About Us

Oyster is a small organisation that offers first class projects and a thorough and personal approach. The majority of our placements have been running since 2000 and have excellent participant feedback.

Your destination is managed by one of our 3 UK team members meaning that they get to know you personally, offering you help and support from the moment you apply to the moment you return from your time away. Our overseas representatives are local residents who are employed directly by us to make all the arrangements and to be a helpful friend to you whilst you are away.

‘I think the programme as a whole was very well organised. I never had to worry because I felt like I was a part of a well planned placement where I could join in with the Nepali life as much as possible and always knew what I was doing’ Alice Foren 2008

With Oyster you will get:

• the certainty of a well-chosen placement with everything arranged in advance
• a personal service from our experienced staff in the UK
• thorough preparation in the UK and on arrival
• excellent support from our representative abroad and a group of fellow travellers to share the experience with

‘The best part of my placement was all the wonderful people I met along the way; everyone at the orphanage and the friendships I made with the fellow Oyster volunteers. I never realised how attached I would become to the kids at the orphanage, so it was very different to my expectations. I knew I would get involved, but I didn’t realise how hard it would be to leave them all.’ Rebecca Nijuis 2008 (top)

Who Are We?

‘Thank you for your support throughout my time in Brazil. I've made friends to last a life time and have memories which will inspire me to act when I see those in trouble and pain for as long as I live.’ Emily Parr 2008

Oyster has one of the most experienced teams in the gap year world; Roger Salwey, Oyster’s founder and Director has been directly involved in organising gap years since 1994. He was Operations Director of a leading school expedition and gap year provider before specialising solely in gap years in 1999. Since then he has organised placements for around 1,000 participants, including two of the Oyster staff who joined after graduation. Lara Wood and Jon Arnold have experienced our placements first hand and are well placed to manage and develop the destinations as well as understanding the needs of current participants.

Oyster is proud of its overseas representatives, most of whom have managed these projects since the beginning. Their experience, local knowledge and warm personalities will offer another layer of reassurance as you adjust to life abroad. Their role is to meet you at the airport and help you settle in, providing an initial orientation and co-ordinating any additional parts of the placement, such as intensive language courses or expeditions.

As well as arranging social meet-ups for the group, they will support you individually if you face challenges which you don't feel able to handle alone. Past participants have highlighted this friendly approach as one of the great strengths of Oyster. (top)

Where Are We?

'Anyone who travels…with Oyster will find it a very rewarding experience where solid friendships are made, not only with other volunteers but with everyone you may work alongside during your stay.’ Laura Marzaroli 2008

Oyster is based in a converted barn between Hartfield and Forest Row in rural East Sussex. If you would like to visit the office then please do call us on 01892 770771. We would be very happy to meet you by appointment. Directions can be found on this link.

The office is about six miles away from East Grinstead railway station which offers a good and frequent service to London Victoria. The train journey takes about 45 minutes. If arranged in advance we can pick you up from the station. There are also taxis and a regular bus service from East Grinstead to Hartfield. Details are available on request. (top)

How We Prepare You

The programme as whole was excellent, well organised and personal.’ Charlotte Taylor 2007

Once you have accepted a place with Oyster you can relax whilst we do the work of arranging the placements, organising visas and booking flights (unless you would like to make independent flight arrangements). The only thing required on your behalf is getting any medical checks and injections necessary for your destination and arrange comprehensive insurance (for which we advise).

Shortly before departure you will attend a special briefing course with the rest of your group to prepare you for your time abroad. You will learn in more detail about the country you will be living in, its recent history, culture, currency and language. We will also prepare you for the work you will be doing, so that you know what to expect and feel confident in tackling it. Finally, we make sure that relevant health and safety issues are fully covered.

We are always available to provide advice and answer any questions, right up to the moment of departure when we see the group off at the airport.

‘I am so glad I came to Romania, it has (and I think always will be) the best thing I have ever done. I’m glad I came with a company like Oyster which gave me so much support and guidance.’ Chloe Leadbetter 2007

You will be met on arrival by our representative who will brief you further before you start. There will be an orientation course of up to four days depending on destination. In Brazil, Chile and Tremblant you will receive formal language training of up to three weeks and other destinations will offer informal training where appropriate. Throughout your placement we are available overseas and in the UK and you can contact us at any time. (top)

Selection Procedures

We think it's important to meet you personally before offering you a place on your chosen project. This allows us to make sure that you are well-informed about your chosen destination and the work you would do, and that you would be up to the challenges involved.

The first stage is to fill in an application form either online or on paper (in our brochure). If you want to discuss your placement at any point before this then please feel free to contact us.

‘An excellent 4 months- thank you very much for the organising of this amazing experience’ Amy Orgill 2007

Once we have received your application we will then invite you to our office in East Sussex where you will be able to meet the team and be shown a presentation on your chosen destination, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions. Parents are welcome to attend this part of the day as well.

Quite often there will be a few applicants in at once which will give you the opportunity to meet people that you may well be travelling with and other gap year students.

‘The support I received from Oyster was very helpful and patient and the representative was helpful and always available if I had issues’ Zoe Barnett 2008

You will also have an informal interview, which will allow us to find out about you, your experiences and the things you want to gain from your gap year. We will let you know very shortly afterwards whether you have been accepted for your chosen project.

Whilst we prefer to brief and meet you face-to-face, we can interview you over the telephone if necessary. (top)

Find out more

Check: www.oysterworldwide.com and www.whistlerblackcomb.com

Contact: Call Jon on 01892 770771 or email jon@oysterworldwide.com

‘I have a lifetime of memories! And loads more friends!’ Libby Young 2006 (top)