Why Watersports?

There are lots of different things you can do on your gap year or on a career break and watersports is just is one of the many outdoor, adventurous and adrenalin-filled activities that are now available. Watersports does benefit from being one of the fastest growing leisure sports in the UK as well as around the world, with a diverse range of disciplines that offer more options to the many thousands of people who just want to experience life on the water!

If you are looking for a worthwhile, rewarding, challenging experience that allows you to travel, meet loads of new people, have a great time and get paid, then watersports teaching and management qualifications could provide all this and more!

Below are some key advantages and benefits of getting on the water during your year out:

Qualifications you can use all over the world

If you're planning on travelling during your year out, watersports teaching qualfications are respected and accepted all around the world - you can get on the water just about anywhere!

Lifetime qualifications and skills

Watersports qualifications can last a lifetime! This means that once training is complete, provided your first aid qualification is in date and you log the required coaching time, you can use the qualification for the rest of your life and it may even become your life.

Paid work

Thinking of turning pro? Professional level instructing qualifications can be used for employment around the world. Dinghy instructors are in high demand worldwide and instructing qualifications in windsurfing, kayaking, powerboating, kitesurfing, yachting and surfing can also lead to positions in some of the most exciting locations or with some of the world’s leading marine tourist businesses. How would you like to work whilst travelling? Watersports teaching qualifications can provide a passport to the lifestyle you’ve only ever dreamed about.

CV Credentials

Watersports qualifications are officially recognised and certainly enhance your CV. Depending on the course you choose from our prospectus, some of the main skills you develop include:

- the ability to study independently
- first aid / CPR
- teaching skills
- self-discipline
- lateral thinking
- problem solving
- group and teamwork
- responsibility
- professional attitude
- work experience
- management skills

Enjoyment

The range of on water experiences and opportunities means watersports offers everything to everyone whether you are an adventure junkie to a serious professional. You will not only enjoy your training and learning, but once a fully fledged instructor not much beats the enjoyment and satisfaction you and your own students will get from learning together.

Culture

Watersports is a burgeoning tourism industry all around the globe with new destinations opening up the whole time. There can’t be many better ways to experience working and meeting new people and living and learning about different cultures than from a boat or a beach. This is the exciting bit about gap year travel!

Fun!

Very little beats being out in the water in control of your own craft! You will learn a lot but you will also have FUN!

Gap Year

History of Gap Year market

The gap year market has its post-war roots. It was believed that by getting young people to travel the world and meet each other, there would be greater understanding of different cultures and a greater chance of world peace. In the 1960's, backpacking and the hippie trails to India evolved and by the early 1980's, student travel bacame more and mroe popular. By the late 1990's, the concept of travelling during a gap year had become a well-established concept†.

Three main segments...

Pre-university: Those taking time off from study to broaden their skills and knowledge and experience new cultures before starting university
Career Gappers: Those taking time out after university and between jobs (becoming increasingly common). We do see a lot of people who are undecided about what they want to do in life! Some people have been made redundant and wish to pursue a life-long dream of becoming a watersports instructor. Some join us to take a break from it all and just enjoy life for a while! Others take it a step further and train with us with the intention of moving and living overseas.

Early Retirees: Those aged between 50 and 70 who are 'empty nesters' (kids left home) and have finished their careers and want to experience the world in a different way from the simple holiday experience!

General benefits of a gap year

Parents, universities and employers are all becoming more supportive of gap travellers and the number of gap years taken each year continues to grow. A well-structured year out can significantly contribute to one's personal development and provide a wealth of new experiences which can broaden one's horizons.

Other benefits of taking a gap year are thought to include a lower drop-out rate at university, increased ability to retain a career, an enhanced CV, improved communication skills, improved general knowledge, greater initiative and increased global awareness.

Career Breaks

Two types of career break

There are two types of people who take a career break. The first type are "Career Breakers" (now referred to as CB's). CB's are those that decide to do something different for a given period of time (from a month to maybe one or two years) before returning to work. It might be a sabattical, a period of unemployment or a break in-between jobs. CB's use this time to travel and focus on personal development and/or professional development.

The other type are known as "Career Changers" and are different to career breakers as they have no desire to go back to the same job. These people have decided to do something completely different and take a new direction in life. This normally involves re-training at a professional level.

Student Safety

To get the most out of your gap year, careful planning in advance pays dividends. Places on our courses and training can often fill-up quickly and applications need to be received well in advance to guarantee your place.

What we have compiled below is a list of things you should consider when planning your training with us. Focusing on these factors will assist with your time management and preparation for your gap year so that you aren't making last-minute enquiries.

Step 1: Decide what you want and need to do

You will see from our website that we offer a variety of training options. Do you want to train to become a watersports professional? Or do you just want a short break to see what it's all about? Deciding what type of training is your first step. Our training advisors – Pip and Kate – can help, give us a call or drop us an enquiry.

Step 2: Research the training programme

Use our website, discuss options with us and create a shortlist of training programmes that interest you. Think if the training is right for you and make notes and questions to ask us.

Step 3: Plan your finances

After speaking with us and asking your questions, you should know what training you would like to do. All you now need to do is a little financial planning. Understanding how much money you need to raise should give you an indicator about when you can realistically comence your training.

Step 4: Choose your Academy Training Course

Once you've got an idea of when you want to go you should confirm your place. Popular programmes such as Dinghy Instructor courses fill-up very quickly.

Step 5: Think about where your training can take you

Once you have booked your training you'll know what you're doing and you won't have to research anymore! Just start planning where your training can take you – our Career Clinic can help with advice and information.

Planning a Gap Year or Career Break

Obtaining the necessary funds to finance your gap year may seem a bit daunting for some. For that reason we have set out a number of ideas on how you might go about financing your trip...

Planning and preparation

Start preparing early! Decide what training you would like to do. This will give you a financial target and you can start thinking about how long it will take to get the money together. You also need to think about additional expenses. We don’t include things like travel or insurance and for some courses meals and accommodation are extra; so do your research and start saving!

The tax man

If you have worked for part of a tax year and paid tax, it is possible that you are due a refund. Contact the Inland Revenue to find if you are eligible for a refund.

Loans

There are a few options you may wish to consider when planning your gap year:

Student loans
Get the loan as early as possible and put the money into a high interest savings account (easier said than done these days). There are still, however, some reasonable rates of interest out there for all sorts of investment types.

Bank loans
Try to research student loans with long-term repayment plans. It might be that re-payments can be deferred, meaning you can start repaying the loan when you’re back in employment.

Career Development Loans
If you are planning to do a training course during your gap year you may be eligible for funding via a Career Development Loan. A CDL is a deferred repayment bank loan to help you pay for vocational learning or education. The Department for Education and Skills pays the interest on your loan while you are learning and for up to one month afterwards. You can get more information from the National CDL enquiry line: 0800 585 505 or visit the DfES web site at www.lifelonglearning.co.uk/cdl/

Services Resettlement Grant
For eligible service personnel grants may be available towards the full or part costs of training.

Family loans and support
Your family may be in a position to lend you some money. Don’t ask…don’t get!

Funding a Gap Year or Career Break

The health and safety of all our students is paramount and Rockley Academy have taken the necessary steps and precautions to ensure our students remain safe whilst with us.

Risk Assessments

Rockley Academy has risk assessments for all our operations. All aspects of our courses and training are reviewed on an on-going basis.

Emergency Procedure Plan

In the unlikely event of an accident or incident, we have set procedures in place to manage this in the most expedient and sensitive way possible.

24/7 UK Support

When you train with us we ensure you are safe and comfortable during your stay with us. The team at Rockley Academy are probably the most highly qualified and experienced watersports trainers and instructors of any centre in the world. In addition, we have centre staff, training advisors and administrational staff who are all there to support you before you arrive and when you are off the water! We have a 24 hour UK landline for emergencies which gets re-directed to a mobile outside office hours.

Insurance

We recommend that students take out insurance to cover them for their training course with us. You should check that the policy includes cover for cancellation, emergencies and the training activities in which you will be participating.