Combat ‘A Level Blues’ by helping others

19 August 2009

National charity Community Service Volunteers (CSV) is urging A Level students across the UK to consider taking a volunteer gap year as a positive way to ride out the credit crunch and gain skills favoured by employers.

With the class of 2009 facing the toughest conditions for job hunting in a generation, coupled with worries over student debt, the charity says the ‘year out’ experience helping others in need across the UK can be a life changing experience, and a crucial first step on the career ladder.

CSV has seen a 35% increase nationally in people aged 16 – 35 years signing up to volunteer, against 2008 figures.

CSV offers UK based gap years lasting 4 – 12 months for people aged 16 – 35. Volunteers live away from home and are provided with free accommodation, food and travel expenses, plus money to live on. CSV volunteers support young offenders, homeless people and adults with learning difficulties as well as helping people with physical disabilities lead independent lives.

Julian Vicary, 19, from Burton in Kendle now living in London, was determined not to rush getting into student debt that could later limit his career choices.  After completing his A Levels in 2008 Julian decided to volunteer to give him a chance to ‘try out life beyond the classroom’ and ‘really think about what he wanted to do’.

Julian is currently volunteering on a CSV project called ‘young at heart’ which is focused on breaking down barriers between the generations – where events are organised to create space for fun, talking, sharing and gaining from each other’s skills.

Cathryn Kitto, 20, from Cardiff said: “I chose to volunteer between A Levels and University because a friend of mine did it, and it sounded like something really worthwhile, that would help me develop my skills and practical work experience.” 

Cathryn’s volunteering experience involves helping children with cerebral palsy. She said: “Getting all the training, experience and understanding of the role has helped me get a place to study drama therapy at University.  I don’t think I would have got it in without it, because it helped show my depth of knowledge and hands-on experience.”

David Coulson, 21, signed up with CSV after finding himself out of work with limited work opportunities in Kent.

He said: “After 8 months of volunteering with CSV, in a residential care home for people with learning disabilities, I was offered a full-time job.  Volunteering gave me a chance to try out something completely new when I was at a crossroads wondering whether I could even afford to go back to college and retrain.  Through volunteering I’ve learned you can make a career from ‘helping people’ which just hadn’t occurred to me before.  With CSV I got all the right on-the-job training and support to succeed.  If you are making tough choices based on A Level results I’d say the major advantage of volunteering is that you gain invaluable work experience that helps prepare you for the workplace.  Plus it’s an opportunity to get away from exam or parent pressure.”

Research by CSV reveals that nine out of ten people say ‘volunteering increases job prospects’. With 84% indicating the experience increases employability, and 96% indicating the experience develops key leadership skills, 77% add the experience helps distinguish you from other job seekers and ‘gives your job application a competitive edge’.

Is Szoneberg, Director for Full-Time Volunteering at CSV, says: “With a tougher employment market we are seeing renewed enthusiasm and a greater demand for more volunteers too. Their experiences show how important giving up time to help others is, as a route back to work. To anyone worrying about exam results this week our message is clear – volunteering improves employment prospects and is a chance to do something really worthwhile to ride out the worst of the credit crunch.”

CSV offers full-time volunteering opportunities to people between 16 years and 35 years of age who commit to between 4-12 months on community projects. 

For volunteer information and an application pack about full-time volunteering for people aged 16 - 35 call 0800 374 991 or visit the website www.csv.org.uk/gapyear.

For further press information and to line up interviews: Victoria Silver, CSV Press Office 020 7812 0038 / 0207 812 0037 or 07866 757 389

--ends--

Notes for Editors

1)      CSV (Community Service Volunteers) is the UK’s leading volunteer charity and creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their community through volunteering, training and community action.  Each year 164,000 people give 4.1 million hours of their time as volunteers through CSV.  www.csv.org.uk

2)     Volunteers can start their 4 – 12 month placement at any time during the year.  Full-time volunteers are aged 16-35 years.  Volunteers are given the opportunity to work on exciting projects supporting homeless people, socially excluded people, disabled people and the elderly. 

3)      The CSV survey (2009) was carried out amongst former volunteers.