HELLO
Woo hoo, snow day! Well it sort of is for us, we hope you're able to get out and frolic in it too, if it's snowing where you are.
Whether you love or hate proper wintery weather, we've got a lovely round-up of volunteering, travel and useful career break stuff for you today. As well as fab new career breaks, we've got free stuff, including a new events section, tips, inspiration and various other interesting bits and pieces. Grab your mug of cocoa, sit back, and enjoy the read.
SPONSORED FEATURE - FULLY FUNDED VOLUNTEER PLACEMENTS ABROAD
Volunteer with VSO to tackle poverty in some of the world’s poorest communities, through a unique new programme called ICS Entrepreneur. They're looking for motivated 18 – 25 year olds with aptitude or experience of an aspect of business, like sales, marketing, finance, planning or communications – anything which you can use to support small businesses in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Kenya and Nigeria.
You and your team will spend 12 weeks working with a partner organisation, and living with a local host family. You will develop a raft of new skills while showing how you can innovate and work in a challenging environment. It's an awesome experience, for you as well as your CV!
All your costs are covered including flights, visas, accommodation, food etc, and you will receive an allowance during your time on placement, so you don’t need to bring money with you.
Apply here or call 0208 780 7500.
FREE STUFF AND DISCOUNTS
This site Flubit claims to give you a better price on anything from Amazon. We tried to use it though and it asks for all sorts of irrelevant information, but you can give it a try if you like saving money and/or for companies to pay their taxes.
The awesome Susan Griffiths has just published the 14th edition of Work Your Way Around the World, and best of all, it's free on Scribed! It's packed full of useful stuff, and best of all, it mentions us.
Dunno if this is a glitch or what, but the preview of Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2015 actually shows the whole paperback book. It's not a very user-friendly format, but still, free is free.
Asda are offering a free £20 bundle with a free Pay As You Go sim card. PAYG sims are good for travelling because they mean you or a thief can't run up a huge bill.
We've got a whole page of free stuff and offers on the site, for the longer-lasting freebies and discounts that we find. Temporary offers and new free stuff will still be in this newsletter though.
FREE EVENTS
Projects Abroad have regular events where you can find out more about volunteering with them. The next is in London on February 10th at 7pm, then they'll be in our home city of Manchester on Saturday, February 28th from 11:30 am (that's an informal drop-in session). Future events are in London and Edinburgh. Click here for more details and to book a place. They're free!
VSO are also holding free events where you can find out more about volunteering. The next is in London on Saturday, February 7th at 2pm, and then they'll be in Birmingham on Thursday, February 19th at 6:30pm. Click here for more details and to book a place.
If there's a travel, career break or work event you'd like to see publicised here, drop us a line. (It doesn't have to be free but if you can chuck our readers a discount, that'll help!).
PS - we really rate these kinds of events, as it gives you a chance to find out more about the organisation and ask any questions. There's also often the chance to meet people who've actually done it, as well as people who are about to - so you can really get a feel for what the volunteering placements are all about.
AWARDS
We're pleased as a bowl of non-alcoholic punch that one of our partners, Kaya Responsible Travel won the award for Best Volunteering Organisation at the British Youth Travel Awards. Kaya offer tons of responsble, sustainable and worlhwhile volunteering placements around the world, and we're delighted that they've been recognised. Congratulations to the whole team at Kaya!
We're also thrilled that our very own Sarah Longes (known professionally as Mirador Design) won the 'Seasons' category in the RHS Photographer of the Year competition. This is a hugely prestigious award and we're really proud of Sarah.
NEW AND UPDATED CAREER BREAKS
Here are all our new and updated career breaks
PHOTO CORNER - YOUR MONTHLY DOSE OF INSPIRATION
Guardian agency photographer of the year shortlist - interesting shots from around the world.
VIDEO CORNER
A slightly smug man travels the world and films it.
ON THE BLOG
Oooh crikey, it's been a quiet couple of months on the blog. Everyone's been off sick and believe me, you don't want them blogging about their phlegm (it's bad enough them talking about it in the office).
Fortunately, we do have a guest post this month. It's is a very useful one on how to fight homesickness while travelling. Read it if you are missing your home comforts!
We do have a huge archive of blog posts, from fun stuff and travellers' tales, to industry insights and career break tips. Have a looksee: http://www.thecareerbreaksite.com/blog.
ELSEWHERE ON THE INTERWEB
The Independent published a great article on solo travel and included us, amongst a number of other companies. Lots of useful info for you if you're planning a solo career break or just a shorter jaunt.
TIP OF THE MONTH
If you're driving in snow (or snow is forecast), make sure you have a blanket, torch and snacks stashed in your car, and make sure you have plenty of water and screenwash. If you're travelling by public transport in bad weather, make sure your snacks, warmest clothes and toothbrush are within reach`, then if you do get stuck, at least you will be fed and not feel minging.
USEFUL THINGS OF THE MONTH
The Interview Room app is a video CV which lets you track your job applications. A cheap way to stand out when job-hunting!
Want to send a private message to a mate (or someone you fancy) while travelling? Worried someone might hack into your email? Well, help is at hand: you can now send a note that will self-destruct after reading. Pretty cool, eh?
JOKE
On his very first day of work, he dials the pantry and shouts into the phone "Get me a coffee, quickly!"
The voice from the other side responded, "You fool you've dialed the wrong extension! Do you know who you're talking to, dumbass?"
"No," replied the trainee.
"It's the CEO of the company, you fool!"
The trainee shouts back, "And do YOU know who YOU are talking to, you fool?!"
"No." replied the CEO indignantly.
"Good!" replied the trainee, and puts down the phone.
FINALLY
We're still beavering away on our revamp, making the site easier to navigate, more inspirational and a bit more mobile-friendly. If you've got any ideas about what we should add (or take away), drop us a line! Just reply to this email, it goes to a real person who answers everything we get that isn't crap or spam.
Until next month, enjoy the snow, and make sure you travel safely.
Love,
The Career Break Site
xxx