Costs and fundraising
How much will I need to fundraise to take part in ICS?
All ICS volunteers will be asked to make every effort to fundraise a target of £800.
This is a key part of your preparation of going overseas, to help you start to understand what you will be doing and why. Fundraising is a requirement of the programme, however, no volunteers will be excluded because of cost.
Volunteers who pay or are dependant on those paying higher rate tax will be required to make a minimum financial contribution of £1,500.
The money raised by ICS volunteers means we can give the opportunity to volunteer to more young people from overseas developing countries and more young people from the UK. This means, young people, like you, will be able to make a direct contribution to the fight against poverty.
What support will there be for my fundraising?
The ICS fundraising team and Progressio understand that fundraising can be a daunting and challenging prospect to begin with, particularly if this is your first time fundraising. But please be assured that help is at hand every step of the way. You will be assigned a designated Fundraising Officer who will be your first point of call throughout your fundraising. They will be a professional fundraiser with a lot of experience supporting young volunteers, like you, to reach your target and will provide you with support and guidance until your departure.
You will also have access to a special online fundraising resource area, where you can download event toolkits, template letters, presentations and factsheets to ensure you are equipped with all the latest fundraising know-how. If successful, you’ll receive a link to this area in your selection email.
What is covered by ICS?
Flights, visas, travel and medical insurance, medication and vaccines, food and accommodation, an allowance while you are overseas and full support throughout the whole programme.
I’m receiving benefits, can I still go without losing my benefits?
If you are claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance you will not be eligible to claim for the period when you are overseas. This benefit is usually only payable while people are in the UK. Before you go you must let your Jobcentre Plus office know that you are going abroad and give them your departure date.
If you are claiming Income Support, you may continue to receive payment for the first four weeks of a temporary absence so long as you continue to satisfy the other conditions of entitlement for that benefit. You must let your Jobcentre Plus office know that you are going abroad and give your departure and return dates.
Jobcentre Plus offers a facility for those people who stop claiming benefits for less than 26 weeks. As long as your personal circumstances have not changed when you reclaim you will go through a shorter claim process.
During the required periods of training and local activities in the UK before your departure and after your return to the UK, you may continue to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance but your entitlement will depend on your availability to look for and take up work.
If you normally claim Income Support, the periods or training before departure and after your return to the UK whilst you are taking part in local action activities in the UK should not affect your benefit.
For more information go to the DFID ICS website.
