Concordia UK

Who we are

Concordia is a charity based in Brighton, UK. We believe that youth programmes, volunteering and international work placements change lives and nurture global citizens who care about each other, and the world.

We were founded in 1943 to recruit volunteer labour to help with the war effort and to encourage peace and reconciliation in the aftermath of the Second World War. Since its founding, Concordia has been committed to programmes that support people to develop the skills and experience they need to thrive. Concordia has supported an estimated three-quarters of a million people to undertake incredible programmes all over the world. We are currently reviewing our approach, with an aim to enable significantly more people to benefit from international volunteering. 

Our culture and values

We are a charity that puts intercultural experiences and journeys at the heart of everything we do. We achieve our mission through the following activities and programmes:

• International Volunteering (IV) – supports young people from age 16 to undertake meaningful and locally driven volunteering projects worldwide.
• National Citizens Service (NCS) – funds Concordia Youth Action, a Sussex wide programme providing skills sessions and local community volunteering to young people age 16-25.
• Seasonal Workers Programme (SWP) – provides adults from all over the world to come to the UK to learn skills, gain work experience and earn an income on UK farms.

The work of Concordia is overseen by a Board of Trustees.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Concordia is committed to Equal Opportunities not just because discrimination is illegal but also because it is unfair and prevents full consideration of an individual's potential. Concordia, therefore, aims to work in a way that truly offers everyone equality of opportunity, rather than just avoiding discrimination. There is a shared responsibility to promote a supportive, inclusive environment where diversity is respected and discourage an atmosphere where discrimination can flourish. It is the responsibility of all the staff, trustees, volunteers, and students not to discriminate against anyone in performing their duties.