Taking a Gap Year

A gap year is taking time out of education and/or employment to do something that can enhance your skills and experience.
  • Year in Industry - The Year in Industry (YINI) are the UK’s leading student placement experts. They provide high-quality, paid placements for students in their gap year before or during their degree course
  • GapYear.com - Gapyear.com is a community for backpackers and gap year travellers. Search for trip advice, travel inspiration, jobs, tours and volunteering ideas
  • Year Out Group - Year Out Group (YOG) Research your gap year travel plans by reading our comprehensive and trusted gap year advice and information. Gain inspiration from selected gap year offers by our approved gap year providers.
  • Gap Work - Gap year information with news on volunteering and working abroad as well as advice on planning a gap year from your one-stop gap year & backpacking website.
  • Volunteer ICS - International Citizen Service (ICS) provides overseas volunteer placements for 18-25 year olds and Team Leader placements for 23-35 year olds. All you need to apply for ICS is the ambition to make a difference.
  • do-it.org - Find your perfect volunteering opportunity
  • NCVO - NCVO champions the voluntary sector and volunteering because they’re essential for a better society. They do this by connecting, representing and supporting voluntary organisations.
  • Volunteering Matters - Volunteering Matters is the leading UK volunteering charity engaging more than 30000 volunteers each year through over 180 programmes
  • vInspired - vInspired is the UK’s leading youth volunteering charity providing 14-30 year olds with volunteering and social action opportunities. Young people can learn new skills and get involved in their local communities.
  • Volunteer With Leicester’s Hospitals - Volunteers help in many different ways within Leicester’s hospitals. There are roles in wards, clinics and in public areas. Volunteers all help to directly support patients and their families and a big part of any volunteer role is talking and listening to patients.
  • Leicestershire Police Support Volunteer - A police support volunteer (PSV) is a member of the public who plays a vital role in helping us deliver and improve the service we provide to your communities. Through personal choice they commit time and energy to perform tasks at the direction and on behalf of Leicestershire Police.
  • The Engineering Development Trust - Their range of work related learning schemes provide opportunities for young people to enhance their technical, personal and employability skills through industry-led projects, industrial placements and specialised taster courses.
  • Aventure - Discover our gap year programs in Africa and Asia – adventure travel & volunteering.
  • BUNAC - BUNAC are volunteer abroad & working abroad experts & have been offering working adventures worldwide to UK customers.
  • E4S - UK student jobs website helping students find part time jobs, temporary job vacancies, internships & graduate jobs during Christmas & Summer.
  • Volunteer placements, rights and expenses - Government website with information on volunteering opportunities, and volunteer rights, pay, expenses, age limits, criminal record checks.
  • Foreign Travel Advice – GOV.UK - Latest travel advice by country including safety and security, entry requirements, travel warnings and health.