We know peace of mind when you book is important to you, so we created our COVID refund policy so you can plan your trip safe in the knowledge that if things don’t quite go to plan your money is safe.

Key points:

• If you cannot travel because of COVID-19 your money will be safe. You can either re-book to new dates (depending on availability) or receive a full refund.
• Our COVID-19 Guarantee also covers your deposit.

You can read the full policy FAQ’s here:
https://caribbeanelective.com/covid-19refundpolicywhatyouneedtoknow/

 

Each of our programmes has different application criteria. That is because each has been created with the needs of Caribbean communities put first. 

For example, Mental Health care in the Caribbean is currently a massive issue that we want to support, but the problem is real and genuine. We cannot hide that, and nor would we want to. As such the work our students will be doing is demanding and requires a level of knowledge and experience in the area. So we only invite applications for this programme for students who are in their second year of University studying a relevant degree to the area such as Psychology, Medicine, Nursing, or Social Care etc… We feel this is the right approach to keep the programmes accessible to as many students as possible whilst also respecting the issue that has inspired the project.

On each programme page, you can view any application requirements in the overview section.

Our Conservation programmes are the most accessible to all age ranges and abilities.

 

Quite simply it costs money to create, run and develop the programmes that Caribbean Elective runs.

So we have developed a cost structure that we believe is fair, accessible and delivers genuine value for money. And, over the years the feedback we have received from students reflects this well.

We provide our students with a package that provides them with everything they need to take part in one of our programmes including necessities such as accommodation and our staff to provide leadership of the programmes and day to day pastoral care.

We believe deeply inaccessibility to all, that is why our prices are amongst the very lowest when compared to our competitors despite the fact we operate in one of the most expensive tourist destinations in the world, provide some of the highest standards of accommodation available in the sector and deliver genuinely life-changing opportunities or our young people and Caribbean communities.

To date, the vast majority of our former students could be classified as being from a disadvantaged background. This is something we encourage and work with schools, colleges and universities to support.

We work accept students aged 18+ to apply for our programmes.

However, we do have years of experience taking younger students to the Caribbean but we only do this in organised groups. Please contact us on the about us page to find out how to arrange this.

Over the years the word about our programmes has spread fast, creating quite a reputation for us amongst the student community.

Students love the level of experience we offer and the impact our programmes have on Caribbean communities. This, in turn, can create phenomenal demand for a place on one of our programmes. For example on the last release of places for our Legal Aid Summer programme our website crashed under demand and all places were booked within 6 hours.

To hear about placement release dates and to be first in line we advise you follow us on our social media pages, particularly Facebook and Instagram.

Furthermore, if you see a programme being advertised on the website then do apply! Let us know you are interested because places may not last long!

 

We operate on a first come first served basis for the vast majority of our programmes

So if you see a programme being advertised then apply! It might not be there long.

We are currently planning to release this in September 2022.

We have an amazing on island team in the Caribbean. The team is made up of a combination of our UK team and also locally employed Caribbean nationals who bring genuine expertise, invaluable local knowledge and bags of passion and energy!

Our Reps are trained to firstly ensure your programme and stay in the Caribbean is delivered safely. But, of course, they are also there to make sure you. have an amazing time and that you make the most of the experience.

We would never risk putting our students into a country, or place where we felt there was a possibility that they may not be safe.

There are parts of the Caribbean which unfortunately are less suitable for student travel. Students like to get out into the community in their free time and enjoy Caribbean life, not all places are suitable for this. And of course, this is an element of risk with any travel anywhere in the world. But the Islands that we use to host students are amongst the safest destinations anywhere in the world.

When students arrive in the Caribbean they firstly receive an induction from our team. This includes a safety briefing which we have developed with years of experience. It advises students of places where to go and where not to go, and how to conduct themselves.

We will always support students in planning things to do in their free time, that is what our Reps in the Caribbean are there for! To help students have fun responsibly.

We recommend that students check the Foreign Office website to get the latest information on travel safety recommendations before booking.

We do not offer food or catering options as part of our packages as standard.

Instead, we offer accommodation which has all the facilities you will need to be able to self-cater for yourself. This has a number of benefits. Firstly, it is cheaper than any food plan we could offer, secondly, it is more accessible to different diets, and lastly and most importantly it gets you more immersed in the Caribbean way of life and gives you the feeling of really living like a local which we think is so important!

Yes. You must take our appropriate travel insurance and you must also send us proof of this before you travel.

We get this question a lot! If you just want to try something completely different or have an experience that introduces you to the Caribbean and its culture then we would recommend “Discover Authentic Caribbean Art” or any of our conservation programmes. They both have no application requirements and are open to all. They also deliver an experience for you that is based more on developing life skills and experiences other than specific subject areas such as Law or Psychology.

That is great to hear, and this is something we regularly do. Every year we work with schools, colleges and universities to create bespoke trips. We can also support organisations in applying for funding such as the UK Governments Turing Scheme which our programmes qualify for. This can help make strips more affordable and accessible to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Email Harry on harry@caribbeanelective.com to start the conversation!

We know that this is so important, the wor you’ll do on your project/placement is obviously so important but we also appreciate it is often hard work. 

You are also travelling to the Caribbean which is an amazing place where you need to take every opportunity to explore its beauty, beaches and culture.

All of our projects are designed to be 5 days a week work, with the weekends off as free time. Most working days finish around 3/4 PM so there is plenty of time to find something to do in the evenings. Our reps are also on hand to help you arrange activities and give you advice on all the best spots!

We use a number of different types of accommodation like houses, hotels and apartments. It all depends on how long you are in the Caribbean and the requirements of your stay.

We look to keep the standard around what could be described as a comfortable 3* property. All our accommodation is self-catered. 

We have years of experience hosting students in the Caribbean so you will be placed in accommodation which we feel is perfect for the purpose of your trip and will give you a place you can call your home from home.

We absolutely do not offer stays with local hosts or dormitory-style accommodation which is sadly a common occurrence in the student travel sector. We do not believe it is right and we advise you to always keep an eye out for this when considering which company to do your experience with.

As standard we ask our students to expect to stay in a twin room, this may mean sharing with another student. This is the best way for us to keep package costs accessible to all.

Guaranteeing yourself a single room is possible at an additional cost. Groups can also ask for bigger rooms to share so you can all stay together.