Pod Volunteer Reviews

Name: Pod Volunteer
Address: 5, Noverton Lane, Cheltenham, Prestbury
Rating: 4.80

4.8 Rating 639 Reviews

97 %

of reviewers recommend Pod Volunteer

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4.8

Based on 639 reviews

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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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info@podvolunteer.org

Location:

5, Noverton Lane, Cheltenham
Prestbury
GL52 5BA

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Pod Volunteer 5 star review on 27th July 2026

Anonymous

Pod Volunteer 5 star review on 19th December 2025

Perky H

Pod Volunteer 5 star review on 4th October 2025

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Anonymous // 01/01/2019

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

“I would like to thank Nic, Amber, Mali and Thomas for giving me an unforgettable experience. I am 17 years old I come from France and it was my first « solo » trip yet I was welcomed as in a family. I think we can’t make a humanitarian trip in better conditions. I didn’t think I was so close to animals and Kariega allowed me to discover all the aspects of the humanitarian. It was an upsetting trip. The communities are adorable and every meeting is touching, we feel useful and that’s all the most beautiful thing to offer these people. Because we realize how lucky we are to have the power to do something. And this trip is only an initiation, a beginning of a prosperous project. So thank you all again.”

Pod Volunteer 5 star review on 24th July 2026

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Posted 3 weeks ago

Hi Albane, thanks so much for your lovely comments about your time at the Big 5 Conservation and community project in South Africa! As you say a wonderful "beginning"! Best wishes, Alex and the Pod team

Posted 3 weeks ago

“Super informative and fun trip, with the perfect balance of free time and activities. Camp leaders were incredibly friendly and warm, and the camp itself had great facilities and food. The volunteers from Wildlife Sense were also knowledgable and passionate, and taught us a lot about how best to protect the turtles and carry out the surveys comprehensively.”

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Posted 3 weeks ago

Thanks so much for a lovely review and congratulations for completing your Gold DofE on the U18 Turtle and Conservation trip in Greece - it's fantatsic to hear that you had a fun time and learnt so much! Best wishes, Gemma and the Pod team

Posted 3 weeks ago

“My son had a fantastic time with Pod Volunteer in Kefalonia. The staff, facilities and course content were all excellent. Swimming alongside a turtle on a survey was a massive highlight, as was the visit to the caves. The team managed to perfectly combine information and learning with fun and I’m so appreciative of the opportunity for my son.”

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Posted 3 weeks ago

Thanks so much for the lovely review Louise. I'm glad that your son had a great trip to help turtles in Greece and enjoyed the fun activities to explore the island too. Best wishes, Gemma & the Pod team

Posted 3 weeks ago

“I booked this for my son's first independent trip, he has previously volunteered but travelling with others. He had a fantastic time and has returned with a wealth of new learning and some wonderful new friends. The pod volunteer have been amazing with their support for the youngsters leading up to the trip and to both them and parents throughout the trip itself Highly recommend”

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Posted 3 weeks ago

Thanks so much for such a lovely review Andrea - it was lovely to lead such an engaged and enthusiastic group on the U18 Turtle and Marine Conservation trip in Greece. I hope that this is first of many of his solo conservation trips! Best wishes, Gemma & the Pod team

Posted 3 weeks ago

“Pod was a very good experience. I have always loved turtles so getting to go and help them was something I really enjoyed and made it clearer what goes into saving them and the threats that are against them. I also met lots of new people and it was nice to hear the reasons they were doing this. The staff were also really kind and helpful and always there to help out and answer any questions. Working on conservation and collecting data was really enjoyable and even though it was hard work I really enjoyed what I was doing and overall I had a great time at Pod and would definitely consider returning.”

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Posted 3 weeks ago

Thanks so much for such a brilliant review Theodore and congratulations on completing your Gold DofE Residential. It was lovely to have you as part of the U18 Turtle and Marine Conservation trip to Greece - and I'm so happy that you enjoyed your time taking part. Best wishes, Gemma & the Pod team

Posted 3 weeks ago

“Pod volunteer provided me with an incredible and unique experience in which my personal actions help not only contribute but initiate improvements. With it being my first solo trip I was understandably nervous but the second I arrived I was greeted warmly by both staff and other volunteers. The entire trip was surrounded by an amazing atmosphere and it was made obvious that everyone there loved what they did. Thank you so much for having me, it truly was a blast and I definitely made unforgettable memories and lifelong friendships along the way!”

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Posted 3 weeks ago

Thanks so much for your amazing review Libby and for choosing to join the U18 Turtle and Marine Conservation team in Greece this July. It was lovely to have you as part of the team and it's great to hear that you all made many new life long friends. Best wishes, Gemma & the Pod team

Posted 3 weeks ago

“This trip was such an amazing experience! Id recommend it to anyone who wants to help and learn about turtles and conservation. During the trip we saw and recorded many turtles in the harbour as well as relocating turtle nests on Kefalonia’s beaches, we even saw dolphins at the beach near the campsite, it was so fun!! Thank you Pod so much for organising this trip!”

Pod Volunteer 5 star review on 23rd July 2026

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Posted 3 weeks ago

Thanks so much for such a glowing review about your trip on the U18 Turtle and Marine Conservation project in Greece. I'm glad that you had an amazing experience and thanks for helping to protect turtles and their environment on the island. Best wishes, Gemma & the Pod Team

Posted 3 weeks ago

“Amazing experience! very interactive and i learnt so much as well as meeting so many lovely new people !!”

Pod Volunteer 5 star review on 22nd July 2026

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Posted 3 weeks ago

Thanks so much Ruby for choosing to join the Turtle Conservation team in Greece and for your 5 star review. Sounds like you had an incredible time and love the team photo! Best wishes - Gemma & the Pod team

Posted 3 weeks ago

“From the very beginning, Alex at Podvolunteer was exceptional. He responded promptly to every email and, more importantly, understood the many questions and concerns that parents have when they send their teenage daughter to the other side of the world. He guided us through all the additional paperwork required for a minor traveling to South Africa and was patient, professional, and reassuring throughout the entire process. Thanks to Alex's support, I felt completely confident that my daughter was in good hands. He even wished her a safe trip the day before she left and checked in a few days after she arrived to make sure everything was going well, a thoughtful gesture that meant a great deal to us. The volunteer experience itself exceeded all our expectations. My daughter worked throughout the game reserve, taking on a variety of tasks while spending her days outdoors, surrounded by the incredible wildlife. She loved every aspect of the conservation work, but what truly touched her heart was the time she spent in the local township. She helped repaint a preschool, played with children in the community, volunteered at Mama G's soup kitchen, and assisted at a free veterinary clinic. The relationships she formed with the children had a profound impact on her, and she returned home inspired by the resilience, generosity, and dedication of the people she met. In particular, she was in awe of the local teacher and Mama G, who runs the soup kitchen; two remarkable women making an extraordinary difference in their community with very limited resources. We also can't thank Amber, Nick, and Malik, the volunteer coordinators at the game reserve, enough for their patience, enthusiasm, and genuine passion for their work. They created a welcoming and supportive environment from the moment our daughter arrived and made every day both meaningful and enjoyable. Their dedication, encouragement, and commitment to both the volunteers and the local community made this experience truly exceptional. It is clear that they care deeply about the people, the wildlife, and the lasting impact of the program. As a parent, I am incredibly grateful that my daughter had the opportunity to experience this at such a young age. She returned home with a broader perspective, a deeper appreciation for others, and memories that will stay with her for the rest of her life. It was an unforgettable adventure for a 17-year-old, and I cannot recommend Pod Volunteer highly enough.”

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Posted 4 weeks ago

Thanks so much Roze, it's so rewarding to hear about Emma's experience, it makes it all worth it! What an incredible way for her to achieve her Gold DofE Residential in South Africa. Best wishes, Alex and the Pod team

Posted 3 weeks ago

“best experience of my life, they give you all the information you’ll need before you leave so you don’t need to worry about anything, and they check up on you whilst you’re there to make sure everything is going smoothly. I made friends for life and will 100% go again.”

Pod Volunteer 5 star review on 16th July 2026

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Posted 1 month ago

Thanks so much for choosing to complete your Gold Residential DofE award at our Turtle Conservation team in Greece - your photos look amazing! All the best - Gemma & the Pod team

Posted 1 month ago

“Volunteering in Costa Rica for 12 days was truly transformative for me. I am very grateful to Pod Volunteer for their outstanding communication and consistent support. They ensured that both the pre departure preparation and the program itself were well organized. Thank you for facilitating such a meaningful and impactful experience!”

Pod Volunteer 5 star review on 8th July 2026

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Posted 1 month ago

Hi Cara, I'm so pleased to hear about your experience at the Turtle and Wildlife Conservation project in Costa Rica. Well done for all your hard work and congratulations on logging volunteer hours for your college program! Best wishes, Alex and the Pod team

Posted 1 month ago

“POD Volunteer were fantastic in helping me towards the completion of my Duke of Edinburgh Good Award. I travelled to South Africa, where I spent a week on the most incredible reserve. This involved taking four flights in total taxi transfers etc, which was all made simple and easy, especially thanks to Alex from POD. His communication was excellent and all of my questions were answered. Thank you POD Volunteer for making the final step towards my DofE Gold award seamless and enjoyable. Very much recommended.”

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Posted 1 month ago

Thanks so much Finn, it's brilliant to hear about your experience at the Big 5 Conservation project in South Africa. An amazing way to achieve your Gold DofE Residential - well done! Thanks for being so great to work with too, you were very organised and on top of everything. Best wishes, Alex and the Pod team

Posted 1 month ago

“Everything was perfect, I`m really happy with my experience. Pod Volunteer supported me step by step through the entire process and everything worked smoothly. My experience was even better than I had imagined!”

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Posted 1 month ago

Thanks so much for your lovely review! Alex and the Pod team

Posted 1 month ago

“I did the turtle conservation for 2 weeks in kefalonia and it was one of the best experiences ever! I met some amazing people and had such a great time working with the team there and the turtles. If you are considering doing a volunteer scheme I would 100% recommend doing it!”

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Posted 2 months ago

Thanks so much for for the lovely review! Thank you for joining the Turtle Conservation project in Greece and supporting environmental conservation work on the island. Best wishes, Gemma & the Pod team

Posted 2 months ago

“J'ai passé 6 semaines avec Penny et Georgie du projet Horse Rehabilitation, c'était une expérience incroyable. Étant là pendant la période de Pâques, on a pu faire énormément de ballades (pratiquement tous les jours sur le premier mois, puis un peu plus calme à la fin). J'ai donc pu monter différents chevaux. Les chevaux sont adorables et ont des conditions de vie de rêve : vastes prés et traitement super. La grande majorité des pensionnaires sont des rescues, on apprend donc leurs histoires, toutes différentes. On apprend à être avec eux, tous très attachants et très différents dans le fond et la forme (caractères et races). Toute la famille m'a accueilli comme un membre de la famille. La ferme abrite toutes sortes d'animaux plus ou moins sauvages, énorme diversité (chevaux, chiens, perroquet, paons, impalas, … J'ai super bien mangé grâce aux très bons plats cuisinés par Georgie et Craig. Le travail est physique et les journées sont denses, préparation de la nourriture, nourrir les chevaux, monter, prévoir l'eau, etc., donc pas de problème pour s'endormir. C'est une expérience super enrichissante si vous aimez les animaux, boire du thé, être dehors dans de beaux paysages et prendre soin des chevaux. La communication avec Pod volunteer est fluide et toutes les informations nécessaires sont communiquées, bon contact.”

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Posted 2 months ago

Thanks so much Anais, great to hear about your experience in South Africa at the Horse Rehabilitation project! I have included a translation of your review here: "I spent six weeks with Penny and Georgie from the Horse Rehabilitation project, and it was an incredible experience. Being there during the Easter period meant we were able to go on a lot of rides (practically every day for the first month, then a bit quieter towards the end). So I got to ride a variety of horses. The horses are adorable and have dream living conditions: vast pastures and excellent care. The vast majority of the horses are rescues, so you learn their stories, all different. You learn how to be with them; they are all very endearing and very different in both character and breed. The whole family welcomed me like one of their own. The farm is home to all sorts of animals, some more wild than others—a huge diversity (horses, dogs, parrots, peacocks, impalas, etc.). I ate incredibly well thanks to the delicious meals cooked by Georgie and Craig. The work is physical and the days are full: preparing food, feeding the horses, riding, making sure there was water, etc., so there was no problem for to fall asleep. It's a super rewarding experience if you love animals, drinking tea, being outdoors in beautiful scenery, and taking care of horses. Communication with Pod Volunteer is smooth, and all the necessary information is provided; good contact."

Posted 2 months ago

“Ich bin sehr froh, über PodVolunteer gebucht zu haben, sie haben sich um alle Vorbereitungen inklusive Transfer gekümmert und auch während des Aufenthalts sichergestellt, dass alles gut ist.”

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Posted 3 months ago

Thanks so much for the lovely review and for joining our Wildlife Rescue project in Costa Rica Fleur! I have included a translation of your review here: "I am very glad I booked through Pod Volunteer; they took care of all the preparations, including transfers, and also ensured that everything was fine during my stay."

Posted 2 months ago

“We travelled to Costa Rica as a family of five (kids aged 12/12/14). We stayed for 1 week in the animal Sanctuary there and it was such a positive experience. The team were so knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Our accommodation was really comfortable and the complex was fantastic, with a gorgeous pool. All food was provided and although it was canteen style eating, this meant it was a really sociable way to connect with other volunteers. The work was sufficiently hard to make us feel useful, but with loads of breaks to remind us we were on holiday. The kids were given loads of responsibility which they loved. Overall, an absolutely awesome family experience!!”

Pod Volunteer 5 star review on 16th April 2026

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Posted 4 months ago

Thanks so much for the lovely review and photos Emma. The team loved having you all helping out with looking after the animals. Thanks for choosing to join our Family Wildlife Rescue team in Costa Rica! Best wishes - Gemma & the Pod team

Posted 3 months ago

“Very well run project, great local dive school training (Kan was fantastic and best of luck in completing the Instructor training). Content and delivery of the conservation training was through, practical and a lot of fun. May well be back.”

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Posted 5 months ago

Many thanks Adrian, great to hear about your experience in Thailand on the Marine Conservation programme. Best wishes, Alex and the Pod team

Posted 5 months ago

“I had such an incredible time volunteering with Pod Volunteer! It was so special working with animals and being in such close proximity to them everyday. It was amazing meeting lots of great like-minded people- there’s something special about the type of person who volunteers and everyone I met was that kind of person! The food was yummy, facilities were at a sufficient standard considering the price per day for everything. Only thing I would say is, the animal kitchen really needs more refrigeration, to keep the produce fresher for longer. Also, you definitely need stools at the high table in the cafeteria area, overlooking the incredible view! A snack/bottle beer tuck shop for the evenings would be great for volunteers and also another revenue stream for you. Overall though, I’ve made memories to last a lifetime and I’m so glad I chose to volunteer with you and all the gorgeous animals!”

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Posted 6 months ago

Thanks so much Shannen for your lovely review and great ideas for improvements at the wildlife sanctuary. Thank you for choosing to support the rescued animals on your trip! Best wishes - Gemma & the Pod team

Posted 6 months ago

“Super helpful, professional, quick to communicate and answer any queries.”

Pod Volunteer 5 star review on 30th January 2026

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Posted 6 months ago

Thanks so much Claire, that's great to hear and I'm really glad you enjoyed your time with the dogs (and cats) in Thailand, love the photos! Best wishes, Alex and the Pod team

Posted 6 months ago

Pod Volunteer is rated 4.8 based on 639 reviews