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Membership Benefits


Joining Year Out Group

Membership Types

Year Out Group has three categories of membership – Full, Applicant and Associate. The membership criteria and the joining procedure that follows is the same for both Full and Applicant members. The difference is that Applicant members are invariably new organisations with less than three year’s experience of running year out programmes. Associate membership is offered to individuals and organisations that support the aims of Year Out Group; are actively involved in the year out sector but are not year out providers. Associate membership is by invitation of Year Out Group.

Application Process

Any organisation wishing to apply for Full or Applicant Membership of Year Out Group should request an Application Pack in writing or by e-mail from:

 

Chief Executive, Year Out Group

Queensfield, 28 Kings Road

Easterton, Wiltshire SN10 4PX

E-mail: info@yearoutgroup.org


An application pack may be requested and submitted at any time. On receipt of a completed application pack, it will be screened for completeness and general compliance by the Year Out Group office. The Chief Executive will then arrange to visit the applicant’s offices. The papers will then be passed to the Membership Committee together with a short report from the Chief Executive. The Membership Committee will then invite the applicant to attend its next meeting to present their application in person and to answer any questions the Committee members may have. The Committee will also be pleased to answer any questions the applicant may raise. The Membership Committee then passes its recommendations to the Executive Committee, which makes the final decision. The Chief Executive will keep the applicant organisation informed of progress throughout.

Membership Fees

Full members pay an annual membership fee at the beginning of each year. The members review the membership fee annually. There is also a one off joining fee for new members of £250.

There is no fee for Applicant members until they are elevated to Full member status.

Membership Criteria

1 Full membership of the Year Out Group is open to independent registered organisations of whatever size, one of whose principal activities is the provision of well-structured programmes in the UK or overseas, for people taking time out between school or college and higher education or employment, or between education and a job. Such programmes are educational in a broad sense and include, for instance, cultural courses and exchanges, expeditions, volunteer work, structured work placements - though not ordinary paid employment, independent travel or au pair work. Full members will be able to demonstrate that they have been operating successfully in the year out sector for at least three years.

2 Organisations applying for Full Membership will be sent an application pack and will be required to:

  • Confirm on the application form that they support the Aims of Year Out Group.
  • Show that they agree to adhere to the Group’s Code of Practice and Member’s Charter, which includes the operating guidelines for the relevant sector by signing off a copy of the Code of Practice.
  • Provide answers to the questions set out in the Advisers Guidelines, which are to be signed off by the head of the organisation.
  • Provide all information issued to participants prior to their commitment to a programme. This is to include their main brochure, application pack, terms and conditions and any other publications to show that clients receive clear and accurate information on which to base their choice. The Terms and Conditions are to explain the organisation’s procedure for handling complaints.
  • Provide a copy of the latest set of accounts filed at Companies House. Registered charities should also provide a copy of their latest annual report to the Charity Commissioners.
  • Provide a copy their risk management register and crisis management plan(s).
  • Provide evidence to show:
  • Security of participant’s funds including, if applicable, compliance with Package Travel Regulations 1992.
  • That the organisation has conducted its operations successfully for at least three years.
  • That the cover for Personal Liability is for £2million or more.

Benefits of Full Membership

Full Members of the Year Out Group are able, indeed required to make full use of the Group’s logo that offers the following benefits:

  • Recognition. Year Out Group members are the leading providers of year out placements.
  • Reputation. The Code of Practice, Member’s Charter and associated operating guidelines set high standards and values for all aspects of year out placement provision. This accreditation is increasingly influencing participants’ decisions when selecting an organisation to arrange their placement.
  • Financial Reliability. Members are required to meet strict financial criteria.
  • Marketing - Website. Full members are included on the list of programme providers on the Year Out Group website. Members are asctively encouragesd to provide gap year stories, pictures and videos that illustrate the activities on offer. (The Year Out Group routinely appears on the first page of the major search engines for those seeking year out or gap year information).
  • Marketing - Publications. The Group produces an A5 booklet that is distributed to all schools with a sixth form, all colleges of Further Education, university careers departments and over 700 careers offices in the UK.
  • Marketing – Media. Year Out Group has engaged the services of one of the countries leading online news agencies that provides pertinent articles to the website on a daily basis. Year Out Group members are benefiting both directly and indirectly from this service.
  • Crisis Management. Over the years member organisations have welcomed the opportunity to pool their information and support resources in crisis situations, e.g. the tsunami and coup in Nepal.
  • Debate. The Group is a forum for the interchange of views and ideas.
  • Information, advice and training. The Year Out Group is a source for advice and can arrange training to meet member’s requirements.
  • Representation. Strength by association on issues that are important for Year Out providers
  • General Meetings. Full Members are invited to attend the general meetings of the Group held in Spring and Autumn. These meetings offer an opportunity for influencing policy in the Year Out sector. They also provide an opportunity to network with others. Members may seek election to one of the Group's committees and so help set the policy for the sector. These meetings include a presentation or discussion with outside experts on subjects related to the members activities.
  • Open Meetings. All Members are invited to any open meetings, workshops or seminars that the Group may arrange.