Be safe

When you are out enjoying yourself remember to stay safe and streetwise.

Read more about how you can stay safe.

• If using an internet chat room use a nickname, never give your real name or address.
• If arranging to meet someone you’ve met over the net, do so in a public place and take a friend.
• Don’t confront gangs.
• If you observe an incident, don’t get involved – there may be weapons involved. Alert the police and be prepared to be a witness.
• In pubs and clubs don’t leave your drinks unattended – ask a trusted friend to guard your glass if necessary.

Sport and Leisure

It is important to take time out to relax whether this is spending time with your friends, playing sport or pursuing a hobby.

If you want to keep fit check out facilities across Hampshire. Or, you could join a team to get fit, for example football, volleyball or hockey.

If you’re looking for fun places to visit in your free time check out 'in my area' or 'things to do' page.

Need inspiration to get creative? Use the BBC Blast site to find out about how you can pursue an interest in music, dance, film or writing.

Visit ENYAN (English National Youth Arts Network for information on art events, projects and opportunities.

Want to get involved in the London 2012 Olympics doesn't mean you have to be sports mad. They are also looking for creative young people to get involved in culural events leading up to the games.

Sports organisations

Whether you’re a hard core sports fan, or you would just like to stay active, meet people and have a laugh, there is probably a team, club or sports facility that can meet your needs.

To find out more visit Sports Hampshire and Isle of Wight. or use the things to do search.

Gap year

Thinking about a year out between college and university?

Careful planning is needed to ensure you get the most out of this time.

There’s lots of help available; check out the resources in your local Connexions centre. Or you can visit the websites opposite.

Go Gap Year - Essential advice for gap year travellers.

Year in Industry places you with a really good firm (you decide where) for the best part of a year to learn how a business works, and you get paid.

Worldwide Volunteering is a database of nearly 1000 volunteer organisations in 215 countries worldwide.

BUNAC offers a range of working holidays including a summer camp counselling programme in the USA, and volunteering placements for full-time and gap year students and other young people from both the UK and the USA.

Concordia organise the European Voluntary Service (EVS) for the South East area. EVS runs full time residential volunteer projects all over Europe. EVS provides accommodation (bills paid for), food, transport, insurance, support seminars, language courses, around €300 pocket money and places volunteers in a projects working 30 hours a week. Projects vary form working with Disabled Adults to Arts projects to youth clubs and bird reserves. Projects available all over Europe and a few in Turkey and Mexico. Volunteer pays no fees.

CSV is much the same system as Concordia (see above) but volunteers work in the UK. CSV guarantees to find a suitable project to place every applicant.

The Youth Hostel Association (YHA) employs young people in most of their hostels. Work depends on the hostel. Young people are well supported and the posts are mostly “live in” positions. Young people get paid to work and have somewhere full of other young people to live. YHA has equivalent organisations in many other countries of the world, most of them run a similar scheme.

Getting active if I'm disabled

Socialising and taking part in activities you enjoy increases your self-confidence, motivation and fitness.

Check out the examples of sport for disabled young people on the following sites.

• The British Wheelchair Sports Foundation
• Disability Sport England
• Disabled Go
• You're Able
• Jubilee Sailing Trust
• Disabled sport in Hampshire

Daytrippers supports young people with disabilities, life limiting and terminal illnesses to visit theme parks, the seaside, pantomimes, wildlife parks and museaums.

Volunteering

• Volunteering and personal development

• Volunteering organisations

• Volunteering FAQs

Volunteering and personal development

Whatever you're in to, there's a fun and interesting volunteering opportunity for you.

Volunteering is so much more than doing something in your spare time for free. You will:

• Meet new people.
• Gain work experience
• Build on your strengths and develop new skills
• Become more confident!

Barnardo’s has launched a volunteering DVD to encourage more young people to volunteer.

The National Trust has many opportunities for volunteering. Search their database for local volunteering opportunities including Young Heritage Leaders (YHL) - a leadership training programme run by the National Trust in partnership with the Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC). Through planning, managing and leading outdoor conservation projects it offers participants the opportunity to develop team leadership skills.

The Jubilee Sailing Trust is offering the opportunity for 16-25 year olds under the Leadership @ Sea initiative to develop leadership and integration skills. Read their information sheet to learn more.

Over 70,000 volunteers will be required to help run the Olympic games in 2012 and Timebank has set up a website to recruit volunteers.

VSO is a leading International Development Charity that works through volunteers to tackle poverty. They have two exciting youth programmes for people aged 18-25. For more information visit the VSO website.

Fancy volunteering abroad? there’s so many exciting opportunities – check out WorldWide Volunteering for your options.

Other sources of info are volunteer bureaus. These are volunteer ‘job shops’. Call Volunteering England on 0845 305 6979 for details of your local bureau.

Councils for Voluntary Service can offer help and advice on finding volunteering opportunities. Visit the National Association of Councils for Voluntary Service for details of your nearest centre.

Looking for full-time or long-term volunteering opportunities? Try the Gap Year tab for more information.

Volunteering organisations

London's successful Olympic bid includes a Young Ambassadors' programme to train young people from some of the country's most deprived areas, providing them with the skills and confidence to serve as volunteers at the games. Over 70,000 volunteers will be required to help run the games. Visit Timebank for more information.

Rushmoor Voluntary Services covers Aldershot, Farnborough, Cove, North Camp, North Town and the surrounding areas of Blackwater Valley. Their role in the community is to help and support any voluntary or community group working in and round the borough of Rushmoor.

For further volunteering opportunities visit the links on the right.

Don’t forget there’s information to hand in your local Connexions centre.

Volunteering FAQs

How much time do I have to give?

It’s up to you. You could help at a one-off event, or for a few hours a week, a month or for a longer project. It’s your choice!

Do I have the skills needed?

The skills you will need will depend on the volunteering opportunity.

What can I expect as a volunteer?

Your time and commitment for the cause will be greatly appreciated. You may receive payment for your expenses and you may also be offered training.

Is it possible to do voluntary work overseas?

Yes, there are a variety of organisations which have placements abroad. Careful planning is needed as it can take a few months to arrange a placement abroad and you may have to raise the money to go.