NOT all A level students will go straight to university.

Taking a year out after A-Levels and getting involved with a different type of learning experience such as international volunteering gives young people the opportunity to gain perspective and confidence as well as making a difference.

There are also a range of transferable skills which can be learnt through volunteering. Skills like leadership, international and cross-cultural communication, problem solving, resilience, perseverance and adaptability as well as practical abilities developed on project sites, working with people and the environment.

Annie Court of Tavistock, 19, deferred her entry at Cardiff University to study biology as she was not 100% sure whether it was the right choice.

She is now in the process of changing her course to animal welfare, after learning more about the subject when volunteering with Raleigh International on her year out.

She said: 'I got hands on practical experience in Borneo that was relevant to biology, geography and animal welfare and I realised what I really wanted to do.'

Taking the time to make a targeted and clear decision about university can save money, time and energy as well as providing the opportunity to develop life-long skills.

Raleigh International volunteers can join expeditions in Borneo, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and Tanzania and work on sustainable development projects, which focus on providing access to safe water and sanitation, protecting vulnerable environments and building resilient communities.

For more information about voluntary work with Raleigh International, go to http://www.raleighinternational.org">www.raleighinternational.org