Best sites for planning a gap year

A gap year is a great way for young people to experience a new environment, develop a sense of independence, broaden horizons and test communication skills, but it requires careful planning and forethought. Do you want to volunteer on your gap year, do a work placement, learn a language or a new skill? Which organisation should you go to? What questions should you ask? What should you expect from your gap year? As this year's round of gappers start planning their time away, we select some of the best gap year sites at their disposal.

FOR INFORMATION AND REFERENCE

Year Out Group
www.yearoutgroup.org



An excellent resource and reference point for those planning a gap year, Year Out Group provides an extensive list of organisations that offer gap year choices such as living abroad on a cultural exchange, participating in an expedition or a structured work experience or signing up to a course overseas. Students can also find information about what a gap year is all about and guidelines on what to ask the organisations and how to investigate costs.

iGapyear.com
www.iGapyear.com



Run by ex-seasonal staff, ex-project volunteers, recruiters, overseas personnel managers and seasoned travellers, this is a one-stop site for all the information you need for your gap year, whether you are looking to volunteer, work, do a course, travel or take part in a tour or trip. A great place to find the latest jobs, courses and listings and detailed information relating to each.

FOR VOLUNTEERING

Original Volunteers
www.originalvolunteers.co.uk



Combines new travel experiences with voluntary work abroad. Log onto the site to explore over 100 volunteer projects in 18 countries across Africa, Asia and South America, where projects include working with children, building projects, conservation projects, sports volunteering and working with animals. Projects start from £35 per week, including accommodation.

Lattitude Global Volunteering
www.lattitude.org.uk



Lattitude Global Volunteering is an international youth development charity offering volunteering and gap year placements for 17 to 25 year olds across the world. Use the site to browse by destination or project and read detailed information relating to each. The site features volunteer stories, information for parents and details on how to apply for volunteer projects.

FOR WORK PLACEMENTS & JOBS

The Year in Industry
www.yini.org.uk



The Year in Industry (YINI) works by placing gap year students on high quality work placements in engineering, science, IT, e-commerce, business, marketing, finance and logistics at companies such as Shell, Rolls-Royce, QinetiQ, British Energy, L'Oreal and AstraZeneca. Students can expect support throughout their placement via a year-long mentoring services and on-site visits from the YINI team.

Gap Work
www.gapwork.com



Aimed at gap year backpackers, independent travellers and working holiday-makers, this comprehensive and easy-to-browse website offers independent information and education about finding jobs and volunteer work both in the UK and abroad. Browse sections on summer jobs, winter ski jobs, temporary jobs, sports abroad as well as sections on sports and ski, au pair jobs and study abroad.

FOR LANGUAGE & CULTURE

Art History Abroad
www.arthistoryabroad.com



In addition to its range of courses in Italy for families, students and adults, Art History Abroad runs a highly regarded gap year course, which runs four times a year in January, April, August and November. This course is based on tutorials of ten or fewer and takes students aged around 18-25 to the great art centres of Italy, including private visits to places like the Basilica of St Mark's, Venice.

CESA Languages
www.cesalanguages.com



What better way to see and experience the culture and customs of a country than by learning its language? CESA Languages runs a series of gap year language courses offering students the opportunity to learn Spanish in Spain or Latin America, French in France or Guadeloupe, Japanese in Japan, Arabic in Morocco, Russian in Russia and many other languages besides. Courses vary in length according to the complexity of the language.

FOR SPECIALIST SKILLS & ACTIVITIES

Flying Fish
www.flyingfishonline.com



Flying Fish runs a variety of courses that train gappers to work as yacht skippers and as sailing, diving, surfing, windsurfing and ski and snowboard instructors. Taking advantage of some of the best training locations in the world, watersports courses are run in the UK, Australia and Greece, while snow sports instructor training takes place in Canada and France. Courses range in length from two to 22 weeks and cater to all levels of experience.

Yamnuska Mountain Adventures
www.yamnuska.com



Home to some of Canada's best mountain guides and instructors, Yamnuska specialises in mountaineering, rock climbing, ski touring, trekking and avalanche education for beginners and experts alike. Its three month mountain skills and leadership semester is a world renowned program that gives participants the skills and experiences for safe mountain travel and leadership while providing accommodation and meals for the whole trip.

Emily Jenkinson

27th September 2011