1. Thinking of taking a year out?
Lawrence Lockhart

2. What are your concerns about the future?
- The recession
- Youth unemployment
- Graduate unemployment
- Tuition fees
- The cost of living

3. YOUR OPTIONS Go straight to university Go travelling
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

4. 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.
NOT be a good idea for you.

5. 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?

6. 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.

7. 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?

8. 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.

9. 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?

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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 months project work
Independent travel afterwards
PROBLEMS? Costs: £2000 to £5000
Will you want to go to university afterwards?

14. PLAN FOR AN OVERSEAS EXPERIENCE (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.

15. 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.

16. MAXI GAP EXPERIENCES Project Trust The Year in Industry
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.

17. WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU DECIDE NOT TO GO STRAIGHT TO UNIVERSITY
WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU DECIDE NOT TO GO STRAIGHT TO UNIVERSITY? The 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)

18. Some other possibilities
Archaeological digs
Art History courses in Italy
Cookery courses
Drama at Stratford-on-Avon
Ski & watersports instructor courses
and many more

19. 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)

20. SOME PHOTOGRAPHS from an environmental research project in the Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania
Home, sweet home
Relaxation after work
The camp bar
Collecting water
The camp cookhouse
Passing wildlife
The camp ‘long drop’
Riverside village

29. 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

30. FINANCING YOUR GAP YEAR PROJECT:
SOME OPTIONS WHICH CAN PAY FOR THEMSELVES
Industrial / commercial placements
Social / caring work
Working with children
‘Work and Travel’ programmes
THE HIGH COST OPTIONS
Teaching / community work overseas
Expeditions / conservation work
Outdoor 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.

31. 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!

32. HOW 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.

33. How 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?)
us if you wish to.
(Lawrence Lockhart,

34. 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.
us at

35. Get out of your comfort zone and
FINALLY
Get out of your comfort zone and
GO FOR IT!