Thinking of taking a year out? Lawrence Lockhart Email: [email protected].

Thinking of taking Thinking of taking a year out?a year out?

Lawrence Lockhart

Email: [email protected]

What are your concerns about the future?

- The recession - Youth unemployment - Graduate unemployment - Tuition fees - The cost of living

YOUR OPTIONS Which of these options do you think would be most appropriate

for you when you leave school / college?

Get a job and start your career

Go straight to university

Go travelling

Get career experience

Go volunteering

Turn to your worksheet

OPTION 1: GET A JOB AND START YOUR CAREER

Give one reason why you think this might be a GOOD idea FOR YOU.

Give one reason why you think this might NOT be a good idea for you.

OPTION 1: GET A JOB AND START YOUR CAREER

WHY? I hate studying? I want time for myself? I want money to spend? I have skills that can earn me a living?

HOW? Go to job centre, employment agencies Access social media and websites

Look in local papers Talk to schools careers service Apply for an apprenticeship

PROBLEMS? Are there enough well-paid jobs locally? Do I need training for a career? Do all apprenticeships provide good quality training?

Turn back to the worksheet

OPTION 2: GO STRAIGHT TO UNIVERSITY

Give one reason for thinking this might be a GOOD idea for you.

Give one reason for thinking that this might

NOT be a good idea for you.

OPTION 2: GO STRAIGHT TO UNIVERSITY

WHY? Better career prospects Higher lifetime income Lifelong intellectual and cultural enrichment Fun and friends

HOW? Apply at school / college through UCAS or after ‘Results Day’

PROBLEMS? Do I know enough to choose the right course for me? What about tuition fees, living costs, graduate debt?

Are there enough jobs for graduates?

Turn back to the worksheet

OPTION 3: GO TRAVELLING

Give one reason for thinking this might be a GOOD idea for you.

Give one reason for thinking this might NOT be a good idea for you.

Option 3: INDEPENDENT TRAVEL

WHY? I need a break! See the world, new experiences and skills Fun and friends

HOW? Use student travel specialists: STA Travel Get safety & health advice

PROBLEMS? Will it improve my career prospects? Will I want to go to university afterwards?

Turn back to your worksheet

OPTION 4: GET CAREER EXPERIENCE

Give one reason for thinking this might be a GOOD idea for you.

Give one reason for thinking this might NOT be a good idea for you.

OPTION 4: CAREER EXPERIENCE

WHY? Improve your CV and employment prospects Rethink your HE & career plans It may be a requirement for your training or degree course

HOW? Choose between UK or overseas careers experience UK: YINI, Accountancy, PGL, holiday companies, care sector UK: Day release degrees with part-time study

Overseas: BUNAC, Oyster, Gap Canada, Work NZ, etc

PROBLEMS? If you work overseas, there will be costs

Go back to your worksheet

OPTION 5: VOLUNTEER

Give one reason for thinking this might be a GOOD idea for you.

Give one reason for thinking this might NOT be a good idea for you.

OPTION 5: VOLUNTEER OVERSEAS

WHY? Experience a different world

Give something back, make a difference

Time and space to rethink your future

Improve your CV and employment prospects

There are opportunities for travel afterwards

HOW? Raise the money (a valuable experience)

Research reputable, ethical organisations

Minimum 2 - 3 months project work

Independent travel afterwards

PROBLEMS? Costs: £2000 to £5000

Will you want to go to university afterwards?

PLAN FOR AN OVERSEAS EXPERIENCE PLAN FOR AN OVERSEAS EXPERIENCE (A ‘Year Out’ lasts 15 months)(A ‘Year Out’ lasts 15 months)

Raise the money yourself It’s a valuable experience.

A project in a working situation 2 to 3 months minimum if you want to make a real contribution.

Go travelling Travel and accommodation in the region where you have been working won’t cost much.

MINI GAP EXPERIENCES

Most gap organisations offer short projects

HOW LONG? 2 weeks to 3 months

WHEN? Summer after A levels / Level 3 courses

During university summer vacations

Give the project as long as you can spare.

MAXI GAP EXPERIENCES

Organisations requiring 11 months commitment

Project Trust

The Year in Industry

Don’t be put off by the length of these programmes.

They are very highly regarded by universities and employers.

WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU DECIDE NOT WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU DECIDE NOT TO GO STRAIGHT TO UNIVERSITY?TO GO STRAIGHT TO UNIVERSITY?

The main optionsThe main options

Teaching and community work worldwide

Expeditions and conservation work worldwide

Caring for the disadvantaged (UK or overseas)

Paid UK placements in engineering, finance and management

Working with children: au pair, summer camps, activity centres

Skills development: IT, office, business, languages

Sports and outdoor pursuits: play, be coached, coach children

Work & travel programmes: N America, OZ & NZ, China, Russia, etc

Career experience: medical, law, journalism, tourism (UK or overseas)

Some other possibilitiesSome other possibilities

Archaeological digsArt History courses in ItalyCookery coursesDrama at Stratford-on-AvonSki & watersports instructor coursesand many more

What do past volunteers say?“Every important decision I have made since has been influenced by my gap year experiences”

(Minty Gilders, ex Africa & Asia Venture)

“If you look at the “buzz” words for any application form or job interview, you can relate them to a gap year experience: teamwork, leadership, initiative, independence, creativity, resourcefulness, motivation.” (Amy Daw / Green, ex Lattitude)

“My gap year gave me the time to pick up new skills and qualifications …..and helped to guide my career choices. The biggest impact my gap year had on me was increased

confidence and maturity.” (Rupert Laing, ex Africa & Asia Venture)

“My decision to do a year away is probably the best choice I have made, and I am reaping the benefits to this day.” (Chris Hitch, ex Project Trust)

“It has been a great way to experience the culture of a country close up, whilst developing a lot of skills important in my future career and personal life.” (Alex Clarke, ex Raleigh)

“The school was absolutely fantastic and the teachers were lovely. They obviously needed our help and really appreciated everything we did.” (Ellen Fitten, Oyster Worldwide)

“ I gained knowledge useful for my degree, got sponsored through uni, and I have a year of work experience on my CV.” (Joseph Harris, Year in Industry)

SOME PHOTOGRAPHS from an environmental research project in the

Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania

1. Home, sweet home

2. Relaxation after work

3. The camp bar

4. Collecting water

5. The camp cookhouse

6. Passing wildlife

7. The camp ‘long drop’

8. Riverside village

WHY TAKE A GAP YEAR?WHY TAKE A GAP YEAR?A break from study and examinations

Independence & confidence and a sense of achievement

A chance to rethink your future

You will get more out of university

Learn new skills

Improve your employment prospects

Getting things into perspective

Fun and new friends

FINANCING YOUR GAP YEAR FINANCING YOUR GAP YEAR PROJECTPROJECT::

SOME OPTIONS WHICH CAN PAY FOR THEMSELVES

Industrial / commercial placementsSocial / caring work

Working with children‘Work and Travel’ programmes

THE HIGH COST OPTIONSTeaching / community work overseas

Expeditions / conservation workOutdoor pursuits and sport

Skills courses

OUR ADVICE: If you DON’T join a project you may spend just as much money doing things a different way.

HOW MUCH?

For most overseas volunteering projects: £2000 to £5000(depending on length of project, air fares, in-country cost of living)

Extended work experience overseas: similar to volunteering

For travel after the project: a few hundred £s(very cheap accommodation and local transport, unless you go globe trotting)

Children’s camps abroad: air ticket and local travel costs(accommodation, food and pocket money usually provided at camp)

Ski, watersports, other sports courses: expensive!

HOW TO RAISE THE MONEYHOW TO RAISE THE MONEY

Paid work for part of the year

Work as you travel

Fundraising

Letters to businesses and charities

Bursaries

DON’T ASK YOUR PARENTS TO PAY!

Fundraising will be part of your experience, and evidence of your skills.

How to choose your gap year organisationHow to choose your gap year organisation

Decide what you want to do.

Look at several organisations that match your interests. (Sources: our database; Year Out Group; gapadvice.org; websites)

Get contact details of past participants. Talk to them. (Was there a selection process? Were they met on arrival? Was there

in-country support? What work did they do? What accommodation was provided? Did they feel safe? Was it value for money?)

E-mail us if you wish to. (Lawrence Lockhart, [email protected])

HOW WE CAN HELP

Gap Year Fairs is a voluntary organisation which since 1998 has provided free impartial information and advice for post-16 students on taking a gap year or shorter periods of overseas volunteering and career experience. We monitor the gap year market. We recommend and invite to our Fairs only those organisations which offer a genuine educational experience through ethical, value-

for-money projects.

Email us at [email protected].

FINALLYFINALLY

Get out of your comfort zone and

GO FOR IT!