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CSV Full Time Volunteering - Gap Year opportunities for dynamic young people aged 18-35 |
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Think you've left it too late for a Gap Year? Think again! |
 If you left school or university this summer and are just getting around to organising your Gap Year it's not too late. CSV still has places available to volunteer now!
You could be one of hundreds of people who become Full Time Volunteers with CSV every year. If you can commit to between 6 and 12 months and fancy the challenge of volunteering away from home, on projects across the UK, this could be for you. You'll even receive free accommodation and subsistence covering your food and day to day expenses. Many of our volunteers choose CSV for their Gap Year before embarking on university courses or employment. This month we hear from a number of people who took up the CSV Full Time Volunteering challenge in their Gap Year. |
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Hannah Lockwood, 19, from Dunfermline recently completed seven months volunteering with CSV at a residential centre for young adults with disabilities in Hertfordshire.
Hannah wanted to do something constructive during her Gap Year and gain hands-on experience and life skills before studying Archaeology and History at university.
Hannah says, “I wanted to spend my Gap Year doing something beneficial to improve the lives of others in the UK; making people happy and more confident." | |
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It has given me so many life skills and has changed how I view the world | |
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Her role involved supporting young adults with physical and learning disabilities, including some with additional support needs. The centre supports residents in their transition between school and adult life to help develop their skills to enable them to live independently in the future.
Speaking about her first few days volunteering, she says “Initially I just didn’t know what to do because the residents’ disabilities were so severe. It took me a while to communicate confidently with them, to get to know them and to feel they were enjoying their time with me. The training was invaluable and the staff made me feel really comfortable from the start.
Hannah encourages other people to volunteer; “I am so pleased that I decided to take a Gap Year with CSV, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It has given me so many life skills and has changed how I view the world. I have made friends for life and it is a year that I will never forget!”
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Florence Rutson-Griffiths, 19, from Cardiff, spent four months of her Gap Year volunteering with CSV at a children’s centre in Corby, Northamptonshire.
After finishing her A-Levels, Florence decided to improve her CV and gain experience before beginning a degree in Childhood, Youth & Education.
She says “I wanted to gain more experience of working with vulnerable people in a professional environment and felt volunteering would help me to gain confidence and improve my skills."
Florence provided support to parents and carers in a deprived area of Corby through childcare, health services, group work and family support. |
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I enjoyed living independently for the first time which was good preparation for university | |
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She says “The volunteering could be challenging at times - it’s a big centre with a lot of staff, parents and children to get to know but everyone was very friendly and helpful.”
“I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to be a part of the organisation and volunteering gave me a lot of good experience which I will be able to use in my degree and future career. I also enjoyed living independently for the first time, which was good preparation for going to university.”
Florence says “Volunteering with CSV was a very positive experience and I’m definitely glad I did it. I would recommend Full Time Volunteering to others as it is a good chance to do something completely different whilst helping people at the same time.”
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How to get involved...
There are a wide range of opportunities you could get involved in as a CSV Full Time Volunteer. You could be supporting adults or children with physical disabilities or learning disabilities, mentoring young people at risk of offending or exclusion from education, helping on an environmental project or assisting people who are homeless.
If you'd like to volunteer the first step is to complete an application form and we'll be in touch. You can apply online via our website at www.csv.org.uk/gapyear or if you would prefer more information you can contact our recruitment team on 0800 374 991.
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Volunteers tell us about their CSV experience! |
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Produced by CSV Full Time Volunteering Team, 5th Floor, Scala House, 36 Holloway Circus, Birmingham. B1 1EQ. CSV is a charity registered in England and Wales no.291222 and in Scotland no. SCO39171 and is a company limited by guarantee no. 1435877
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