You should talk to the organisation about your dietary needs before participation, at the contract stage, so the organisation can prepare. You should talk to the organisation about leave for worship or religious holidays in the same way. In the European Solidarity Corps, most volunteers receive food money, set by country and written in the volunteering agreement before the project. In Youth Exchanges and youth worker activities, food and accommodation are fully covered for participants; this is mandatory, not an exception. Our guide on the volunteering agreement explains the contract stage in the European Solidarity Corps (ESC).
Last updated: November 2026.
How does food work on a project?
In the European Solidarity Corps, most volunteers receive food money, set by country and written in the volunteering agreement before the project. The organisation usually provides the accommodation and gives food money, so the volunteer can cook at home or eat out. In some projects food is provided directly instead. The participating organisations must ensure that you live in safe and clean accommodation and can eat sufficient and healthy food. The host organisation provides healthy meals (or a food allowance) to the volunteer, including during the holiday period.
In Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges and youth worker activities, participants receive no pocket money or cash allowance: food, accommodation and travel are covered and the host organisation arranges everything, while personal expenses are the participant's own. Our guide on whether ESC is fully funded explains the support, our guide on ESC pocket money explains the allowance, and our guide on what Erasmus+ covers explains the youth projects.
When should you tell the organisation about your dietary needs?
In the European Solidarity Corps, you should talk to the organisation about your dietary needs before participation, at the contract stage, so the organisation can prepare. In a Youth Exchange, you should talk to the organisation about your dietary needs before participation so the organisation can prepare. In Youth Exchanges and training courses, the agreement is usually signed between the sending and the receiving organisation, not with the individual participants. For extra support for young people with fewer opportunities, the organisation may ask for documents, especially when the need is related to health or when it involves a cost. Our guide on the volunteering agreement explains the contract, and our guide on inclusion support explains extra support.
Can you cook your own food?
Yes, if you receive food money: the volunteer can cook at home or eat out. In some projects the host organisation buys the ingredients and the volunteer cooks in the shared kitchen, a restaurant is arranged for every meal, or the organisation serves three meals a day; this is more common with host families, dormitories or shared volunteer accommodation. Our guide on what to do before you go lists the questions to settle before departure.
When should you tell the organisation about worship or religious holidays?
You should talk to the organisation about leave for worship or religious holidays before participation, at the contract stage. Our guide on travelling during your project explains how days off work in the European Solidarity Corps.
Can you be treated differently because of your religion?
No: volunteers must be selected in a fair, transparent and objective way, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, political opinion or disability. Discrimination linked to gender, age, ethnicity, religion, beliefs, sexual orientation, disability, or intersectional factors (a combination of two or several of these kinds of discrimination) can create barriers. Each organisation participating in the European Solidarity Corps must have in place effective procedures and arrangements, including repatriation (your return home) in case of unexpected security crisis, to promote and guarantee the safety, protection and non-discrimination of the participants in their activities. Our guide on facing racism or discrimination on a project sets out your rights.
Frequently asked questions
Can the food allowance be cut?
No: food money in the European Solidarity Corps is a standard, mandatory support that cannot be cut.
Are meals covered in Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges?
Yes: in Youth Exchanges and youth worker activities, food and accommodation are fully covered for participants; this is mandatory, not an exception.
Do I need a document for an allergy?
The organisation may ask for documents for extra support, especially when the need is related to health or when it involves a cost. Depending on the participant's situation, supporting documents such as health reports may be requested.
What should you do next?
Our guide on inclusion support helps if your need is related to health.
Youth Works Hub has a Match page that finds projects suited to you: it asks 8 questions and shows the results as a swipeable deck of cards, and using Match requires creating an account on the site.
Related pages: the volunteering agreement · whether ESC is fully funded · inclusion support · facing racism or discrimination on a project · what to do before you go
👉 ESC projects: youthworkshub.org/?tab=esc-projects
👉 Erasmus+ projects: youthworkshub.org/?tab=erasmus-projects
