Database | Independent Gap Advice
DATABASE OF ORGANISATIONS OFFERING GAP YEAR OPPORTUNITIES
April 2025 Edition. Produced by Gap Year Fairs
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info@independentgapadvice.org
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TYPE OF GAP YEAR
NAME OF ORGANISATION
PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS
PHONE
WEBSITE / EMAIL
Adventure Travel / Voluntary Opportunities
Oyster Worldwide
Adventure travel and volunteering opportunities in over 25 countries worldwide.
01892-770771
oysterworldwide.com
Adventure Travel
Gapforce
Group tours, marine conservation and leadership training.
0207-384-3028
gapforce.org/gb
Art History / Italy / Culture
Art History Abroad
Enlightening cultural courses travelling throughout Italy. 2-6 weeks, all year round, dynamic on-site tuition in small groups.
01379-871800
arthistoryabroad.com
Church-based projects (Latin America)
Latin Link - Step and Stride Teams
Step and Stride Teams get involved with practical projects, help in community and serve alongside the local church in Latin America.
0118-957-7114
latinlink.org.uk/step
Conservation
Earthwatch Institute (Europe)
An international environmental charity recruiting volunteers to join research projects operating all over the world.
01865-318838
earthwatch.org.uk
Conservation Volunteering UK
Action for Conservation
Residential summer conservation camps & information service on opportunities with other UK conservation charities.
07766-307-675
actionforconservation.org
Conservation work with wildlife
African Conservation Experience
Work with African wildlife and carry out valuable conservation work on Game and Nature Reserves in Southern Africa.
01454-269182
conservationafrica.net
Cookery & recruitment for ski resort work
Orchards Cookery Ltd
Training,recruiting chalet cooks 5 day / 2 week residential courses. Off to University course. Qualifies for Gold DofE.
01789-490259
orchardscookery.co.uk
Cookery Courses and Chalet Host Training
Fresh Tracks Chalet Hosting and Cookery School
5-day course in Cornwall offering training on working a ski season as a chalet host or learning key life skills before University.
07497-368-663
freshtrackschaletschool.com
Cookery/Wine (professional/amateur courses)
Leiths School of Food and Wine
Cookery school offering professional chef diplomas, enthusiast courses and online cooking courses.
0208-749-6400
leiths.com
Expeditions / Environmental Research
British Exploring Society
Adventure and environmental research expeditions to remote wilderness environments worldwide.
020-7591-3141
britishexploring.org
Gap Year Programme in Italy in Liberal Arts
John Hall Venice Course
Cultural gap year course in London, Venice, Florence, Rome: art history architecture, literature, music, cinema, global issues, cookery, life drawing, photography.
020-8871-4747
johnhallvenice.com
Industry: science, engineering, IT, technology
The Year in Industry (YINI)
Degree-related, paid, year-long work placements in business, ICT, marketing, technology, science or engineering.
01707-906-106
etrust.org.uk/the-year-in-industry
Internships / Career Experience (overseas)
Projects Abroad
Wide range of career experience placements in 30 countries around the world.
01903-708300
projects-abroad.co.uk
Language Courses Abroad
LANACOS
Certified residential courses (DofE) I week to 1 year, approved by top universities, speak fast on a linguistic gap year.
01732-456543
lanacos.com
Language Courses Abroad
CESA Languages Abroad
1 to 16 week language courses + Academic Term / Year courses. All ability levels. In Europe, Latin America & Asia.
01209-211800
cesalanguages.com
Languages / Hospitality Management (paid)
Canvas Holidays
Paid summer work in campsites across Europe. Wide range of roles.
01383-629012
canvasholidays.co.uk/jobs
Management Consultancy
Accenture
8 month gap year scheme and other school leaver opportunities.
0800-028-5576
accenture.com
Medical / Journalism / other work experience
Global Volunteer Projects
Medical, Nursing, Physiotherapy & Journalism work experience projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
0191-222-0404
globalvolunteerprojects.org
New Zealand Working Holiday Scheme
Immigration New Zealand
Stay in NZ up to 23 months and work for up to 12 months in one or many jobs. Apply online through NZ High Commission.
0207-930-8422
immigration.govt.nz
Paid Work / Internships Abroad
Oyster Worldwide
Guaranteed work in Canadian ski resorts, hospitality/Outback work OZ/NZ.
01892-770771
oysterworldwide.com
Paid work, volunteering worldwide, US camps
BUNAC
Paid working holidays (US,Canada,OZ,NZ,Japan),volunteering (Africa,Asia,Americas), internships (Asia), summer camps USA.
bunac.org
Paid seasonal work overseas
Eurocamp & Al Fresco Holidays
Paid summer work on campsites in Europe, variety of positions available working for Eurocamp and Al Fresco Holidays.
01606-787522
eurocampandalfrescojobs.com
Paid work placements (various roles)
PGL Travel Ltd
Paid work opportunities at children's activity and educational centres across the UK.
0333-321-2123
jobs.pgl.co.uk
Paid work placements
Childcare International Ltd
Au pair placements throughout USA (one year), Australia, New Zealand and Europe (3-6 months+)
020-8371-4551
childint.co.uk
Paid work placements
The Year in Industry (YINI)
Degree-related, paid, year-long work placements in business, marketing, ICT, technology, science or engineering.
0121-281-5345
etrust.org.uk/the-year-in-industry
Paid work, Canada
GAP YEAR CANADA
Paid work, Banff, Canada, pre-organised mountain jobs, early season ski instructor course. Guaranteed employment.
403-763-7015
GapYearCanada.com
Paid Work Placements (various)
Changing Worlds
Providing a wide range of life-changing learning, volunteering and travel opportunities around the world.
0208-123-8702
changingworlds.co.uk
Sailing, RYA Qualifications and Experience
Tall Ships Youth Trust
72ft Yacht youth development and sailing adventures in the UK/Portugal/Madeira/Canaries. Opportunities to volunteer.
023-9283-2055
tallships.org
Ski & Summer Season Nannying: Training Courses & Recruitment
Freckles Childcare
Training & recruiting nannies for ski & summer seasons. 1 week intensive residential course.
01225-683-643
freckleschildcare.co.uk
Ski resort paid work information
c/o The Orchards School of Cookery
Information on life in a ski resort, types of jobs available, and the advantages/disadvantages, benefits etc. Where to start.
01789-490259
orchardscookery.co.uk
Ski resort instructor courses
TipTop Ski Coaching Ltd
BASI levels 1 & 2 ski instructour courses at Les Deux Alpes with optional MIAS biking qualifications (summer only)
Go to website
tiptopskicoaching.com
Ski / Snowboard courses, Canada
NONSTOP Ski & Snowboard
2, 3, 6, 11 week ski / snowboard improvement / instructor courses in Canada.
01225-632165
nonstopsnow.com
Social / Caring Work (UK)
Volunteering Matters
Projects under review. Update to follow in due course.
0121-643-7690
volunteeringmatters.org.uk
Social / Caring (USA)
Camphill Association of North America
Volunteer in vibrant multicultural communities alongside people with developmental disabilities. Nature, art, farming & more.
00119177655315
camphill.org
Sport: play & coach (OZ, NZ)
Sport Lived
Play and coach sport in Australia. Programmes last 4 weeks to 6 months.
0115-822-9999
sportlived.co.uk
Sport: play & coach overseas
Sporting Opportunities
Sports coaching and internship opportunities in Africa, Asia, Caribbean, South America and South Pacific.
020-8123-8702
sportingopportunities.com
TEFL courses, advice, jobs worldwide
Cactus Worldwide Ltd
TEFL courses, advice, TEFL jobs and impartial TEFL advice. Language and volunteering projects overseas.
0845-130-4775
cactusworldwide.com
Thailand: teaching
Karen Hilltribes Trust
Minimum 3 month placement teaching English to hill tribes children in either a primary or secondary school in northern Thailand.
01904-612829
karenhilltribes.org.uk
USA School Scholarships
The English-Speaking Union
Gap year scholarships to spend 6 or 9 months at private USA high schools.
0207-529-1550
esu.org
USA Summer Camps
BUNAC
All-American job on BUNAC's Summer Camp USA programme. General Counsellors and Activity Specialists.
0333-014-8484
bunac.org
Voluntary Work (Africa & Asia)
Restless Development (formerly SPW)
Youth-led development agency, international placements focused on HIV/AIDS and youth issues in rural communities.
0207-808-1780
restlessdevelopment.org
Voluntary Work Overseas
Project Trust
12 month volunteer placements in Africa, Asia and South / Central America: teaching, social care and Outward Bound..
01879-230444
projecttrust.org.uk
Voluntary Work Overseas
Africa & Asia Venture (AV)
Full-immersion community, sports coaching and teaching volunteer programmes in Africa and Asia.
01380-729009
aventure.co.uk
Voluntary Work in Costa Rica
Raleigh Costa Rica
Volunteer expeditions to Costa Rica comprising community, environment and adventure projects.
+506-846-431-31
raleighcostarica.org
Voluntary Work Overseas
Projects Abroad
Volunteer placements in 30 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, South America, Caribbean, South Pacific.
01903-708300
projects-abroad.co.uk
Voluntary Work Overseas
Pod Volunteer
1 week+ Animal Rescue, Conservation, Community Volunteering Worldwide.
N/A
podvolunteer.org
Voluntary Work in Fiji Islands
Think Pacific
Volunteer in rural areas, Fiji islands, 1 or 2 months. Projects: teaching, youth projects, sports coaching.Volunteer in the Fiji islands or Bali, 1 or 2 months. Projects: teaching, youth projects, sports coaching, mental health and business.
0113-335-9919
thinkpacific.com
Voluntary Work Overseas
The Leap Overseas Ltd
4-5 week volunteer projects: Community, Conservation, Global Warming, Plastic Oceans, Marine Conservation.
01672-519922
theleap.co.uk
Voluntary Work Overseas
Inter-Cultural Youth Exchange (ICYE-UK)
Worldwide voluntary social and environmental placements, emphasising cultural exchange, for 4 months to 1 year.
N/A
icye.org.uk
Voluntary and paid work abroad
Oyster Worldwide
Teaching, childcare, animal welfare and sports coaching in Africa, SE Asia, Latin America, Europe.
01892 770771
oysterworldwide.com
Yachting, Ski/Snow/ Sail/ Surf/Windsurf/Dive
Flying Fish
Superyacht crew training, Yacht Master, dinghy & windsurf training.
01903-280641
flyingfishonline.com
Gap year information and advice
Year Out Group
Association of established gap year organisations that adhere to a Code of Practice and provide a wide range of options.
01869-338890
yearoutgroup.org
Gap year independent travel
Trailfinders Travel Academy
Travel advice & booking service for individuals online and at branches in 39 UK towns & cities. Wide range of travel styles.
Go to website
trailfinders.com
Travel Safety
Objective Travel Safety Ltd
One day travel safety courses for individuals and schools.
Go to website
objectivegapyear.com
Paid work overseas information
The Jobs Abroad Bulletin
Website providing information on paid work opportunities worldwide and advice on living abroad, travel etc
01788-899029
jobsabroadbulletin.co.uk
Specialist gap year travel insurance
MPI Brokers (Sister company of Mind the Gap Year)
Specialist gap year travel and backpacker insurance, safety and assistance for travellers.
N/A
mpibrokers.com
Hostels for independent travellers
Hostelz.com
Website providing information on hostels worldwide.
N/A
hostelz.com
Travel health service
Nomad Travel Clinics
Leading provider of travel health services. 9 Nomad clinics offering wide range of travel vaccines and medication.
01341-555061
nomadtravel.co.uk
This database is a list of recommended gap year organisations. However, inclusion in the database does not imply that we guarantee the quality and value for money of the programmes listed.