Information for Hosts

Who can be a Host?

You can be a Host if you need help with a farm, garden, building project, painting, repairs, childcare, creative project, hostel, restaurant, community space, animal care, housekeeping, language practice, or another real project where volunteers can contribute in exchange for food, accommodation, or both. The exchange should be moneyless and based on clear expectations from both sides.

What makes Volunteers Base different?

Volunteers Base is a not-for-profit moneyless help exchange network. Hosts can list projects without charging volunteers to apply, and volunteers can contact projects without paying a subscription fee.

This only works when Hosts provide honest, complete, and realistic project descriptions. Clear project descriptions reduce misunderstandings and help volunteers decide whether your project is a good fit before contacting you.

How do I publish my project?

Use the project submission form to list your opportunity. If you want to edit or delete your project later, register an account before publishing it and use the same email address for your project.

For safety and quality reasons, projects may be reviewed before appearing publicly. Make your description complete and truthful so it can be approved without unnecessary delays.

What information should I include?

A well-written project saves time because volunteers will have fewer questions and better expectations before contacting you.

Location

Choose the correct country, region, and city or nearest town. This helps volunteers understand where you are and see your project in search results or on the map.

Project description

Explain what your project is about. Be inviting, but keep it realistic. Do not make the project sound easier, more comfortable, or more glamorous than it really is.

Tasks and schedule

Describe the type of help you expect, how many hours per day or week are involved, and how many days off volunteers will have. As a general reference, around 20–25 hours per week with 1–2 free days is usually a fair exchange, depending on the accommodation, food, and project conditions.

What volunteers receive

Be specific about accommodation and food. For example, say whether volunteers will have a private room, shared room, tent, camper space, or other sleeping arrangement. If you provide meals, explain how many and whether vegetarian or other dietary options are possible.

Requirements

List any minimum or maximum stay, language needs, physical requirements, previous experience, special skills, licences, or personal qualities that matter for your project.

Extra practical details

Mention anything that helps volunteers prepare: internet access, transport, public transport distance, nearby towns, local attractions, bicycles, pets, children, smoking rules, quiet hours, climate, remote location, or anything else that could affect daily life.

Important conditions

• Projects listed on Volunteers Base should not charge volunteers to participate.
• Volunteers Base is not for paid jobs, recruitment, unpaid replacement of regular employees, or visa sponsorship requests.
• Hosts must be honest about the tasks, hours, accommodation, food, and living conditions.
• Hosts are responsible for following the laws, safety rules, insurance requirements, and local regulations that apply in their country or region.
• Any agreement between Host and Volunteer is private. Volunteers Base is not a party to the arrangement.

Communication with potential Volunteers

Communicate clearly before agreeing to anything. Ask about the volunteer’s motivation, previous experience, skills, travel dates, expectations, references, and any practical needs. Encourage volunteers to ask you detailed questions too.

When you meet in person, it is sensible for both sides to confirm identity. To reduce spam and unwanted messages, Volunteers Base uses profile verification for volunteers before they can contact Hosts.

Host safety checklist

• Check that the volunteer’s profile is complete and verified.
• Ask for clear arrival and departure dates.
• Explain the daily routine before the volunteer arrives.
• Agree on tasks, hours, free days, food, and accommodation in writing by email or message.
• Do not accept help from someone who pressures you, hides basic information, or asks for money, paid work, visa letters, or unrelated favours.
• Tell the volunteer about house rules, safety risks, animals, tools, transport, and emergency contacts.

Tips for a better project

• Use real photos of the place, project, accommodation, and surroundings.
• Write in clear English if you want to receive international volunteers.
• Avoid vague descriptions such as “general help” without explaining the real tasks.
• Be honest about remote locations, simple accommodation, limited internet, shared spaces, or physically demanding tasks.
• Update your project when your availability, contact details, or needs change.

Refreshing projects

When a project has been listed for about 90 days, the host may receive an email reminder. That message asks the host to update the project, bump it so it shows up again as a recent project, or deactivate it so volunteers stop sending messages. The links in the email do not need a password.

Example of the reminder:

Ready to list your project?

Before publishing, check that your project description answers the most important questions a volunteer would ask: Where is it? What help is needed? How many hours? What is offered in return? What kind of person is a good fit?