Whether you have just accepted your A-Levels, graduated from university, or found yourself looking for a new job as a result of the credit crunch and ongoing recession, volunteering abroad can be an brilliant way to gain new skills, experience new cultures and to finely tune your CV. So whether you’re 17 or 57, read on to learn what you can do and where you can go – and how you could embark the trip of a lifetime.

Volunteering is often affiliated with students keen to take a gap year abroad, but opportunities to do so are available in the UK as well as in the more far flung regions of the world. Yet whilst the experience of being immersed into another culture or group’s way of life is both challenging and rewarding for nearly everyone no matter what you intend to do when you get back home again, volunteering abroad can be particularly worthwhile for those who have a certain career path in mind.

Those who are keen to embark on a PGCE leading on to a career in teaching will be likely to benefit from one of the many gap year teaching opportunities available. These schemes are often located in rural areas of Africa, Asia and Latin America, where you can opt to teach primary and secondary level subjects for a term. Such schemes are known for the rewarding nature of the job, teaching in poorer areas with minimal equipment, and having to rely on engagement via presentation and activity – all vital skills that will help boost future career opportunities and success.

If you’re an even more dynamic person, more specific schemes are available for individuals interested in sports coaching. Although sports such as football and cricket are immensely well loved amongst youngsters around the world, coaches and trainers are quite rare. Again, the enthusiasm of those around you is the thing that really stands out with volunteering in this area – and what better way to hone your skills than in a new and different place and with people who really appreciate your work.

Today, volunteering can really be cut to nearly any individual. On conservation and environment schemes, you will work as part of a team but will also get the opportunity to focus your efforts on the wellbeing of the planet itself. Projects needn’t last a full year, specific organizations are adapting to the need for placements which allow individuals time to save up and are offering 2-4 month long schemes as well as shorter 3-5 week stints. Experience is more accessible than ever, and volunteering really can be a fantastic step towards life in the real world.