A father has asked whether he is being unreasonable to refuse to fund his daughter's £4,500 summer volunteering programme in Costa Rica, which she says will "look amazing" on her CV. The 19-year-old's mother has already agreed to the trip and expects the father to cover half the cost.
The man, Imran, 51, an accountant from Birmingham, told Metro's consumer champion Sarah Davidson that his daughter is starting her second year at university, receives a maintenance loan, works part-time at a café, and has just returned from a holiday to Ibiza. He already pays child maintenance voluntarily, plus her phone, car insurance, and most of her course costs.
Is a £4,500 unpaid placement worth it?
Davidson told Imran he is not a miser for questioning the value of a £4,500 unpaid work placement, describing it as "a very expensive holiday with some 'worthy' activities tagged on." She advised him not to dismiss the idea entirely, noting that the National Careers Service says volunteering can help people test out careers, gain experience, and develop skills such as communication, organisation, and leadership.
Davidson suggested Imran ask his daughter to provide full programme information, including the provider's safeguarding arrangements, accommodation, flights, insurance, and a detailed budget. She also advised checking what the university careers service thinks of the placement, and looking for funding from the university, department, external bursaries, or a relevant professional body.
Contribution rather than a flat yes or no
Davidson recommended Imran ask his daughter to compare the Costa Rica programme with two alternatives, one closer to home, looking at costs and benefits. If she does this diligently and he is comfortable, he could offer a contribution rather than an outright yes or no, such as paying for the programme itself while she covers her flight and spending money.
She said the exact division is less important than the principle that his daughter has some financial stake in the choice. Davidson added that his daughter should be able to explain what she will do each day, how it connects with her degree or career ambitions, and whether she will leave with a reference or evidence of skills gained. "Learning how to secure the budget from you to do it is, perhaps, an even more valuable skill," she said.
