Your gap year could set you up for life

EXPLORING the world on a gap year is tempting after slogging away at Highers, Alevels or degrees.

Some sixth-formers use the break to earn enough money to go to university. Graduates often want to have a last adventure, weigh up career moves or simply put off future responsibilities for a little longer.

But deciding how to spend time off needs careful thought and planning — few bosses are impressed by potential employees sunning themselves on beaches in the South of France.

Tour operator Oyster Worldwide, which specialises in gap years, says animal welfare projects are most popular with school and college leavers, while STA Travel has seen a growth of interest in ‘voluntourism’.

Raleigh International says young people should not feel bad about wanting to get something out of volunteering, but says they should look closely at the organisation offering gap year opportunities.

Meg Kneafsey, who volunteered with Raleigh International during her gap year and is now a Youth Trustee at the charity, says: ‘Some organisations place more importance on profit, but as a respected youth-led development charity with more than 30 years’ experience of working through youth volunteers, we focus on our impact. ‘All our projects are based on long-term relationships incountry and are designed to meet real needs in the communities we work with. They are a demanding but hugely rewarding experience.’ Charlotte Lawes, 19, from Cambridge (left) will study geography at Exeter University this autumn after travelling to Tanzania with Raleigh Internationa earlier this year. She says: ‘You learn much on Raleigh that you wouldn’t learn in a classroom and gain skills that will prepare you for the workplace in terms of communicating with people and motivating yourself. ‘I’ve definitely built up more of a “can-do” attitude. Nothing seems too big for me now. ‘Even moving away from home and having to deal with adult issues and being completely self-sufficient and separate from your family is going to make going away to university so much easier.’

FOR more information about Raleigh International, log on to raleighinternational.org