African Conservation Experience are members of the Year Out Group and adhere to their Code of Practice and Members Charter.

The Year Out Group is an association of independent UK-registered organisations of various sizes, at least one of whose principal activities is the provision of high quality structured programmes in the UK or overseas for young people taking time out between school or college and higher education or employment, or between higher education and a job.

Code of Practice

Membership. Year Out Group sets specific membership criteria including finance, safety, security and quality that must be satisfied before organisations are allowed to join. All members are required to adhere to this Code of Practice and operational guidelines appropriate to their activities. Members provide annual confirmation that they continue to meet these criteria.

Accurate Literature and Websites. All members do their utmost to ensure that all their brochures, terms and conditions and other publications, print or electronic, clearly describe the year out placements and services offered.

Professional Support and Welfare. Members maintain high standards of personal service and individual support by thorough briefing of participants and training of staff. Courses, programmes, expeditions and placements are vetted and monitored by member organisations and security and safety procedures are in place. Where students are placed overseas, in-country support is provided.

Standards. Members are committed to continuous improvement of their Year Out Activities, have systems in place for participants to evaluate their programmes and welcome suggestions for improving performance and standards.

Ethical Considerations. Members are committed to ensure that relationships with the beneficiaries of their activities and programmes are conducted responsibly and with sensitivity regarding social, environmental and local issues.

Financial Security. Members are required to comply with all UK statutory financial regulations applicable to their individual status as companies and charities and to have systems in place to protect money paid by customers for any placement arranged under the Year Out Group logo.

Customer Relations. All members endeavour to deal swiftly and fairly with any issues their customers may raise. All members have a complaints procedure in place that forms part of their Terms and Conditions.