Benefits of a structured year out

A year out between school or college and higher education or employment or between higher education and a job, can give young people a valuable and challenging learning experience - provided that it is carefully planned. A well-structured year out can be part of the lifelong education process and can make a significant contribution to an individual's personal development. Employers and university staff increasingly attach importance to evidence of enterprise, maturity and sustained commitment both within and outside formal education.

Bridging the Gap Year with Global Volunteering

A decrease in university places is leading more young people in the UK to take a gap year to consider their options. As the productive gap year also becomes more popular in the United States, CEO of educational development charity Lattitude Global Volunteering, Paul Rompani, explores the developing American approach and describes some of the benefits of a structured year out.