Should you consider taking a gap year?

By Craig Abrahart

Taking a gap year means taking a year where you can decide and arrange exactly what you want to do. Suggestions in the past have shown that people think only the ‘rich’ can take a gap year but of 230,000 18-24 year-olds who take a gap year, only a small percentage come from a rich background.

And what are they doing during their gap year? Some are just taking time off to learn more about themselves, others are discovering the world around them, others are making a difference by volunteering and yet others are testing the waters of the working world while they’ve still got the safety net of the parental home to come back to.

Although it’s great if you can use your year off to establish some level of employability skills and do something worthwhile there really is nothing wrong with just letting off some steam after nearly two decades in education. It’s an ideal chance to see things you’ve always wanted to see, meet new people and have the holiday of a lifetime.

There are many different organisations that organise travelling packages for young people if that is the route you are looking to take for your gap year. Each package will vary in price and some even allow you to earn some money whilst abroad so it’s a good idea to check out all the options before committing.

A period of volunteering when you can see the world and help others too is another worthy option. Many organisations worldwide desperately seek the help of young people to assist with medical aid programmes, community infrastructure project or work with endangered species. If this is your preferred option then it is important to remember that even though you will be helping out you would still need to raise enough money to pay for your travel. However there are a number of different sources of funding available including grants from local businesses.

Another option is to find a job and work for a year to gain some valuable experience and some cash which you may use for travelling or just simply to keep.

Gap years can be a fantastic idea if you are unsure what your next move is; not only will you come back refreshed and with loads of energy but you will have also have had some time to consider the options and to plan what you do next.

You will have gained the kind of experience that universities and employers alike have now begun to realise really is valuable. For example, whatever you do in your gap year, wherever you go and whether you know it or not, you’ll be developing skills like communication, decision making, and working within a team – all useful, and to employers, all very valuable indeed.

If you feel a gap year is the right option for you visit notgoingtouni.co.uk to learn more about gap year opportunities and find the best ones for you.

Notgoingtouni.co.uk provides advice and information on apprenticeships, gap year, as well as jobs and training that are available outside of university. There are a number of free career guides and over 300 videos on distance learning, foundation degrees, gap years, voluntary work and advice on obtaining a sponsored degree.

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