Gone bust, gap year charity used by young Wills and Kate

A GAP year charity that sent Wills and Kate to work on projects in Chile in their teens has collapsed.

Raleigh International said its finances were hit hard by the pandemic and travel rules.

Cuts in the UK’s overseas funding, the Ukraine war and the cost of living crisis also damaged its fundraising abilities.

Its 47 staff have lost their jobs and future expeditions have been cancelled, even for volunteers who have already paid thousands to go. It is not clear if they will get the money back.

The charity was founded in 1978, giving tens of thousands of young people ‘life-changing’ opportunities to work abroad on ten-week health, education, and construction projects in some of the poorest communities in the world.

Before meeting Prince William at the University of St Andrews in 2001, 19-year-old Kate Middleton headed off on a Raleigh project in Chile. Coincidentally, 18-year-old William also volunteered with the charity, flying out to Chile just weeks before his future wife.

Raleigh International stopped operating on Thursday and is entering voluntary liquidation.