Don't Compromise On Clearing

Online, August 11, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Youth and education charity, Raleigh, which runs leadership and volunteering expeditions for 17-24 year olds, is advising school leavers who don't get offered a university place not to rush into clearing and instead take a constructive gap year to gain some real life experience and enhanced skills, and research what value for money a university can offer you.

With an average of 69 graduates applying for each graduate job and 63% of employers rating applicants' ability to demonstrate certain competencies as a minimum selection criteria, 18-year olds need to be investing in skills development well beyond their academic studies if they are to stand out from their peers.

This year Raleigh has 900 17-24 year olds joining an expedition. More than a third are 18-year olds from the UK, taking a planned or unplanned gap year to broaden their horizons and grow in confidence and maturity before going to university. Another third of these are recent graduates from the UK who are looking to enhance their employability skills in an extremely competitive marketplace

Head of Sales and Marketing, Rachel Collinson, says "Taking a constructive gap year before higher education, for example volunteering on an overseas expedition with Raleigh, will enable a young person to develop key life skills, global awareness and a can-do attitude. But a young person also needs to be focused on personal development and employability skills whilst at university. Asking questions about the range of extra-curricular activities available, the careers advice and training offered and the partnerships the university has in place with local organisations for providing work and volunteering experience will help a university applicant evaluate value for money."

Alice Poole didn't get the A level results she needed for her chosen university so took an unplanned gap year. Alice joined Raleigh's expedition in Borneo before starting at Exeter University in September 2009, "I have benefited from Raleigh in numerous ways. I grew the most in terms of confidence. I have become a much stronger individual mentally, and feel like I can achieve a lot more. I learnt about my talents and how to use them to the best of my ability, and also areas that I can improve on. My communication skills also improved greatly. Overall Raleigh has taught me key life skills and has set me up to achieve more from life as a whole and work out what area of future employment I might be interested in."

Academic grades will only get a graduate so far so those who don't get offered their university place on A-level results day should use a year out to become clearer about their personal development rather than enter UCAS clearing.

ENDS

Date released: 11th August 2010

Notes to Editors:

Raleigh

Raleigh is a youth and education charity established in 1984 and runs adventure and challenge expeditions for 17-24 year olds from a wide range of backgrounds, nationalities and life stages with the aim of increasing the leadership skills of young people and their awareness of their role as active global citizens.

Since 1984, more than 30,000 people have taken part in Raleigh's expeditions, approximately 900 venturers each year. Expeditions are made-up of a diverse mix of participants, including:

• Young people or 'venturers' aged between 17 and 24 from the UK or abroad, who are often taking a break from education or work as part of a gap year, sabbatical or training programme.
• A number of disadvantaged young people from the UK and abroad, who take part in overseas projects through Raleigh's youth agency partnerships.
• Host country volunteers, comprised of young people from the country in which the expedition is hosted

Raleigh is currently offering a Graduate Bursary Award for Volunteering Overseas. The Bursary is an initiative aimed at 2009 and 2010 graduates who are looking to develop key employability skills, explore new cultures and make a real difference to the world they live in. The Award assists those graduates who otherwise wouldn't have the opportunity to undertake a 10 week overseas expedition with Raleigh where you'll work on much needed community and environmental projects, plus undertake a challenging adventure phase.

We have a number of excellent graduate case studies available for interview should this be of interest. Please contact us for more information.

Where do Raleigh's expeditions take place?
Raleigh runs approximately 12 expeditions a year - to Borneo (Malaysian), Costa Rica & Nicaragua and India.

How long does an individual expedition last with Raleigh?
Raleigh's full expeditions last 10 weeks. For those short on time but not enthusiasm, there is also the option for venturers to take part in a five week expedition during the summer. The latter is an ideal option for school leavers going straight to university who want to do something constructive with their summer.

What is involved in an expedition with Raleigh?
During a full 10-week expedition venturers will work on three projects: community, environmental and adventure. On the five week expedition venturers will have the option of choosing either a community or environmental project, as well as taking part in a week's team-based adventure challenge.

Employer endorsement
Raleigh is endorsed by several employers including Co-founder of Innocent Drinks, Richard Reed. Please view this link to view the short video in which Richard gives his viewpoint on the charity: http://www.raleighinternational.org/videos

Case Studies

We have a selection of school leavers who came on expedition with Raleigh on their gap year from all over the UK as well as parents of those school leavers available for interview. Likewise we also have written testimonials from all case studies that we can share with you. Please contact us if you would like to be put in touch. Senior staff members from Raleigh are also available for interview and their contact details can be viewed below.

Rachel Collinson (Head of Marketing & Recruitment at Raleigh)

Mobile: 07590 963 270
Office: 0207 183 1293
Email: [email protected]

Notes to Picture Editors:
We have a huge selection of images taken on our expeditions available for your use.