Sports Coaching South Africa

Male or female, eighteen or eighty, serious athlete or casual sports person, it really doesn’t matter! Our local partner welcomes hundreds of people each year, all from different walks of life and from all over the world. This provides for an enriching exchange opportunity not only with the local communities, but also with volunteers from different international backgrounds. Some people travel as part of a long break, year out or career break, whereas other people book the trip as part of an activity holiday, working holiday or volunteer holiday. One thing is for sure, you will leave your trip with new found friends, locals and internationals.

Generally, most of the volunteers and activities are rather youth focused. The majority are aged 18-25 and doing a gap year or simply wish to enrich themselves with a genuine cultural and human experience in the field of youth and community development. More mature applicants are welcome and on average 20% of the volunteers are aged 25+.

You will not need any specific coaching qualifications. We are looking for enthusiastic amateur sports men and women who will be able to share their passion for sport with young and energetic South Africans.

At BUNAC we believe that each volunteer should be treated as an individual. All participants will have a one-to-one orientation interview by phone. It is not a formal interview, but a chance for us to get to know more about you and your reasons for volunteering. We’ll explain how the programme works and what you can expect, as well as going over issues such as health and security to help prepare you for your time away. It’s also an opportunity for you to ask us any questions you might have.

If BUNAC rejects your application at any stage you’ll receive a full refund of your programme deposit.

We have a 7 day cooling off period, so if you feel that you’re not suited to the programme and you contact us within 7 days of attending the orientation interview you can cancel and receive a full refund (less £50 administration fee).
More information regarding cancellation refunds is included within the Terms and Conditions which form part of the online application.

As part of our 'Responsible Approach', each participant must provide a police background check before they travel. For this programme the required check is called an ACPO Police Certificate. Information on how to apply for this can be found on the ACPO Police Certificates page. The check costs £45 for a 10 day process. Once received you should send the original document to BUNAC. If you already hold a CRB from an existing or recent employer issued within 3 months we can accept this as an alternative to the ACPO Certificate.

BUNAC is pleased to have teamed up with Interhealth, a charity which specialises in providing health advice for overseas workers. Your programme cost includes membership to Interhealth and as part of your application process you will complete an on-line medical screening to ensure that you are suitable for the challenge of volunteering in a developing country. Following the screening you will receive comprehensive medical advice regarding inoculations specific to your destination along with some general travel health advice. Your programme cost also includes post-trip clean bill of health screening and on going remote health care advice through Interhealth.

The inoculations you will require may vary depending on the places you decide to visit within South Africa and also your personal medical history so it is very difficult to provide a guide to the typical cost. However, please be aware that whilst some injections are relatively cheap others (specifically anti malarials) can be very expensive. Interhealth will provide you with further information following your screening.

BUNAC’s preferred travel agent is STA Travel and they will be able to help you book your flights to and from South Africa.

Give them a call on the BUNAC dedicated phone number 0871 468 0666 or get in touch at bunac@statravel.co.uk

 If you’d prefer to make alternative plans then you’re more than welcome to as long as you arrive in time for the start of the orientation. Please make sure you provide BUNAC with proof of your return trip so that we can arrange your airport pick up.

Alternatively, if you’d like to arrange completely independent travel then you’re more than welcome to as long as you arrive in Port Elizabeth for the start of the orientation.

As a volunteer you'll be able to work under a tourist visa. A 90 day tourist visa will be issued on your arrival to South Africa. You can extend your stay beyond the 90 days whilst in South Africa, which currently costs approximately £35. Our local partner will be able to advise you on this.

Yes. BUNAC’s fully comprehensive insurance policy has been arranged with Endsleigh, one of the UK’s leading insurance companies. The BUNAC policy is compulsory for this programme. You can find out more about the insurance here.

Throughout term time, the project takes place at local schools. Typically volunteers visit several schools each day following a weekly time-table. During school holidays volunteers coach at activity camps where they have the freedom to use their creativity to come up with new acitvities and expand the scope of their coaching by running week-long tournaments. There are also opportunities to introduce non-sporting activities, such as arts and outings, that children simply wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to experience.

Generally you can expect to be working Monday-Friday for about 4-6 hours a day but hours and start times vary; there may also be occasional weekend work.

The programme is available for either 5 or 12 weeks. However, if you join the 5 week programme you may be able to transfer on to the longer programme while in South Africa (for an extra fee).

Port Elizabeth is a hot-spot for travellers. You will be able to experience all the delights of the local area, including game reserves, scuba schools and friendly nightlife, as well as its 40km of golden beaches. It is also an ideal base for a whole assortment of sports and adventure activities including: mountain biking, camping, shark cage diving, bungee jumping, 4x4 safaris, golf, fishing, scuba diving, parachuting, horse riding, dune boarding, boogey boarding, deep sea cruises, microlight and helicopter flights, tennis, squash, kayaking, badminton, waterskiing, coastal hiking, power kiting and more!

You’ll be free to explore at the weekends but we recommend that you to allow time to travel further afield after your placement. Whether you decide to head west to Cape Town and its legendary Table Mountain or veer north to Namibia and its desert beauty, our partner will be able to advise on safe ways to travel and will be only too happy to suggest some of the best sights to see in South and Southern Africa.

It’s difficult to give an exact figure, as it depends on what you choose to do while you’re in South Africa. We recommend that you anticipate spending £250 per month whilst you are volunteering to cover your daily needs. However, we suggest that you take extra if you plan to go out a lot, or if you have plans to travel at weekends or post project.

In most cases it will be possible to extend your volunteer programme whilst you are away. Specific arrangements are made through our local partner and are subject to the availability of accommodation, projects and an additional fee.

BUNAC is pleased to partner with United Through Sport. They are responsible for all of the on-the-ground logistics and ensure that the volunteer’s experience is culturally immersive and beneficial to the local community. United Through Sport provide 24/7 support to our volunteers while they are on the programme.