What is Trekforce Worldwide about?

• What are its aims, objectives, and philosophy?
• What is your Ethos?
• Gap Year & Career Break
• Safety and Back up
• Life Skills
• How long has it been in existence?
• How does it plan its activities?
• Can Trekforce give examples of successful programmes?
• Can I speak to past participants?
• What is the legal status of the organisation?
• Is the organisation financially sound? Are there any contingency reserves in case of an emergency?
• What are the organisation's policies on Equal Opportunities?
• Ethical & Responsible Travel Policy

What are its aims, objectives, and philosophy?

The main aim of Trekforce Worldwide is to deliver specialist expeditions and longer worthwhile programmes. We also have a consultancy that develops and manages projects overseas that make a difference. We do this through 4 main areas: A Gap Year programme, A career break and shorter expedition programme, A CSR / charity challenge department and an Expedition consultancy working an extreme expeditions and logistics for TV & Film. Given the comprehensive support systems and staff structure, Trekforce Worldwide is able to access and travel to areas and work on projects that you would not be able to necessarily get to as an independent traveller.

What is your Ethos?

We aim to continue the ethos of Wandy Swales, Trekforce’s founder, ensuring that this expedition expertise is channelled into expeditions that really make a difference. We recognise the ethical responsibility we bear as a company to the communities we work alongside, be it with Gap Year trekkers or corporate clients. Hence, as well as employing local staff and using local support networks, we aim to work with our project partners in-country to identify suitable local beneficiaries, often small community groups, schools or charities, that we can support in some way for the duration of the project or expedition.

TFW is driven by a passion for adventure with a purpose and we ensure that each expedition has the proper back-up, safety and support. TFW prefers to concentrate on drawing up a project or expedition that suits the needs of the company or individual and delivers exactly what is being sought. We do not offer tours or challenges off the shelf, preferring to specialise in extreme environments throughout the world.

Wandy Swales vehemently believed that ‘there is an expedition in everyone’, and this remains our guiding principle.  We do not select our trekkers: anyone who is physically and mentally fit, within the age range, and who can raise the money may come on a Trekforce Worldwide expedition. Trekforce is a conservation project and youth development organisation, but our expeditions are very much project-driven.  We believe challenging and worthwhile expeditions as are a conduit for personal development.

The priority for the leader and the team is to complete the project to a high standard.  We do not place undue emphasis on analysing and discussing the learning process; rather we allow trekkers to learn about themselves and their environment in their own way and their own time.

There has always been a distinctive spirit on our expeditions and longer programmes. Each of our teams takes on a major project from scratch and sees it through to its completion – this is almost unique in the expedition sector.  Moreover our expeditions have the staff teams, communications equipment, and in-country backup to take on the most ambitious and remote projects and treks. Our one-month language programmes and two-month teaching programmes are also unique, and enjoy the full local support in each country. Every Trekforce expedition has produced extremely close-knit groups and enduring friendships.  A successful expedition is not only marked by the successful completion of the project, but also by the morale and cohesion of the group at the end.

At the end of a good expedition the volunteers should return home having had an amazing time and wanting more.  They should feel that they have made a positive difference to the country or community in which they have worked, and be so fulfilled by their experience that they want to tell the world about it.

Gap year & Career break

The gap year expeditions we offer have been developed with years of experience in order to offer a real adventure with a purpose. Working with local project partners we combine worthwhile and remote rainforest projects with a challenging adventure. We offer an opportunity not only to travel, but also to concentrate on putting something sustainable back into developing countries or overseas communities, whilst experiencing the challenge of trekking and living in the jungle, the mountains or the desert.

Safety and Back up

All TFW consultants, leaders and medics are highly experienced. We have a combined expertise throughout the world, providing expedition support in jungle, desert and mountainous environments. We have a medical consultant and use the assistance of one of the leading independent travel and security advisory sources. TFW has an exemplary track record.

Life skills

A Trekforce Worldwide expedition will develop life skills beyond most experiences and is truly life changing; developing team work and communication skills as well as creating life-long friends. The experience you will have on the expedition and the teaching placements will stay with you forever and you will be drawing on the skills you have learnt in challenging and stressful situations for many years to come.

How long has it been in existence?

Trekforce Worldwide was founded in 2006 and is carrying on the legacy of the charity Trekforce Expeditions which completed up to 200 successful projects since 1990.  The roots of the organisation date back further to Swaletrek Expeditions which was formed in 1988 and Operation Drake before that. Trekforce Worldwide therefore has over 20 years experience of running expeditions and will be continuing the theme of working on worthwhile and sustainable conservation, community or scientific projects that really make a difference. 

Wandy Swales is the inspiration and spirit behind Trekforce. He is one of the late and great, original Explorers. Like every great Explorer he inspired anyone he came into contact with. Wandy co-led Operation Drake (the precursor to Operation Raleigh). Realising the great work that expeditions can do for host country as well as participant, Wandy founded Swale Treks and started leading true adventurous expeditions in the mid 1980s – exclusively to Indonesia, where at the time many of the 30,000 islands were uninhabited.

Swaletreks turned into the charity “The International Scientific Support Trust” in 1990; which in turn changed its name to Trekforce Expeditions not long after in order to reflect the changing nature of project-based expeditions. The early 1990s was when many of the greats in expeditions, including Bruce Parry, Doug Warner,  Ed Swales, Damian Taylor, Corrin Adshead, Lizzy Ellis, Steve Oliver, became involved carried the great work of Wandy and his fellow supporters / Trustees. It was also the time Rob Murray John became involved. The spirit of Wandy lives on in Trekforce Worldwide which was set up by Rob to use this amazing expertise and experience to carry on the legacy that is Trekforce.

As Bruce Parry so aptly put it: “I was there with Swaletreks in the early days, and to me ISST, Trekforce Expeditions and now Trekforce Worldwide is just another metamorphosis of the same spirit of adventure and  environmental concern that Wandy set up all those years ago.  So long as the people at the helm remember the ethos of those early days I will be there at least in spirit until the end.  I see the indefatigable Rob Murray-John as exactly that sort of person.

I wish you all good luck for the future and have a hell raising party, Wandy style, to say good-bye to the latest shed of skin.”

How does it plan its activities? 

All expeditions, projects, language courses and teaching programmes are co-ordinated by our highly experienced staff in both our UK and overseas, in conjunction with the host project partners.  Our in-country staff work overseas all year round in order to secure the best and most valuable work for our teams.  This is only achieved through constant liaison with local groups, NGOs and government bodies.  Trekforce employ paid expedition leaders and in-country managers who have a proven track record in expeditions, health & safety and project management.

Can Trekforce give examples of successful programmes?

Yes - every expedition since 1990!  Please see examples of our past projects and project partners.

Can I speak to past participants?

Yes - often past volunteers come along to help out at briefing or presentation days, or are often representing Trekforce at careers fairs all around the country. Or you can read what our volunteers say about Trekforce...

What is the legal status of the organisation?

Trekforce Worldwide is a limited company, registered in England , no. 5876382.

Is the organisation financially sound? Are there any contingency reserves in case of an emergency?

Trekforce is financially sound, and has a reserves policy and operates a client account. We have very well established business and project partnerships within the community; we manage all elements of Trekforce’s accounts very carefully, working to strict budgets both in the UK, overseas and in the field. These are regularly scrutinised to make sure that funds are being used wisely and ethically.

What are the organisation's policies on Equal Opportunities?

Expeditions are open to everyone providing they are medically fit to take part in an expedition. Expedition members are self-selected. Management of expectations is key and we do everything we can to make sure all our volunteers understand the realities of life on an expedition and in a rural, remote, school for several months. If you have the ability to raise the funds then you have shown you have the characteristics that an expedition team member needs.

Ethical & Responsible Travel Policy:

Over 15 years Trekforce have established a proven reputation as rainforest conservation experts now providing the opportunity for volunteers to complete worthwhile and sustainable projects which benefit the host country and educate and inspire our volunteers.

i)    All volunteers are culturally prepared by experienced locally based staff and community members. Volunteers have a very basic standard of living minimising the effects of exposure local communities have to the western lifestyle.

ii)    We provide a fair wage for our local guides and experts and for families that host our volunteers, where appropriate.  In the long-term our community projects provide a sustainable income for locals.

iii)    All camp areas are left with as little impact as possible.  All waste is burnt or removed, all washing is done away from rivers and biodegradable soap is used.

iv)    Provide volunteers to work on projects initiated by organisations primarily concerned with the conservation of biodiversity.

v)    We have a robust operating procedures that identify techniques for minimal impact camping and integration.

vi)    TFW have a comprehensive training programme in country that covers detailed issues on how to operate safely in a number of different environments as well as cultural sensitivity and environmental awareness.

vii)    TFW only works through local project partners (supported by the local community) and community groups. These project partners must take responsibility for the project after the volunteers depart and are crucial to the planning, deliver and ongoing success of all projects.

viii)    All treks employ local staff at both a management and delivery level.

We have field base staff working in each country we operate in during expeditions.  They are in constant communications with the communities and organisations we provide volunteers for and ensure that we are operating responsibly by asking for regular feedback, these relationships are built up over a number of years.  We are in a unique position to be able to monitor our reputation because we are asked back by the same organisations and communities year on year and highly recommended to others.  Dignitaries, both tribal and governmental, often attend our project opening ceremonies.

Trekforce directly coordinates all projects and therefore do not contract work out to suppliers thus taking full responsibility for all practices. However, through the projects Trekforce teams complete local communities and organisations are able to establish responsible practises for themselves.   Trekforce have also helped train local eco-tourism guides.

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