Every Sobbatical journey is built on trust — between the people who give their time and the organisations who welcome them. These Volunteering Terms & Conditions (the "Volunteering Terms") set out the agreement between a volunteer ("Volunteer") and a non-profit organisation ("Partner Organisation") for a placement arranged through the Sobbatical Impact Hub (the "Platform"), and the shared commitments that make an impact trip safe, fair and genuinely meaningful.
These Volunteering Terms complement the Service Terms (GTC) and the Privacy Policy. They are confirmed by the Volunteer and the Partner Organisation for every placement. The terms used are gender-neutral. Last updated: 8 July 2026.
Sobbatical connects people who want to use their time and skills to make a difference for people, animals and the environment with non-profit organisations, and helps them find the right placements — whether abroad or right in their own neighbourhood. Volunteering should first create genuine value for the local community, and only second a meaningful experience for the Volunteer — never the other way around. Our work rests on five commitments we share with everyone involved:
These Volunteering Terms apply to Volunteers and to the Partner Organisations that host them. They establish the basis on which the Volunteer performs voluntary support for the Partner Organisation, including the scope and duration of the support, the responsibilities of both parties, insurance and liability, confidentiality, data protection and how a placement can end.
Using the Platform is free of charge for both Volunteers and Partner Organisations. Sobbatical acts solely as an intermediary that connects the two; the volunteering relationship itself is between the Volunteer and the Partner Organisation, and each party participates at its own risk (see Sections 12 and 18 and the Service Terms).
The support to be provided, together with its duration and schedule, is agreed between the Volunteer and the Partner Organisation during the application process and takes place primarily at the location(s) stated in the listing. The activities described in a listing are indicative, not exhaustive: a Volunteer may be asked to help with related tasks depending on the Partner Organisation’s evolving needs and the Volunteer’s willingness and capacity. Any change to the timing, duration, location or extent of the placement is made in consultation with the Volunteer and with their express consent.
The Partner Organisation commits to a balanced, manageable workload that does not exceed a reasonable number of hours per week for the specific placement, as mutually agreed. The Volunteer is entitled to adequate time off — at least two (2) days without requested support in each calendar week — with flexibility to suit both the Volunteer’s availability and the Partner Organisation’s needs. Because the support is voluntary, the Volunteer is not bound by directives on the exact distribution or amount of support, but provides it in line with the Partner Organisation’s reasonable needs.
The Volunteer acts of their own free will and receives no remuneration for their support. The Volunteer is not an employee of the Partner Organisation and is not entitled to any salary, employment benefits, or other rights or privileges of employment. Any benefits the Partner Organisation chooses to offer are voluntary and are described in Section 8.
A Partner Organisation may, at its discretion, offer benefits or reimbursements as a gesture of goodwill — for example accommodation, local transport, meals or training. These are not entitlements. The provision and use of any such benefits are solely the responsibility of the Partner Organisation, which bears exclusive responsibility for any liabilities arising in connection with them. The Volunteer accepts and uses any benefits at their own risk.
Some placements involve children, young people, elderly people or other people at risk. Their protection always comes first. Volunteers must never have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults unless the Partner Organisation’s safeguarding rules and any legally required checks allow it. Partner Organisations are responsible for their safeguarding policies and for ensuring roles are appropriate.
Sobbatical does not support activities that treat vulnerable people as an attraction. In particular, we do not facilitate short-term, unqualified work in residential care for children (so-called "orphanage tourism") and discourage any activity that risks creating dependency, disruption or harm.
Sobbatical is for everyone. No one may be excluded or treated unfairly on the basis of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, origin, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, age, disability, health status, socio-economic background or political opinion. Volunteers and Partner Organisations commit to inclusive, respectful behaviour and to being open about accessibility and specific needs so that a good fit can be found.
Everyone has the right to feel safe and respected. Harassment, bullying, discrimination, sexual misconduct, exploitation and any form of abuse are never acceptable — on site, online or in the Platform’s messages. Anyone experiencing or witnessing such behaviour is encouraged to report it (see Section 17). We take reports seriously and will act, including ending a placement or partnership where necessary.
Participation in a placement is at each party’s own risk. The Volunteer must be covered by mandatory statutory health insurance or a private policy that comprehensively covers health and accidents; a private international health and accident policy is strongly recommended in addition. The Partner Organisation must procure any insurance mandatory under national law for volunteering activities, in particular liability insurance where required, so that both parties are adequately protected.
The Volunteer agrees to hold harmless and indemnify the Partner Organisation and its people from claims arising out of the Volunteer’s own unlawful or negligent conduct in connection with the support. Sobbatical acts solely as an intermediary and is not liable for the conduct of the parties, for what happens during a placement, or for third-party services; the full liability provisions are set out in the Service Terms (Sections 4.2.3, 4.2.4 and 5.6) and apply accordingly.
Impact takes reliability, so both parties should honour agreed placements and communicate openly and early. Either party may end a placement at any time, with written notice to the other party. As a matter of fairness we strongly recommend: at least one month’s notice before a placement starts, so the Partner Organisation can find a replacement and the Volunteer can adjust their plans; and, once a placement is underway, sufficient notice to let the Volunteer arrange an alternative or organise travel home. On ending, the Volunteer stops all activities and returns any property or materials belonging to the Partner Organisation.
The Volunteer keeps confidential any non-public information of the Partner Organisation (and associated organisations) learned during the placement — including business, financial and donor information — during and after the placement, unless the information becomes public through no fault of the Volunteer. Unless otherwise agreed, materials created specifically for the Partner Organisation in the course of the support (e.g. documents, photos, designs) are the intellectual property of the Partner Organisation; their use or distribution requires the Partner Organisation’s permission.
During the placement, the Volunteer is expected not to take up other paid or unpaid work with other entities. Doing so may have implications for immigration status, employment law, taxation and social security; any such activity, and any resulting consequences, are at the Volunteer’s own responsibility and risk.
The Partner Organisation may collect and process the Volunteer’s personal data as necessary for the placement and will comply with applicable data protection law, including the GDPR and any rules of the Volunteer’s home country and the host country. The Volunteer consents to this processing and to sharing data where necessary to carry out the placement (for example with an emergency contact). The Partner Organisation applies appropriate safeguards, retains data only as long as necessary, and honours the Volunteer’s rights to access, rectify, erase, object to or restrict processing. When sharing photos, videos or stories, always obtain consent and represent people and communities with dignity — see also the Privacy Policy.
If a placement does not go as expected, or you have a concern about safety, conduct or ethics, tell the Partner Organisation and/or Sobbatical as soon as possible. The parties first try to resolve matters through good-faith conversation. If needed, either party may ask Sobbatical to mediate ([email protected]), and both agree to take part in good faith. Sobbatical may pause, end or remove a placement, listing or account that breaches these Volunteering Terms or puts people at risk.
These Volunteering Terms, together with what is agreed during the application, form the understanding for the placement. A Partner Organisation may add written supplementary rules, provided they complement and do not conflict with these Volunteering Terms. They are confirmed by the Volunteer and the Partner Organisation as part of every placement — upon application and upon acceptance, respectively. Sobbatical may update them from time to time; the current version applies to new placements. The volunteering relationship is governed by the law of the Partner Organisation’s country of establishment; the relationship with Sobbatical is governed by the Service Terms. If these Volunteering Terms are translated, the German version prevails. The Volunteer informs the Partner Organisation without undue delay of any changes to personal details relevant to the placement.
Thank you for volunteering with care and travelling with purpose. Together we make impact that lasts.
Sobbatical Impact Travel e.U. · Märzstraße 88/16 · 1150 Vienna · Austria