-catered meals, as well as meals in cafés and restaurants.

When eating as a group at restaurants, the bill will be covered as part of the Global Project Price; in such instances the Project Director will inform participants of the budget for the meal. On certain occasions, per diem cash allowances will be issued for one or a set number of meals. The amount of per diem will be set at a level deemed reasonable for the local area after consultation with people who live permanently in that location.3

4. Itineraries

A Project Handbook will be sent to all participants (either by e-mail or post) upon their successful application to a Global Project; this will include more information about the Global Project itinerary and Global Project activities.

A full Global Project schedule will be shared at the Global Project Briefing, or can be requested from the Global Project Director in advance. For any questions or requests, contact the Global Project Director directly, or e-mail Agapé UK Global Missions at: globalprojects@agape.org.uk.

5. Travel requirements and health advice

a) Passports

Passports must have an expiration date that is no earlier than six months after the advertised date of return from the Global Project.4 If a participant has more than one passport, they should only provide Agapé UK with the passport details of the passport with which they wish to travel.5

Participants should read the ‘Entry Requirements’ section on the relevant UK Government Foreign Travel Advice page (or seek advice from their own Government if they are not a UK national (see footnote 5)) if they have any doubt about their ability to comply with the immigration requirements of the destination country, or any transit countries, of a Global Project.

b) Visas

If necessary, after receiving a participants’ passport details, Agapé UK will contact them in order to discuss the arrangements for the processing of any visas.

Any entry or transit visa that is required for travelling to a nation without a visa-free travel agreement with the UK (regardless of whether a participant is a UK passport holder or not) are covered in the Global Project Price.

Visas are not covered by the Global Project Price in instances where a participant wishes to travel using a non-UK passport that requires entry or transit visas for travel to nations where there is a visa-free travel arrangement with the UK and where a UK passport holder would not require a visa.6

Agapé UK will do its best to advise all participants on their specific documentation requirements (based on the information and passport details that are provided to us).7 The website https://checkvisa.nek/ is a useful source on information about document and entry requirements for almost all nationalities and destinations.

Please note, even post-Brexit, UK citizens are not be required to obtain visas for short-term trips to European Union member-countries.

c) Travel vaccinations

Agapé UK, where applicable, will endeavour to warn participants of any travel vaccination requirements, though participants should always check the entry requirements for their destination country, and any transit countries, themselves.8

Information about travel vaccinations and specific country vaccination requirements can be obtained from the NHS website. Before paying for any travel vaccination, please be aware that it is possible to arrange to receive some vaccinations free-of-charge via the NHS.

Other information and health advice for all countries can be found on the relevant UK Government Foreign Travel Advice page. Use the following links for regular Agapé UK Global Project destinations:

6. Costs and payments

Upon review and acceptance of an application to a Global Project, Agapé UK immediately requires a deposit of £200 as indication of a participant’s intention to accept their place on a Global Project.

We encourage participants to raise the entire cost of Global Projects via donations. Visit the ‘Raising Your Finances‘ page for more information about fundraising. Upon acceptance to a Global Project, we will inform participants about the specific fundraising deadlines; the final fundraising deadline for Global Projects is usually two weeks before the advertised departure date.

Failure to meet fundraising deadlines will result in a review of a participant’s fundraising progress and may end with their place on the Global Project being withdrawn.

7. Minimum numbers

There is no minimum number of participants required for Agapé UK Global Projects. Participants travel as part of a team alongside Agapé UK staff meaning every Global Project is viable regardless of the number of purchasers of Global Project packages.

8. Travel delays

Any delays are handled by the Global Project Directors in conjunction with the staff responsible for the Global Project both in the UK and the host country. Participants are provided with full travel insurance cover as a part of the Global Project package which is claimed upon in the event of any delays. Under the ATOL regulations, we are assisted with any flight issues by Key Travel Ltd, through whom our travel itineraries are booked (for Global Projects where the cost of travel to and from the Global Project destination are included).

Accommodation and further per diem are provided where required in the event of delays.

9. Travel insurance

All Global Project participants are provided with comprehensive travel insurance cover through our provider, Banner Group. Our policy covers all emergency medical, travel disruption and repatriation costs.

More information and a copy of our travel insurance policy are available upon request to the Global Project Director or by e-mailing us at: globalprojects@agape.org.uk.

10. Security and liability of Agapé UK

Agapé UK is covered by International Passenger Protection Insurance. This insurance covers participants in the case that Agapé UK becomes insolvent before, or during, a Global Project.

In accordance with The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 all passengers booking with Agapé UK are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequent balance of all monies paid to us, including repatriation if required, arising from cancellation or curtailment of travel arrangements due to the insolvency of Agapé UK.

There is no requirement for Financial Protection of day trips, and none is provided. This insurance is only valid for packages booked that do not include flights.

Consumer aware: Your booking is insured by International Passenger Protection Ltd (IPP Ltd) and its panel of insurers. This insurance is only valid for passengers who book and pay directly with/to Agapé UK. If you have booked and/or paid directly to a travel agent for a holiday with Agapé UK, please request proof of how the booking is secured as this will not be covered by IPP Ltd in this instance.

This Insurance is been arranged by IPP Ltd and underwritten by Certain underwriters at Lloyd’s. For further information please go to: www.ipplondon.co.uk/.

We, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL certificate, will provide participants with the services listed on the ATOL certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with the services participants have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to the participant). Participants agree to accept that, in those circumstances, the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and the participant agrees to pay any money outstanding to be paid by the participant under their contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, the participant also agrees that, in some cases, it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case the participant will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or the participant’s credit card issuer where applicable).

All participants will also be covered by travel insurance arranged by us; this will include cover for the cost of flights.

11. COVID-19-related terms and conditions

a) Cancellation and delays caused by COVID-19

If the decision is taken by Agapé UK to cancel the Global Project for COVID-19-related reasons, we will endeavour, where possible, to offer participants a full refund. We will not be able to issue participants with a refund for any costs already incurred.

b) COVID-19 vaccination policy

COVID-19 vaccinations remain a legal entry requirement for many countries. Agapé UK reserves the right to require participants in our Global Projects be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.9

1 For Global Project packages that do not include transport to and from the Global Project destination, Agapé UK nevertheless encourages participants to raise the cost of transport through donations. Donations received by participants specifically to help cover the cost of transport (where this is not covered in the Global Project Price) cannot be processed by Agapé UK. Such donations will need to be received by participants personally.

2 Specific details about the time, dates and location of Global Project Briefings will be shared with participants upon their successful application to a Global Project.

3 When issued with per diem, it is the responsibility of participants to ensure that it is spent for the purposes that it has been issued; in the event that per diem is not spent for the purposes that it has been issued, replacement per diem will not be issued. Per diem may be supplemented by a participant’s own spending money, if so desired.

4 This is a common visa requirement for many countries. It is a participant’s responsibility to ensure that they have a valid passport.

5 We advise that you check the entry requirements for your destination country, and any transit countries, in order to understand which passport will be more beneficial for you to use. The website https://checkvisa.net/ provides document and entry requirement information for almost all nationalities and destinations.

6 Where a visa is needed, and it is not covered within the cost of the Global Project package, Agapé UK encourages participants to raise the cost of the visa through donations. Donations received by participants specifically to help cover the cost of visas (where they are not covered in the Global Project Price) cannot be processed by Agapé UK. Such donations will need to be received by participants personally.

7 Please be aware that airlines will not permit passengers to travel who do not have the correct documentation and/or who do not comply with all relevant airline regulations and/or destination or transit country entry requirements. All passengers must be carrying a valid passport in the same name and passport number as their aeroplane ticket. It remains participants’ own responsibility to ensure that they have the correct documentation.

8 Some countries may refuse you entry in the event that you are unable to provide proof of vaccination. The cost of travel vaccinations is not covered in the Global Project Price; these costs will need to be covered by participants themselves. Agapé UK encourages participants to raise the cost of any travel vaccinations through donations. Donations received by participants specifically to help cover the cost of vaccinations cannot be processed by Agapé UK. Such donations will need to be received by participants personally.

9 Vaccination rates in developing countries around the world remain low, often due to inaccessibility of vaccines, making local populations more vulnerable when new outbreaks occur. Agapé UK feels that we have a responsibility to protect the nationals of countries in which we’re guests and to avoid causing any unnecessary health risks to them. Therefore, Agapé UK reserves the right to put in place a COVID-19 vaccination mandate; even in situations where it is not a legal entry requirement

       

Agapé UK is recognised by Global Connections as operating under the Code of Best Practice in Short-Term Mission 2023 and 2024.