Gap year volunteer heads up youth skills project

A graduate from South Yorkshire, who first got involved with voluntary work on his gap year, is now running a social enterprise that aims to give young people the skills they need for future success.

Ben Harper has been appointed manager at the Food-i project in Sheffield, which launches this week, teaching groups of youngsters how to run a catering operation, the Sheffield Telegraph reports.

Hailing from nearby Totley, the graduate spent his gap year in the UK working with deprived teens in Birmingham.

Since graduating from Sheffield University he has worked in a number of roles supporting young people as they strive towards successful futures.

Each Monday and Tuesday, groups of youngsters will learn practical kitchen skills as they prepare a range of dishes which are later delivered to local workplaces that have signed up to take part.

Meanwhile, the Huffington Post has said that spending a gap year abroad to gain work experience gives young people the chance to learn "essential life skills" to better survive the adult world.

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