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not sure whether to go to uni
Hello, I'm Jay. At the moment, I am slowly sorting out University paperwork and such, but i'm still not sure whether to go. The main thing that worries me is my ability to succeed on the coarse. At college, I found that A Level courses... Read More- helping my son decide what to do next
I am helping my son decide what to do next. After strong science / maths A level results, he got a place at Uni, but has failed his second year. Rather than re-take, he wants a change from full time study, and he wants to look at a... Read More - like to go travelling can you help me?
I've recently just finished my AS exams and I don't think I am going to be returning to 6th form next year because I feel like I don't benefit fully from sitting in a classroom to learn. I would really like to be able to travel somewhere... Read More - not sure about what to do next...
Hiya, I'm 21 years old and currently working full time as an Assistant Restaurant Manager, but am taking some time out to go traveling. I never went to uni and i didn't really want to. I'm not really happy with my line of work at the... Read More
Gap Years
What Are The Best Volunteering Schemes?
13th September 2011, 15:19Volunteering gap years are extremely popular and give gappers the chance do something beyond just jetting off to exotic locales. It provides the chance to give something back to the less fortunate and also looks great on a CV for when it comes to looking for a job.
If you’re looking into a volunteer gap year and you’ve started looking to see what’s out there, the names of a few schemes will probably come up time and again. If you’ve not gotten that far yet and you’re just starting your research, here are some of the most popular gap year volunteer schemes out there.
Raleigh International
More than 30,000 people have gone on a voluntary scheme with Raleigh International. In its own words, Raleigh’s goal is to cater to “ordinary people who want to do something extraordinary with their lives, make a difference in the world and new friends along the way.”
The charity takes young people aged between 17 and 24-years-old, career breakers and even retirees on expeditions to places like India, Costa Rica and Borneo, to name a few.
VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas)
VSO fights against poverty in some of the most impoverished parts of the world. It sends hundreds of volunteers to around 40 different countries every year, with schemes ranging from six months to two years long.
The sorts of volunteer work you can expect to do will depend on the country you’re volunteering in and what your skills and experience are. It could involve something like health care, community work or social care. This could be a particularly appropriate gap year scheme if you’re interested in a career in health or social care.
GVI (Global Vision International)
Global Vision International (GVI) have been on the scene since 1998 and sends around 3,000 volunteers away to around 150 projects in 40 countries around the world. It’s a non-religious voluntary organisation which focuses on issues like environmental research, conservation, education and community development. GVI trips last anywhere between a week and 12 months.
There are plenty of other organisations out there doing similar work and work in specific niches like Frontier and Trekforce. If you have an idea of a particular field in which you want to volunteer, like animal care for example, search online for animal care volunteer schemes, and so on.
Further Information
- Look for related Jobs and Courses
- Find case studies of school leavers who have taken this route.
- Read one of our free careers resource magazines.
- Get help! Contact us via Twitter, Facebook, info@notgoingtouni.co.uk or call us on 0208 787 7047
