Life as a student can be pretty intense and hectic, though in most cases ultimately rewarding. The rewards and experiences aren’t always limited to the lecture halls and study rooms though; there are the holiday periods to consider as well.
A working holiday can mean different things to different students. It could be a chance to gain some valuable work experience through a course specific placement, travel and meet new people in a work/study program abroad, or take part in various charitable/volunteer projects worldwide. It’s not about a salary (though some may offer one or at least expenses), it’s about the experience.
There are projects available for anything from a few hours or weeks, to months, which are suitable for those planning their university holidays or full blown gap years. The opportunities are endless, and too many to list, but here are a few examples of the type of work available and the companies that offer it:
Festival Work: There is both paid for and volunteer work available at music festivals and arts events across the UK, in roles including stewarding, ticketing, catering/bar work, and security. Companies searching for staff include Flair Events, CAMRA who run beer festivals across the country, and Oxfam, who recruit volunteer stewards for some of the UK’s biggest festivals, including Download Festival, Glastonbury Festival, and Reading/Leeds Music Festivals.
Summer Camps/Summer Schools: There are opportunities available to work at summer camps/schools both in the UK and abroad, where roles include teaching, running various sports, craft, music, and drama activities, or general camp leaders/stewards. Not all roles require experience, though special skills/interests, and experience working with children is always beneficial. Companies running programs include Wildpacks-Camp America, BUNAC, which can also arrange summer camp jobs in the US or Canada, along with English language teaching at summer schools in China, and in the UK XUK and Camp Beaumont run summer camps for young children.
City Travel Review: This is a good example of a work/study program involving cultural activities, creative writing projects, and language learning. Two destinations are chosen each year, one in Europe, and one in the UK, and travel writing/research projects are organised for the team on each project, with language training incorporated in the European program.
Worldwide Experience: This company sends volunteers on conservation and gap year placements, predominately in South Africa. Sports coaching programs, game ranger training, marine conservation work, teaching, and animal rehabilitation/welfare projects, are just some of the opportunities available. Projects can run from 2 to 12 weeks and include a variety of theory and practical work, community projects, and optional free time excursions.
Projects Abroad: A company that provides valuable work experience for students and those taking a gap year. Industry sectors include care, journalism, conservation, sports, and human rights. So you could be hockey coaching in Argentina, working on a newspaper in China, or on a conservation project in Costa Rica. The company also has a professional arm, for those who already have skills and qualifications they’d like to put to good use.
This is just a small sample of the opportunities available if you’re a student planning a gap year or working holiday. Further information and advice on working/volunteering abroad may be available from your university, or through your local library, which will likely stock directories of organisations running gap year and volunteer programs both in the UK and abroad.
