Gap year students could lose thousands of pounds after a charity collapsed on Thursday.

Raleigh International, a charity used by the Duke of Cambridge, ran into financial difficulties and closed days after it took money raised to fund trips abroad.

They had sent thousands of young volunteers on projects around the world.

Charity administrators blamed travel restrictions during the Covid pandemic as well as cuts in government spending on foreign aid which made fundraising difficult.

Days before the charity closed many prospective volunteers paid thousands of pounds they had fundraised for their trips.

They received no warning the organisation was facing trouble. 

Raleigh International has met with a financial services firm and is taking legal advice over the situation, but cannot yet guarantee all the money will be returned.

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

As teenagers The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took part in projects run by Raleigh International in Chile.

Rosie Giesler, 20, from west London, had given £3,800 she raised for a rainforest conservation trip to Costa Rica. ‘It came as a complete shock when I heard about the collapse.

‘It was going to be one of the high- lights of my year’ she said. 

Carter Backer Winter, the firm appointed to handle Raleigh International’s affairs, said: ‘The charity is mindful that volunteers who have paid funds will be concerned about the status of these funds and legal advice is being sought in this regard.’