ABOUT ICYE UK

About Us

Inter-Cultural Youth Exchange (ICYE UK) is an international volunteering charity working in the field of intercultural learning and youth development.

Established in 1993, we work with a network of local partners to organise overseas NGO placements throughout Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe. We also arrange provide placements in the UK for international volunteers to support local charities here, meaning ours is a truly unique cultural exchange!

Volunteering with ICYE-UK is a transformational experience with real impact. Our ethical programme promotes peace and intercultural awareness, helping to fulfil our mission through culture sharing and by encouraging young people to live, learn and work together.

We Believe

Vision

A world where the sharing of cultures and ideas is embraced, celebrated and lived.

Mission

ICYE UK works with people who see volunteering abroad as a chance to broaden their horizons and develop themselves as individuals through intercultural learning.

Through supporting local projects that matter, living with a host family and receiving extensive pre-departure and on-arrival training, all volunteers have opportunities to build skills, enhance social and personal development and take part in social action at their project. Here’s how are programme is ethical, immersive, impactful and supportive for each volunteer.

Our Values

Responsibility

We care about the volunteers, partners and communities we work with and take steps to ensure our influence is a positive one.

Valuing People

People are at the heart of our organisation; we help develop their skills and experiences, respect their opinions and seek their active input to improve our organisation.

Working in Partnership

We are stronger by working with a range of local and international partners and benefit from their expertise and assistance

Being Supportive

We’re passionate about each one of our volunteers and partners and invest time and resources to ensure they have the best possible experience

The ICYE Federation

ICYE UK is a member of The International Cultural Youth Exchange (ICYE) Federation, ICYE, and an association of independent youth organisations which provide youth mobility, intercultural learning and international voluntary service opportunities. Established in 1949 the Federation was initially known as the “International Christian Youth Exchange”, and was designed to restore trust and peace between Germany and the USA after the horrors of World War two. Today, ICYE continues to help young people break down prejudices and develop intercultural understanding and competence for a more just and peaceful world.

Since its inception, the Federation has provided placements for over 30,000 volunteers and is now a leader in international youth exchange and volunteering programmes with more than 60 years’ experience of promoting young peoples’ active and global citizenship.

With a head office in Berlin, the Federation now sends over 1200 volunteers per year to support over 800 projects in 40 member countries.

Our unique approach to international volunteering was commended on 15^th September 1987, when, in recognition of “a significant contribution to the programme and objectives of the International Year of Peace, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly”, the UN Secretary-General, Javier Perez de Cuellar, designated ICYE as a Peace Messenger.

The ICYE Federation is also affiliated to and works with the support of the following international organisations:

• UN-Economic and Social Council – ECOSOC (Consultative Status)
• United Nations Department of Public Information – DPI-NGO Committee
• UNESCO – NGO official partner of UNESCO (Consultative Status)
• UNESCO – NGOs Liaison Committee
• World Council of Churches (working relations as international ecumenical organisation)
• European Commission, Directorate General Educate and Culture
• Coordinating Committee of International Voluntary Service (CCIVS)

Trustees:

As a charity, ICYE UK is ultimately run by a Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees are and must be volunteers and are democratically elected by ICYE UK members at the organisation’s AGM which takes place in Autumn each year. The Board is responsible for ensuring that ICYE UK is operating according to our goals and beliefs whilst making sure that we are a financially stable organisation. They have a key role in long term planning for the organisation and managing the strategy in order to shape ICYE UK’s future. 

Currently the Board is made up of 8 trustees who come from a variety of professional backgrounds. All, however, share a passion and commitment for the work of ICYE UK and seek to use their skills and knowledge to the benefit of the charity.

Meet the Trustees:

Staff:

At ICYE UK we have a small staff team dedicated to supporting our volunteers and running the programmes. As a small team we are able to get to know our volunteers individually which enables us to provide comprehensive support.

The work of ICYE UK is overseen by the Board of Trustees and we are very lucky to also have support from the members of ICYE UK who help with various activities including organising and running events such as training camps, assisting with fundraising and marketing and attending events on behalf of the organisation. ICYE UK members are mainly people who have previously taken part in an ICYE programme but we also welcome support from others who share our mission, vision and values. If you would like to find out more please get in contact.

Meet the team:

Cat Udal – Manager   Cat is involved in the overall running and administration of the organisation. She supports and develops all the ICYE programmes and is the main contact for ICYE UK within the ICYE Federation.

Dan Milway – Hosting Programme Coordinator Dan is responsible for ICYE UK’s Hosting Programme and the well being of the international volunteers (ICYE and EVS volunteers) in the UK – this includes finding and supporting projects, running camps and supporting the volunteers.

Toka Davani – Sending Programme Coordinator   Toka is the person to contact if you’re based in the UK and would like to volunteer abroad with ICYE UK. She’ll advise you, guide you through the application process, arrange your placement in the host country and support you throughout.

Corporate Engagement

As a small charity, we are keen to find companies who would like to support our important work in the field of intercultural awareness and youth development. We are especially aiming to strengthen 3 key areas of our work.

• Training costs for our inter-cultural awareness training camps 
• Membership engagement to engage more with our Members 
• Core costs to support our hosting programme. 

In return for a commitment to help fund our work or support us with gifts in kind, we have several opportunities for corporate organisations, including inter-cultural trainings, seminars in the UK and overseas, volunteer opportunities at training camps and more.  

Policies

• Conflict of Interest
• Financial Policy
• Financial Reserve
• Global Code of Conduct – Employees or Volunteers
• Health and Safety
• Risk Management
• Safeguarding
• Strategy, Communications, Marketing
• UK GDPR
• Maternity, Paternity, Parental & Adoption Leave Policy
• Whistleblowing
• Overseas Security Policy
• Performance Management

Trustee

Inter-Cultural Youth Exchange UK (ICYE UK) was set up in 1993 to promote inter-cultural understanding, peace and cooperation. We believe that local community action can have a global reach and positively affect the world we live in. ICYE UK is part of a federation of over 30 countries investing in young people through voluntary placements overseas, including community, social and environmental projects in a range of countries in Europe, South America, Africa and Asia. We believe in the importance of reciprocal exchange and host around 50 international volunteers in the UK every year.

We are now seeking to recruit motivated Trustees to join our enthusiastic and diverse Board. As an applicant you would join as an observer to support the Board until officially being elected to office as a Trustee at the AGM in November. As a Trustee, you will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction and governance of ICYE UK and will work with a dynamic team who support our volunteers every day.

Roles and responsibilities

We are seeking motivated individuals with experience in the volunteering or charity sector to join our dynamic board. These roles will have flexibility to manage and lead on key projects within the Board, depending on experience, interests and passions.

Trustees will oversee the strategic aims and plans of the charity, define goals, targets and evaluate performance against agreed targets. They will also maintain and promote strong working relationships with the stakeholders of the organisation.

Trustees may serve for up to four terms of two years each and at this time, in support of ICYE UK’s current strategy, we are particularly keen to hear from individuals with experience of fundraising, PR, sponsorship, or HR.

What are we looking for?

As a board, ICYE UK’s shared aims are to act in all of the following capacities:

• Advisory: Providing free expert advice/management expertise.
• Regulatory: Ensuring probity and managing regulatory and financial risks
• Democratic: Contributing to the resolution of various stakeholder interests and accepting responsibility for the direction and strategy of ICYE
• Educational: Providing opportunities for debate, learning and sharing of expertise
• Participatory: Engage volunteers in the on-going development of the organisation- (as per ICYE mission)
• Networking: Being ambassadors, linking to contacts, shaping and influencing others
• Involving: Motivating skilled volunteers
• Leadership: Steering the organisation in the right direction, with an emphasis on embedded the ICYE vision, mission and values into the ICYE way of doing things
• Supportive: Supporting, valuing and rewarding the Office manager and Staff

The ideal Trustee will be able to support in acting out the above capacities in collaboration with the fellow board members. Knowledge and experience of similar responsibilities within an international volunteering charity would be advantageous although opportunities for learning and development will be provided.

You will be committed and driven by ICYE UK’s values and vision and committed to understanding the importance of cultural exchange in education and personal development.

What difference will you make?

Trustees are essential to ensuring that ICYE UK continues to operate, sending and receiving volunteers who make a difference to local NGOs globally year-on-year. As a Trustee, you will lead on a strategic area and use your skills to direct a dynamic team who support our volunteers every year. 

What’s in it for you?

Trusteeship is a challenging and brilliant way to volunteer your time and skills to an organisation and to build upon your strengths and expand your skillset. Through being a part of ICYE UK and on a board of trustees, you learn to be strategic, find creative solutions to problems and come to quick decisions. You will volunteer with a dedicated and passionate team from very different backgrounds and personalities, and will contribute a small part to a much bigger whole, supporting the values of listening, cooperation and understanding.

Committed to delivering unique volunteering opportunities for young people all around the world, now more than ever, it is important to build peace and understanding across cultures; through volunteering your time to be part of ICYE’s board, you will help to support this mission.

There will also be opportunities to meet some of the volunteers that ICYE supports, so you can see first-hand the fantastic impact that the organisation has.

A few more details

As an observer, and from November, a member of the ICYE-UK Board of Trustees, you will be expected to attend 75% of board meetings per year that you can attend via Google Meet. There will also be at least one Staff/Trustee away day and an AGM each year, which you will be required to attend in person, but these events are organised to suit Trustee’s availability.

Successful candidates will be co-opted onto the board as an observer for the remainder of the year until the next AGM in November 2024, where you can choose to stand to be elected onto the board.

To apply for this position, please send a letter of motivation and CV to info@icye.org.uk If you would like to find out more, please get in touch!