Coming of age

18 years of learning from the Rank Foundation Gap Award

The Gap Award opens up a unique mix of opportunities for personal development and service. The scheme has developed as a result of the Rank Foundation's long-term commitment to supporting young people as volunteers and leaders in the community.

In this publication, young people describe for themselves the journey of their personal growth that is at the heart of the Gap experience. Alongside their stories, some of their mentors analyse the success of the scheme and the lessons they have learned.

We believe that our learning from Gap has much to offer the wider debate on young people an volunteering.

Charlie Harris, Director of Youth Projects, The Rank Foundation

Download a copy of Coming of Age (readable via Acrobat). If you don't have a copy of the free Acrobat reader go to the Acrobat site.

Support materials

The Volunteers Handbook. Download the full handbook for the Rank Award Scheme.

Taking a Gap Year? Zareena Abidi explores the impact of the Rank Foundation's Gap scheme. (Downloadable in pdf).

Last updated: 23 June 2008