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Gap Year & Holiday Activities

TAKING A GAP YEAR...

  • Can improve your CV and give you something engaging to discuss at interview

  • Help you get a better perspective on who you are, your life, and what you want to do next

  • Will take you out of your comfort zone and build life experience you can't get in a classroom

  • Means you return refreshed and ready for the next step

Many opportunities are suitable for holidays - don't be put off by the words "Gap Year"!

Even if you don't currently think a Gap Year is what you want, exam results mean that in August some A-level students find themselves suddenly wondering how to fill a year productively!  There is a lot you can do to develop your soft skills in a year between school and university, so it makes sense to sign up early for alerts and have a better idea of what opportunities there are should you need them!  Ideas include:

General Information

Many websites such as UCAS.com and prospects.ac.uk have sections on Gap Years.  Also look at:  

www.yearoutgroup.org - good general introduction with links to 35+ member organisations

www.independentgapadvice.org offers advice and ideas for free

Also look up the latest "Top 100" gap year providers as researched by newspapers such as the Telegraph.

UK Opportunities

www.summer-jobs.co.uk - guide to summer employment and vacation work

www.etrust.org.uk - the Industrial Cadets and Year in Industry (YINI) schemes offers placements for students interested in all areas of engineering, science, IT, e-commerce, business, marketing, finance and logistics

www.timebank.org.uk - voluntary work opportunities in the UK with links to organisations that offer opportunities for young people

 

Worldwide Opportunities

www.anyworkanywhere.com - A great place to start looking; in excess of 30,000 jobs have been advertised on the website

www.workingabroad.com - an international networking service for volunteers and travellers

www.projecttrust.org.uk - volunteer to work for a year in another country.

 

www.volunteerlatinamerica.com - affordable volunteer work plus schools to learn Spanish in Central and South America

The following organisations have been recommended by pupils I have taught:

www.projects-abroad.co.uk

www.gapforce.org 

www.sportlived.co.uk

www.skilegap.com

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