There was a time when taking a year out was the preserve of school leavers and university graduates. Times have changed.
More and more professionals are escaping the rat race, be it to travel the world, raise money for charity or put their skills to use in the most needy corners of the world. Why not take a week, a month or a full year unpaid leave from work to explore some new life challenges?
Dedicated organisations can take the labour out of planning a trip. We’ve rounded up the top four and the trips they offer.
Charity Challenge
Signing up for a week or fortnight-long fundraising trip overseas to support the charity of your choice is a great way of discovering if travel in the longer term is for you. Gruelling jungle treks, city bike rides and community building challenges operate from Thailand and India through Iceland and Jordan. You’ll have to pledge to raise a certain amount of money for a charity and get in shape beforehand.
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Gap Year For Grown Ups
The possibilities for time out are endless and GYFGU can help you put together a whole package, whether it’s for a few weeks, months or a year plus. Opportunities include lodging with a host family while you learn a new language, conservation projects in far corners of the world or fully blown explorations designed to see as much of the world as possible.
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Travellers Worldwide
TW are specialist tour operators for grown-up gappers aged 30 right through to 70. Teach English in the Ukraine, do a photography course in Cuba, learn Portuguese in Brazil, coach football in India or work at a Sri Lankan zoo. More
Voluntary Service Overseas
Put your unique skills to use where they’re needed most – in developing countries. VSO are permanently recruiting to send people to disadvantaged lands for periods of up to two years. Whatever your background – publishing, teaching, marketing, health - there’ll be opportunities for matching your skills to overseas volunteer positions. In exchange you’ll receive a living allowance, accommodation, insurance, flights, training and support, grants and advice to help you settle in on your return home.
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If you’re looking for a more spiritual journey, take a look at our feature on pilgrimage holidays.
Images courtesy of Charity Challenge. Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of third party sites.
If you're thinking of packing your bags, bear in mind the following:
Leaving your job. There is no legal requirement for firms to grant unpaid leave. It is a purely voluntary agreement between you and your employer. If you’re in a full time job, investigate what options are available for taking sabbaticals.
Finances. Think too about the financial implications, not just in the present, but also in the future. If you have an occupational pension, your employer's contributions may stop.
Contingency plan. Consider what would happen if you needed to return to work sooner than planned, say because your finances ran out or your plans fell through. A lot will depend on how your company covers your job while you are away.
Learn the lingo. Read as much as you can about your chosen destination and, if at all possible, swot up on the language. You’ll get more out of the experience if you can communicate with the locals.
