Gap Years

These days, taking a year out has become a rite of passage. And there's no denying gap years sound great in theory. But when money is tight and job opportunities scarce, do the risks outweigh the rewards?

"It was the best year of my life, but also the hardest"

Finding funding

Being strapped for cash doesn't automatically rule you out, as Ayo Wallace discovered when gap year charity Lattitude visited her college. "Gap years were always something I associated with middle class people going travelling," she says. "I needed a break from education but I knew my parents couldn't support me. When Lattitude explained there was a bursary available for volunteering I decided to go for it."

Ayo applied for funding and received a bursary that covered fees, food and accommodation for a three-month trip to Fiji. She also received money towards her flights. In Fiji she taught at a local school, which she credits with giving her confidence and resourcefulness as well as igniting a previously unknown passion for teaching. She is now planning to study teaching at university. "It opened up a lot of opportunities to me," she says.

A taste of what's to come

The chance to get a taste of a career before committing to it can be one of the biggest benefits of a gap year. Leona Banks was considering a career in nursing but decided to spend a year gaining experience to make sure it was what she wanted to do. Through Community Service Volunteers (CSV), she found a placement as a live-in carer for an elderly lady, which only enhanced her desire to become a nurse.

In return for her work, Leona was given free accommodation plus money for living expenses. "You don't lose anything by volunteering, you gain experience and confidence; it gives you that bit extra on your CV and I think it's very useful," she says. "I'd certainly recommend it."

Look the part

This experience is something that is increasingly attractive to employers, and can set you apart from others, according to Paul Laurie, Operations Manager at recruitment specialists Manpower UK. "Employers tend to view gap years positively," he says. "People can develop lots of beneficial transferable skills, from organisational skills to becoming proficient in a foreign language."

A gap year can also open the door to many new opportunities. "In the current economic climate taking a gap year can be a useful stepping stone into further study and employment."

Rise to the challenge

However, money and experience are not the only factors to consider when choosing a gap year; you also need to decide how much of a challenge you're up for.

Janet Newenham took a year out between school and university to teach in a school in rural South Africa through Project Trust, a Scottish educational charity. She loved her time there, describing it as "the best year of my life, but also the hardest". "I had to commit to a full year and wasn't allowed to go home. I was in a remote school and it was a totally different way of living."

The school had very few facilities, so during her time there Janet raised funds to build toilets and a library. She describes the whole experience as a challenge that has added a real talking point to her CV. "Because I was there for a year I picked up the local language," she says. "Now employers always go straight to it and say 'I see you speak Northern Sotho – what language is that?'"

Trouble in paradise

The gap year sector incorporates both charities and commercial organisations specialising in what's become known as 'voluntourism'. The main problem is that this is an unregulated sector, making it difficult to hold gap year providers to account if you don't get the treatment you expect. Common complaints include being given less support than expected and not having enough to do while working on a project. To ensure you don't stumble into trouble, make good use of sites like gapyearreview.com and try to choose projects which offer you the opportunity to chat to former volunteers before you board the plane. Gap years are often challenging - that's half the point of them - but they're not supposed to leave you traumatised, so do your research.

By Joanna Roberts

Photo: BUNAC

Updated:26/01/2011

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Write a list of the skills or experience you want from your gap year; for example teaching experience or learning a new language.
Talk to professional bodies or specialist recruitment agencies for your chosen career to see if there's specific experience that would boost your CV.
Check out the Directory of Grant-Making Trusts online or at your local library to find out if there are any organisations that may fund your trip. Many funding opportunities are under-used because people don't know they're available.
Contact any organisations that could help with funding, such as your nearest Rotary Club or Lions Club, as well as national bodies like the Prince's Trust.
Local employers may give sponsorship for a good cause and relevant local charities (education charities if you'll be teaching abroad, for example) are always worth approaching.
Planning to spend your year off volunteering in the UK? Find out what's available near you by searching the do-it database of volunteering opportunities.

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