The Gap Year Student

Right now, I am sitting in my hotel room on a weekend away with "work", putting together a pitch to the marketing team on an idea that came across strongly during our meetings today. A year ago, there would have been no way that I would be up at this time still working on something like this, mostly because I just did not have this level of motivation. I am passionate about volunteering and I am very passionate at the charity, v. I love what I do and think that it is such a privilege to be involved, especially at the level which we are, as a group.

Today has mostly been about working toward the vinspired.com National Awards 2010 as we try to think of creative ways of producing nominations. There are so many brilliant volunteers in England and we want them all to be recognised by being nominated for an award. In our team, we have each been allocated regions. I am to be working with Yorkshire and Humber. So far, I have had no opportunity to work on the grass roots nominations but these next two weeks, as I enjoy the very end of my gap year, prior to be moving, I am likely to be doing an awful lot of work.

Know a great volunteer? Nominate them at vinspired.com

Until next time...

Earlier this month, my best friend decided that he would be moving to Australia and it has been a bit of a ride this summer. I have acquired a lot of books and other useful things care of him as he will have no use for it or can not afford the weight to take in the plane. Another good thing that has come out of it is that he inspired me to make friend in Aberdeen prior to me moving. I have been using a website called okcupid.com for a long while and, taking a leaf out of my best friend's book, I decided to start looking for people whom live up there. So far, I have managed to make 2 friends of which I have met one.

It seems to be a good plan as it enables me to benefit from local knowledge from the moment I move.

Until next time...

... I am volunteering at 5 festivals (one of which I have already attended). Today, I got a text informing me that I would getting a ticket for the The Big Chill festival sent to me free of charge; the problem is that I have already got a place volunteering at that festival so I will not be able to make use of the ticket. I know a couple of people out there read this blog so I was wondering if anyone was interested in the ticket.

Anyone....?

Email me at: student@thegapyearstudent.co.uk

Until next time.

... I have found a blog which is reasonably enjoyable reading.... when it is updated!

http://skwldiary.wordpress.com/

It is pretty funny and the jokes are fairly original even though I know they borrow them from an unknown source.

... the amazing opportunities available to me keep flooding in. I have made the mad decision that I shall be missing some of my fresher's week so that I can attend the Labour Party Conference in Manchester. It was truly a difficult decision to make as both opportunities are unlikely to come around again but I know that I would be deeply regretting missing out on attending the Party conference if I did not grab the opportunity.

Before I go to university, I will be volunteering at 4 different festivals this summer in a variety of different roles. It is rather exciting as I know that all of these festivals will be tonnes of fun.

Thinking financially, all of my university incomes and outgoings are sorted (which is rather scary as I know just how poor I will be) but I have been attempting to find some bits and bobs of work to earn a few quid. I thought that I had a job for later this week with Creative Bars however I am waiting on a phone call for confirmation that I guess is not likely to come. That is a massive pain as I have organised my next week under the idea that I was to be working. Grrr!

More to come soon...

...not very interesting. I have received confirmed of my student bursary including a full plan of when and how much will be paid in to my bank account for next academic year. I would love to be able to say that I have begun my budgeting but, until I receive information regarding my accommodation and the relevant dates of payment, I am unable to make any solid plans. I know that I shall be able to live comfortably on the money supplied to me so long as I remain sensible - does that sound like me?

In other news, I received a letter from my old head of year from my Sixth Form days, she was asking us all about our first year at Uni to help with preparing the Yr12s for the horrible application process that lies ahead. I may not have completed my first year yet but I will be able to impart some knowledge so I plan on writing a personal letter to the lady explaining how my year has been spent and offering my services, should they be desired for the Yr12s.

Busy times lay ahead.

Until next time...

It was the launch of Anatomy of Youth so I was one of the 7 members of v's National Youth Advisory board to attend and be an ambassador for the report and v's work as a whole. I felt nervous at points but bounced-back well in the end to network efficiently. I am glad that I had researched well prior to the event as it meant that I could float around, oozing confidence and intelligence.

The book is well worth a read; it can be obtained for free on the internet or in hard copy for £10. I shall attempt to summarise the book section by section over the next week, aiming for one section per day. Hopefully you will feel interested enough to read about it and make an impact on the political decisions being made.

Nothing to report on the academic front, I will probably not hear from the respective agencies until June at the earliest.

Until next time...

I write this as I am marshalling for a bicycle race raising money for medequip4kids. I had to be up early as they are having the riders doing a staggered start between 7 30 and 9 00; marshals met at 7am. As a voluntary opportunity, it is easy in some ways and challenging in others. The early start was not easy and having to say in the same spot for several hours might not sound like a good way to spend a Sunday morning. On the other side, I am not doing hard labour and it is a role of a level of responsibility which could be drawn upon for job applications and interviews.

Yesterday I undertook public speaking training. It was an all day course culminating in every person giving a speech at the end without any notes. The course was brilliant for me as I do not fear speaking in public but did not feel too comfortable with not having a speech or even any notes to draw upon.

What made yesterday a challenge was that I had been chosen to do a radio interview for reach FM [link] a project supported by catch 22 , choice radio and v. The interview was linked with the I Have a Choice project, encouraging more young people to get involved.

This coming week is looking to be just as intense!

If you fancy getting involved in volunteering but are not sure how, contact me at student@thegapyearstudent.co.uk

...So I am in the V offices in London taking training for Social Networking and Blogging as we prepare to launch a document entitled The Anatomy of Youth. This document is an interesting view into people aged 16-25 and what is really affecting them. It was commissioned by V as they try maintain a youthful approach and create an alternative profile of what young people are like.

To find of more about V, visit their website at http://www.vinspired.com. V has opened a lot of doors for me including enabling me to attend the Isle of Wight Festival for free (travel expenses too) as part of their Summer of Give promotion; Summer of Give is a way of getting more young people involved by targeting their interests through getting people to showcase their talents. It is a really exciting opportunity.

Volunteering is a brilliant way to enter into employment as you can aid in the areas that interests you and get relevant experience. Most places welcome volunteers and have sections of budget allocate to help out through covering travel expenses - and even refreshments!


Until next time...

...After doing my research yesterday, I found that there is not really all that much difference between the bank accounts. The hardest part came when deciding whether ethical concerns outweighed the other factors. The Co-operative Bank is the only one that is anywhere near ethical but it does not offer any interest on their student bank account, their overdraft is small by comparison to the bigger banks and it does not have a credit card which students are able to apply for (or rather one specifically aimed at them). Although I am likely to get a reasonable bursary, I want to know that I have the safety and, should I actually have some money "spare", I will be able to gain interest on it.

I am undecided as to whom to bank with and probably will put it off until I have the details of my accommodation. I try to think of a reason for this but I guess it is just a way of marking a point to have made my decision by. I have opted to get a savings account from the Co-operative so that I will be able to put aside additional money and know that it is in a bank which is operating ethically and is still making a profit regardless of the economic slump.

One thing to bear in mind, because the average student has no history of credit, they have zero credit rating. Because of this lack of information, should a student apply online, they will be rejected. This should not put someone off from applying for the account that they want, it just means that they must set some time aside to go into their local branch of the bank they have chosen and apply in person.

Until next time...