As many young people prepare to receive their A Level results, students can opt for a career based Gap Year in the UK to gain key skills for employment as an alternative to University.

A Gap Year with UK volunteering charity, CSV boosts a young person’s employability with many prospective employers impressed by their skills in problem solving, decision-making and communication. A Gap Year can also provide essential experience to ensure a place at University including social care, teaching, psychology and nursing.

Heidi Boyes, aged 23, volunteered after ‘A Levels’ at homeless shelter for rough sleepers and homeless people in London. As a direct result from her voluntary work with CSV, she is now working full time for a London based homeless charity as a trainee Key-worker.  Heidi encourages other people to volunteer, “I really did have the best year of my life, with some lovely people who took a lot of time investing in the volunteers, and making the experience valuable and transferable; as well as having a lot of fun.”  

Heidi says “I knew I wanted to work in the third sector, but I had little experience in homelessness or working for charities in the UK. CSV has given me excellent hands-on experience.”

Rachel Burden, BBC Five Live Presenter, volunteered with CSV after college, says: “I spent my CSV Gap Year being the hands and feet of an extraordinarily inspirational woman who lives a full and meaningful life despite being paralysed. Volunteers enable her to live independently and to retain control despite acute physical impairment. It had a profound effect on my life and the benefits of volunteering are endless! I found volunteering enormously rewarding; it increased my confidence, I learnt new life skills, I made friends and most importantly, I had a huge amount of fun.”

Hannah Scotten, aged 24 from King’s Lynn, dropped out of school in the lower sixth form. She always had a passion to care for people but was unsure of a career. She was recommended by her sister, a former CSV full time volunteer, to volunteer with CSV enabling students with physical disabilities to go to University. She is now working full time at CSV Vocal project; supporting adults with learning disabilities to volunteer in the community.

She says “I spent my Gap Year volunteering, which gave me the opportunity to find out what I really wanted to do and gave me amazing insight which I was able to reflect on in my career at CSV Vocal.

“I was drawn back to work for CSV because I knew from being a volunteer that they have an amazing ethos, anyone can volunteer and everyone has something to give. I am now building a career.  It’s not just a job and without my volunteering experience behind me I don't think I would have achieved as much.”

Young people concerned by the difficult jobs market and rising cost of university tuition fees can opt to gain skills and improve their CV by volunteering in schools supporting pupils with emotional learning or behavioural difficulties, mentor teenagers, support homeless people and enable adults with disabilities to live independently. A Gap Year with CSV lasts 6-12 months and volunteers live away from home in local communities throughout the UK and are provided with free accommodation, subsistence and travel expenses.

CSV surveyed former volunteers and found their Gap Year to have been highly positive with 9 in 10 stating the experience boosts their job prospects.  Other key findings are:
 
•    84% say the experience increases employability
•    96% say the experience develops skills
•    77% say the experience helps distinguish them from other job seekers

Is Szoneberg, CSV Director of Full Time Volunteering, says: “Young people that have missed out from a place at University do not have to worry about their prospects. Volunteering provides vital experience that often University students miss out on. The benefits of volunteering are enormous; not only do people find their dream career, they gain personal development, learn to overcome challenges, they increase their independence and gain a real sense of achievement and responsibility; vital skills for any career.”

Recruiters say volunteering can plan a vital role in future careers, Matthew Parker, National Graduate Recruitment Manager at KPMG, commented: "If people have a Gap Year programme they are much better equipped to cope with our selection process for both our ‘School Leaver’ and ‘Graduate’ programmes, which focus on KPMG’s core competencies; many of which they would have developed during their Gap Year. Applicants who have done volunteer work in their year off have far more experience to talk about and can draw on real life examples of how they have developed the skills we are looking for. A Gap Year is a win both for KPMG and the individual who does it."

For more information about Gap Year volunteering for people aged 18 to 35 call 0800 374 991 or visit the website www.csv.org.uk/gapyear to apply online.

For more press information contact: Francesca Toma or Jason Tanner on 020 7812 0037 / 38 or ftoma@csv.org.uk / jtanner@csv.org.uk or 07966 168686 / 07941 433598

Notes for Editors:
 
1)    CSV (Community Service Volunteers) creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their communities through volunteering, training and community action. Last year 165,666 people gave their time as volunteers through CSV. The charity trained 13,423 people of all ages. www.csv.org.uk

2)    Volunteers can start their 6-12 month placement at any time during the year.  Full-time volunteers are aged 18-35 years.  Volunteers are given the opportunity to work on exciting projects supporting homeless people, socially excluded people, disabled and elderly people.

3)    The CSV survey was carried out between 02 March 2009 and 20 March 2009. The survey interviewed 276 former full time volunteers, who have volunteered with CSV between 2000 and 2009.

4)    Help us in the quest to celebrate young achievers. Ambition AXA Awards are targeted at 11-18 year olds and have been created to recognise outstanding young people involved in The Arts, Community, Enterprise, Science and Sport.  The winner in each category receives a bespoke mentoring prize worth up to £40,000 per category to progress their ambitions so that they can continue to make that all important difference. CSV is helping to judge. Please encourage young people you know to apply by visiting www.ambitionaxaawards.com or www.facebook.com/ambitionaxaawards