HELLO
Welcome to our April newsletter - brought to you through April showers, April snowstorms and April Godknowswhatelse.
If this unseasonable weather is doing your head in too, fear not! We've got loads of stuff to help you get away, from new career breaks, loads of offers and competitions, career break advice and our usual inspiring pics and videos.
This newsletter also sees the return of the popular "Career breaks starting in the next 3 months," so if you're itching to get away, have a look and see where you can go!
SPONSORED - SOCIAL STARTERS - ""NEW PARTNER**
_SocialStarters run volunteer programmes designed specifically for career breakers. Their 6-week immersion programmes will give you valuable experience in social enterprise, as you provide business support to a local social entrepreneur. The unique experience also focuses on personal development, cultural immersion and peer-to-peer learning, with workshops, coaching and training included as standard.
If you're looking to take that break, make an impact and discover your "what next?", click here to find out more.
FREE STUFF, DISCOUNTS AND COMPETITIONS
Cheap fast train tickets to the south of France with the new Eurostar routes.
New travel tracker app so you can boast to your mates about how many places you've visited (iPhone only).
Travel pack giveaway, including headphones, sunnies, etc.
Win a 7-day foodie trip to Spain - there are 3 up for grabs!
Win a gap year trip in this Rough Guides travel writing competition.
£20 cashback on LateRooms.com bookings through Earnaway.
New free app lets you buy train tickets for travel across Europe. (If you haven't got an iPhone, you can use their website instead).
NEW AND UPDATED CAREER BREAKS
Find all our new and updated career breaks here.
IT'S BACK! CAREER BREAKS STARTING IN THE NEXT 3 MONTHS
Need to get away soon? Here are all the career breaks starting in the next 3 months.
**GET IN QUICK!** Raleigh International have vacancies for project managers and medics in their volunteer programmes in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and Nepal. The deadline is May 2nd. Visit the Raleigh website to apply now, and you could be leaving in June!
ON THE BLOG
This month's guest post is on a later life career break, by a woman who went travelling with her husband after the kids left home. A fascinating read, she offers advice to others and shares some great pictures!
We've also got a post called 8 unexpected things that will happen on a great career break - which, as it sounds, is all about the surprising things that could happen while you're away. Give it a read, it's quite an eye-opener!
The Career Break Site blog has hundreds of posts to inspire, inform and advise you on every aspect of your career break, from how to sort the money, to ideas for what you could do. If you'd like to be featured (even if you haven't taken your career break yet), get in touch.
PHOTO CORNER - YOUR MONTHLY DOSE OF INSPIRATION
The Sony World Photography Awards exhibition is now on in London, but if you can't get there, you can see the winning and shortlisted entries here.
If you're a budding photographer and you've got some great wildlife shots, the British Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition closes on Saturday. So get your entry in quick!
VIDEO CORNER
A TED Talk on returning to work after a career break (note: this is American and uses "career break" in its broadest context, but she still has some useful information).
10 weirdest festivals around the world is a fascinating look at what other people celebrate (WARNING: contains penis-shaped things)
ELSEWHERE ON THE INTERWEB (AND ON PAPER)
You may have spotted us recently in a national broadsheet, talking about career breaks. We can't link it here unfortunately because of the paywall but don't worry, we've got some other stuff coming up very soon!
TIP OF THE MONTH
"If you're travelling and get ill, have a can of Coke. It's sterile, the sugar will give you energy and the familiar taste can even be comforting!"
Thanks Sam Kitchin (we don't know if you're male or female, sorry) for this month's tip.
If you have a tip for us, email us or tweet us.
QUESTION OF THE MONTH
Today's questioner, who wishes to remain anonymous, says "I asked my boss for a career break but he said no. Doesn't he have to at least consider it?"
Unfortunately, the answer is no. You have the right to request flexible working, but this doesn't cover career breaks. If you want to go back to your boss to ask for a sabbatical, make sure you do it properly and read our comprehensive blog post on asking for a sabbatical. (This article from Essential Travel is also very useful, and quotes us). If he still says no, you may have no other option but to quit.
If you've got a question, get in touch! We never reveal your name (unless you want us to!)
JOKE
Politicians and nappies have one thing in common. They should both be changed regularly, and for the same reason.
FINALLY
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow; learn as if you were to live forever." Ghandi
Until next time,
Love,
The Career Break Site
xxx