Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Many organisations that arrange places for people on overseas projects, have told us that
more than half of their activity is now focused on helping place mature travellers and/or
people who are taking a career break. Our friends at Raleigh International said the num-
ber of career breakers was increasing year-on-year. “We regularly attract career breakers
in our volunteer manager positions. This is a great opportunity for those wanting to use
their passion, skills and experience to drive positive change in vulnerable environments and
poor rural communities. Our volunteer managers will inspire and support a diverse group
of young people to change their world for the better.
“We regularly hear stories about volunteer managers who, following their career break with
Raleigh, return home to follow a completely different career path.”
Mandeep Dillion, of Audley Travel, said they regularly see people who had taken gap years
and career breaks and were inspired to take on a new challenge. ”Most of our employees
have carried out a gap year and applied to Audley once they have gained some work experi-
ence. It's a great way to stay connected to something they are passionate about and develop
a career at an award winning tour operator,” she said.
Heilwig Jones, of Kaya Responsible Travel, said: “During the recession some career break-
ers were using time off and sometimes their redundancy money to do something different
and useful and decided to volunteer. This is now less the case as the economy improves,
however, I think more and more working people now recognise this as an option that is not
just for students and so are choosing to use their holidays, sabbaticals or time off between
jobs to participate in these kinds of activities.”
Jon Arnold, of Oyster Worldwide, said he had noticed a particular trend, with animal wel-
fare programmes proving very popular with all ages. “We find a growing number of career
breakers and people wanting to have a holiday are increasingly interested in getting worth-
while experience working with animals.”
People are living longer and are also a lot healthier well into old age. Many, therefore, feel
they want to continue to use their skills in places where they will do some good.
This, coupled with the issues of the retirement age being put back and worries about inad-
equate pension provision, has also prompted many older people to think about extending
their working lives and perhaps also pursuing a different career altogether.
Taking a gap, perhaps to volunteer in another country, is one good way of identifying skills,
wisdom and knowledge gained over a working lifetime, that may be useful in another sec-
tor and this could lead to a new career.
