Teachers can take gap breaks too…

Gap Year For Grown Ups, the UK's leading gap travel provider, has a number of programmes that are looking for short term support over the next few months - typically from two to six weeks and involve a range of activities - from helping to build a day care centre in Nepal to community involvement in Swaziland, digging in Israel, marine conservation in Peru or simply having fun.

Traditionally gap years have been perceived to be the domain of school leavers but the Gap Year for Grown Ups customer base is a different story. 61% are 25-50, 27% are over 50 and only 12% under 25.

Our volunteer programmes match our strict criteria of being sustainable and meaningful for the communities or natural heritage areas in which they are based, as well as rewarding and value for money for the participant. These programmes are designed to add value through the most important currency of all - people. Without the volunteer's time, energy, enthusiasm or skills none of these programmes would succeed.

Why not try the Construction Programme in Nepal? Giving volunteers the opportunity to assist in the construction of a Child Day Care Centre, experience in building work is useful but not necessary whereas enthusiasm and a positive attitude are!

In Peru, the Coastal Dolphin Research project monitors and studies the behaviour of local coastal bottlenose dolphins.

Or how about The Israel Archaeology Programme? Located in the Mount Scopus area of Jerusalem this is your chance to discover something amazing that is priceless and could change our understanding of history.

In Swaziland, one of the poorest countries in Africa, there are four programmes for volunteers to get involved with - orphan care, construction, teaching or conservation.

If it's a qualification you are after then how about getting your PADI qualification in four to five weeks whilst taking part in a marine conservation project in Ecuador or a turtle project in Malaysia?

For pure fun, it doesn't get much better than Kite-surfing in Costa Rica. In four weeks you can learn Spanish for the first two and master this adrenaline-fuelled sport in the second two!

How about learning to be a Jillaroo or Jackaroo on our Australia Outback Ranch training? No previous experience is necessary - this is your chance to try something completely different!

For details of these programmes and others, visit www.gapyearforgrownups.co.uk or call us on 01892 701881