Pod Volunteer Reviews

Name: Pod Volunteer
Address: 5, Noverton Lane, Cheltenham, Prestbury
Rating: 4.74

4.7 Rating 430 Reviews

96 %

of reviewers recommend Pod Volunteer

Company Reviews

Metrics

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4.7

Based on 430 reviews


Customer Service
Communication Channels	Email, Telephone
Queries Resolved In	Under An Hour

About Pod Volunteer:

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

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Email:

info@podvolunteer.org

Location:

5, Noverton Lane, Cheltenham
Prestbury
GL52 5BA

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Pod Volunteer 5 star review on 30th January 2024

Cassia Z

Pod Volunteer 5 star review on 27th September 2023

Colette G

199

Anonymous

Anonymous // 01/01/2019

Filter: Rated 4 None 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Stars Helpful

“Gemma from Pod Volunteer was really friendly and made the experience of booking my volunteer project really easy.”

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Posted 5 years ago

Thanks so much for your lovely review and it's great to hear that you enjoyed your time volunteering in South Africa! Best wishes, Gemma - Pod Volunteer Specialist

Posted 4 years ago

“I had an awesome time at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand! It was my first time volunteering in Asia and my first longer time period in Asia, so it was really calming to know that I have a 24/7 support and people helping me organizing my trip.”

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Posted 5 years ago

Hi Talia, Thank you for taking the time to share a review on your time volunteering in Thailand. It was a pleasure to help you in organising your trip! Lucy – Pod Volunteer Specialist

Posted 4 years ago

“Really good communication from Bee and Gemma. Clear and organised information.”

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Posted 5 years ago

Hi Santi, Thanks so much for the review - it was a pleasure to help you both organise your honeymoon trip and great to hear you found our information clear and organised! Best wishes, Bee - Pod Volunteer Specialist

Posted 4 years ago

“They made the process super easy. I never had to wait long for an email response. Overall, my experience was good. My only concern was that I was under the impression I would have airport pickup, so that became a little bit more expensive than I thought in order to get connecting flights and hotels. However, it ended up working out great, so it wasn’t even a concern. It would have been nice though if that were more clear, so I could have budgeted better.”

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Posted 5 years ago

We loved helping you to arrange your trip to Belize Katelin and it is great to hear that you enjoyed your experience volunteering. Thank you letting us know that the information wasn't clear that you needed to travel down to the project and we have reviewed this to ensure that future volunteers are aware of the on the internal travel to the project site. Best wishes, Gemma - Pod Volunteer Specialist

Posted 4 years ago

“Volunteering in Pakhora Nepal, we were hoping that the whole trip would be an experience. The set up regarding both the street kids and orphans was very well run and it was a pleasure to have been involved. Our co-ordinator, Janice is doing a fantastic job and made this part of experience very much worthwile and enjoyable. We were led to believe outside of the times of our helping out with the kids, we would be staying with a Nepali family in a hostel of which would also have added to the whole experience. Unfortunately the hostel that we stayed in had recently been taken over by an American family and although pleasant, they had there own agenda.”

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Posted 6 years ago

Hi Michael, thank you so much for your review! It’s great to hear that you enjoyed your time volunteering with the children and that Janice did a fantastic job! We’re sorry for the change in the accommodation set up, which happened just before you arrived. We’ve updated our information to make sure volunteers are aware of this in future. Best wishes, Bee – Pod Volunteer Specialist

Posted 4 years ago

“Pod was very helpful with finding programs and making the booking process go smoothly. I think they could’ve had slightly more up to date information on the program but that’s only a minor drawback.”

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Posted 6 years ago

Thanks very much for your feedback - it is really great to hear that you found Pod's service helpful and that the booking process was easy! We will be sure to review our information on the project to ensure everything is up to date. Best wishes, Iona - Pod Volunteer Specialist

Posted 4 years ago

“Checked in on me during my first week at my placement and on my return.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“I enjoyed my volunteering experience with POD in Nepal. I was supported throughout the booking process in the UK as well as while I was on placement. I was fully informed of the projects I would be involved in and how the POD charity was contributing to these organisations locally. I liked that they spoke about the bigger picture in what they were trying to achieve and how any little changes or impact I made contributed to this. I would fully recommend POD.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“Pod Volunteer gave me an opportunity to do something incredibly special! Volunteering in a wildlife sanctuary in the beautiful Costa Rican rainforest was an experience I would not have done on my own, without the guidance and expertise of Pod. They encouraged me and supported me throughout the planning process, and they were responsive when I had questions or concerns.”

Pod Volunteer 4 star review on 6th March 2018

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Posted 6 years ago

“Wow, what an experience. I start by saying I am aged 60. only relevant if you are feeling that ‘age thing’, which rarely I do but prior to joining I looked for reviews from older applicants but could not find any so here goes. Go to the gym, do strength exercises, climb up a few hills – generally get fit. I do carry a few extra pounds so don’t let that worry you. I travelled alone and lived in my shared hut opposite gibbon island. Yes, we used our mosquito nets and spray, we had no hot water but frankly at the end of a very tiring day nobody cared. We did have our own bathroom – it was all very basic except for the experience. Waking up to a gibbon chorus every day was unbelievable, (I stopped myself from wringing the cockerels neck). 6am there is a steady flow of zombie volunteers walking to the volunteer house checking to see where you would be spending your day. I feel an expert at making banana balls, cutting up fruit and could get a blue peter badge for what I can do with elephant poo. You are hands on with the elephants, you will walk and shower these majestic amazing giants but never without the permission of their mahout. I still have ringing in my ear “Bev get out of there, run” bad tempered ele but all under control (catch my breath) It is no doubt hard work, the word ‘special project’ still makes me groan as it could be scrubbing out an enclosure, treading elephant poo or frankly anything and in the heat of the day it is tough but if you are thinking of it, DO IT, the volunteers are young but I never felt too old. They are all inspiring as they want to look after the animals and our planet which is all our futures. You will carry around heavy buckets, harvest the banana trees, never be far from your gloves - all in the heat but if something becomes too much just ask to do something else, there is so much to experience, just give it all a go. I spent one day on Wildlife, another experience I will treasure. POD answered all my pre-visit questions, their advice was efficient, helpful and so encouraging”

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Posted 6 years ago

“They were so helpful. I felt quite anxious leading up to my trip but they helped me through it and gave me the advice I needed. They also made me think positively about it and got me feeling excited about it again. I felt like they were with me each step of the way.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“I was a volunteer on the teaching in tropical schools project in Thailand. It is an amazing project, with the chance to experience thai culture as well as help make a positive difference in a thai school. The accommodation was very good and I felt well cared for. Thank you to everyone at Pod for allowing me to be a part of this project and supporting me throughout my time in Thailand. I encourage anyone to volunteer with pod, definitely a unique and unforgettable experience.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“Working in the Belize Zoo was a great experience! You will never come this close to this native animals in other places. It's e wonderful Zoo, where you can see the animals feeling confortable.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“Very organised and efficient, responded quickly and made the exchange feel personal and friendly”

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Posted 6 years ago

“Had a great time at the centre the only thing would be if you want to google the centre's name it's Wildlife Friend's Foundation Thailand, i would say that this is a great place work is amazing with elephants and other animals, the place is hands off except for with elephants. Also it is a lot of hard work so don't expect an easy ride, other than that it was amazingly great lots of people return back. Not sure I would but it was a great experience and you meet a lot of cool people, I'd visit the place again for sure.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“Very interesting. Elephant Valley Project doing a great job. Got to meet young people from all over the world. Cambodian life looks tough. Good to see elephants returned to as natural an environment as possible. I would recommend the experience.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“I felt very well looked after when planning and whilst at pod projects. Their placement managers were always very friendly and helpful, no matter how stupid the question was!”

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Posted 7 years ago

“The placement was great and the organization was always there to answer any questions! Thank you for everything.”

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Posted 7 years ago

“Pod Volunteer condensed vital information very well and provided a very informative booklet.”

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Posted 7 years ago

“Well organized volunteering/diving trip to Belize in coordination with ReefCI.”

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Posted 7 years ago

Pod Volunteer is rated 4.7 based on 430 reviews