Islington Gazette Arsenal reporter Layth Yousif – who once spent time volunteering in Uganda – highlights a worthy project that could be for you. Read on to learn more about the wonderful gap year project the club runs and how to apply for it.

Arsene Wenger last week explained that Arsenal Football Club isn’t just about winning and losing it’s about strongly held principles and a long-term ethos that gives a sporting organisation firm foundations.

Away from the white-heat of the Premier League, the North London giants do so much good work in our community and far beyond that deserves to be recognised – not least the Arsenal Gap Year Programme they run.

The club is recruiting ‘gappers’ for their November intake which allows participants the opportunity to take a truly unique gap year.

If you’re lucky enough to be selected on this truly worthy scheme you will travel the world while having the best year of your life with Arsenal in the Community.

Not to mention gaining key qualifications that will boost your CV and will help you stand out from the rest.

Your Gazette correspondent was fortunate enough to travel the world for a couple of years many moons ago. He also volunteered for an orphanage for youngsters with HIV in Uganda, in one of Kampala’s poorest areas, and found it to be a genuinely life-enhancing – and life-changing – experience.

So imagine waking up on the edge of a rainforest in Uganda, you lace your boots as the sun rises ready for another day of coaching enthusiastic, football mad local kids on behalf of The Arsenal – sounds wonderful doesn’t it?

Starting in November, you will have an intensive month of coaching education – learning how to coach kids and adults from Arsenal in the Community coaches. You’ll also explore how the game can be used as a social vehicle to engage those hardest to reach and build life lasting friendships with your fellow ‘gappers’.

You’ll also develop your coaching skills and confidence in local primary and secondary schools as well as get involved with numerous Arsenal in the Community activities before getting ready for an adventure of a lifetime.

Arsenal in the Community has partner projects all over the world.

After stage one, you’ll be packing your bags ready to spend three months coaching football and developing your leadership skills at one of the club’s partners from India, Uganda, Ghana, Bolivia, Australia or South Africa, Philippines and Hong Kong.

Previous Gappers have gone on to careers in teaching, social work, sports marketing, coaching roles at professional clubs – both in the UK and abroad, as well as into further education.

If you’re keen to know more then why not apply for Arsenal’s November intake.

The deadline is Friday, October 13. For more information visit arsenal.com/community/gapyear