Many students opt to take a year out between advanced level courses and higher education. Deferred entry is increasingly accepted by universities and colleges, but needs careful planning! Paid or voluntary work - at home or overseas - is good preparation for your future. You could use the time to gain useful qualifications such as Teaching English as a Foreign Language ( TEFL), or you could try to get temporary work in your chosen career area, to see if it really suits you. Travel abroad, funded by casual work, can improve your language skills. Try to make the year self- supporting financially, so that you don't run up debts on your own or others' behalf. You could even aim to be in profit at the end of the year, so that you have some cash reserves with which to start student life. Your local Connexions Service or Jobcentre Plus may be able to help you find temporary paid work. Many voluntary organisations provide accommodation and pocket money; others expect you to pay. If travelling far afield, you may have to think in terms of fund raising or sponsorship to cover your fare. Below is a selection of useful addresses for time- out opportunities - please send a stamped, self- addressed envelope when writing to request information. The publications listed afterwards contain lots more ideas and contact details. Time Out Opportunities in this country There are a range of schemes running at home; listed here are just a few. 26 The Year in Industry www. yini. org. uk This scheme offers young people the chance to spend a year in industry prior to entering higher education. Most placements are in science, engineering, technology or business, but other opportunities are also available. Participants are paid by the company involved - currently between £ 9,000 and £ 14,000 p/ a - and are given training and support by industrial tutors, which includes help with computing and modern languages. Contacts: South West Regional Office, Tamar Science Park, 1 Davy Road, Derriford, Plymouth PL6 8BX. Telephone 01752 762111 National Office, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ. Telephone 02380 597061 BTCV www2. btcv. org. uk Sedum House, Mallard Way, Potteric Carr, Doncaster DN4 8DB Telephone 01302 388883 Volunteering projects for young people under 25. Cambridge ESOL www. cambridgeesol. org/ exams/ teaching- awards University of Cambridge, ESOL Helpdesk, 1 Hills Road, Cambridge CB1 2EU Telephone 01223 553997 For information on courses to teach the English language. Council for British Archaeology www. britarch. ac. uk St Marys House, 66 Bootham, York YO30 7BZ Telephone 01904 671417 Publishes British Archaeology ( annual subscription), giving details of digs which may require helpers. CSV www. csv. org. uk 237 Pentonville Road, London N1 9NJ Telephone 020 7278 6601 Offers 4- 12 months away from home but in the UK, working with people who are elderly, disabled, homeless, mentally ill, have learning difficulties, children in care, etc. Accommodation, food, travel expenses and pocket money offered. vinspired www. vinspired. com Contact hotline 0800 089 9000 or text ' v' to 80010 Various projects are available for young people aged 16- 25. See website for more information on local projects. The National Trust www. nationaltrust. org. uk/ volunteering The National Trust Central Volunteering Team, Heelis, Kemble Drive, Swindon SN2 2NA Telephone 01793 817632 Offers 21 hours or more a week for over 18s in different aspects of the work of the National Trust for periods ranging from 3 months to a year. Volunteering England www. volunteering. org. uk Regents Wharf, 8 All Saints Street, London N1 9RL Telephone 0845 305 6979 Can put you in touch with local organisations.

Time Out Below are just a few of the many organisations that offer opportunities. Try looking through the Year Out Group's website for more advice and information. www. yearoutgroup. org BUNAC ( British Universities North America Club) www. bunac. org. uk 16 Bowling Green Lane, London EC1R 0QH Telephone 020 7251 3472 Offers work and travel programmes in Africa, Australia, Canada, China, New Zealand, South and Central America, South East Asia and USA. Youth in Action Programme www. britishcouncil. org/ connectyouth Connect Youth, British Council, 10 Spring Gardens, London SW1A 2BN Telephone 020 7389 4030 Opportunities to experience other cultures and countries. Lattitude Global Volunteering www. lattitude. org. uk 44 Queen's Road, Reading, Berks RG1 4BB Telephone 0118 959 4914 Overseas projects for 17- 25 year olds. i- i UK www. i- to- i. com Woodside House, 261 Low Lane, Leeds LS18 5NY Telephone 0800 011 1156 Operates I- Venture projects - teaching English, community development, conservation, media, sport, tourism marketing, health and building projects. Projects in 20 countries. IST Plus www. istplus. com Rosedale House, Rosedale Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 2SZ Telephone 020 8939 9057 Offers a number of cultural exchange opportunities for young people to work, study, travel or teach in locations around the world. Students Partnership Worldwide ( SPW) www. spw. org 2nd Floor, Faith House, 7 Tufton Street, London SW1P 3QB Telephone 020 7976 8070 18- 28 year olds. 6- 12 month projects in India, Nepal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. UNA Exchange www. unaexchange. org Temple of Peace and Health, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3AP Telephone 029 2022 3088 Projects offering a variety of opportunities around the world. World Service Enquiry www. wse. org. uk 237 Bon Marché Centre, 241- 251 Ferndale Road, London SW9 8BJ Telephone 020 7274 4924 Offers an information service about projects around the world. Worldwide Volunteering www. wwv. org. uk 7 North Street Workshops, Stoke- sub- Hamdon, Somerset TA14 6QR Telephone 01935 825588 Opportunities in the UK and worldwide for placements from one week to a year. Age 14+. Opportunities abroad Useful Resources Many of these will be available in your school or college, through Connexions, or in the reference section of your public library. Big Guideis published by UCAS and gives useful advice on deferring your entry into higher education. A Year Off . A Year On? published by Lifetime Careers Publishing - £ 10.95. Gap Year Guidebook published by John Catt -£ 12.95. Work Your Way Around the World -£ 12.99, Summer Jobs Worldwide-£ 14.99, International Voluntary Work-£ 13.95 and Your Gap Year-£ 13.99 are among a number of useful titles from Vacation Work. YouthAction Magazine, available from National Youth Agency, www. nya. org, 0116 242 7350. Useful gap year websites- turn to page 33. 27