One of the prime functions of the Young Explorers' Trust is to offer an Evaluation Service to providers of Expeditions and Overseas Ventures. The YET Evaluation of Venture Plans has been in operation for over 30 years, during which time more than 900 overseas youth expeditions have had their plans screened by the Trust, and over 18,000 young people have returned safely from their experiences on a YET Approved Expedition.

The term "Provider" encompasses everything from sole enterprises, through schools, charitable and youth organisations, to large commercial organisations that may provide many individual expeditions each year.

The YET Evaluation of Venture Plans enables expedition plans involving young people to be screened by an expert panel of assessors drawn from a pool of YET members with a wide experience in the field of youth expeditions and overseas travel in developing and wilderness areas of our planet. As well as offering valuable advice and encouragement, the screening panel can award YET Approval status to those expeditions reaching the required high standard in safety, environmental responsibility and quality of experience for the young people taking part. As well as giving expedition leaders confidence that their expedition plans are robust, YET Approval can be very useful when seeking funding or applying for permission from the relevant authorities responsible for allowing youth expeditions.

The objective of the Evaluation Service is to undertake a process that is robust and has sufficient rigour to stand up to external scrutiny.

Click here to download a document explaining in detail how it all works and click here to see a list of FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions) about the Evaluation Scheme.

Standards for the safe delivery of expeditions continue to rise and a major initiative in this direction was the introduction in 2007 of a British Standard for visits, fieldwork, expeditions, and adventurous activities outside the United Kingdom: BS 8848.

YET, having been involved in the development of this specification, has now adjusted it's own publications and procedures to reflect this good practice. In aligning the Evaluations procedure with the British Standard, YET is the only body that can currently offer providers an independent, third party appraisal of their demonstration of BS 8848 conformity. In doing so, YET has retained an extremely valuable service whilst offering even greater consumer confidence.

The modification of Evaluation Criteria to respond to these wider needs has resulted in the use of more commonly accepted terms and phrases for expeditions and the roles of those involved in them. Henceforth "expeditions" will fall within the all-embracing term of "venture".

YET Approval, especially if linked to BS 8848 conformity, is a hallmark of quality and safety recognised by the general public as well as by the expedition industry. It brings many direct and indirect advantages including:

re-assurance for venture providers and leaders that their venture plans indicate a safe and responsible approach;

re-assurance to participants and their parents that the plans and leadership team are sound;

support and guidance to authorities responsible for the venture;

re-assurance to potential sponsors when seeking additional financial support

The Evaluation process is not intended just as an appraisal but also as an opportunity for the panel to offer guidance and for the expedition provider to discuss any issues and gain valuable assistance from some of the most knowledgeable people in the industry. If desired YET can offer the leadership team mentored support throughout the Evaluation process.

There are two main types of Evaluation:

YET Evaluation of plans in respect of Specific Ventures

The Evaluation panel reviews the detailed plans of a specific venture and if satisfied that the venture is "safe and responsible" YET will award the status of "YET Approval". If the provider can evidence all aspects of BS 8848, YET can in addition award "Compliant with BS 8848 - externally assessed".

Please click here for more information on costs and how to apply.

Audit and Assessment of Corporate compliance with BS 8848

This facility is available to provide a quality benchmark for the larger provider that operate three or more ventures abroad each year. Here the emphasis is on providing an external audit of the corporate systems and processes that underpin all overseas ventures operated by that provider. The audit is supported by testing evidence from a sample of that provider's ventures. If the provider can evidence all aspects of BS 8848, the YET will award a certificate stating that the providers "Corporate Systems and Processes are Compliant with BS 8848 - externally assessed". This will have a validity of three years, subject to random annual venture testing.

Please click here for more information including costs and how to apply.