SIR – A photography graduate is now training to be a nurse, another studied social sciences but now works with people with learning disabilities, and a medical student achieved first hand experience of what it’s like to be a carer through volunteering full time.

Sadly, nearly a million young people are unemployed at the moment, and I want to encourage them to do something inspirational that will boost their employability while being supported to have a life-changing experience.

Volunteer with the UK’s leading volunteering charity, CSV; whether your passion is mentoring young people, supporting homeless people or enabling people with disabilities to live independently, CSV has opportunities for you.

I spent my CSV gap year being the hands and feet of an extraordinarily inspirational woman who lives a full and meaningful life despite being paralysed. Volunteers enable her to live independently despite acute physical impairment.

It had a profound effect on my life and the benefits of volunteering are endless! I found volunteering enormously rewarding; it increased my confidence, I learnt new life skills, I made friends and I had a huge amount of fun.

For more information about gap year volunteering for people aged 18 to 35, call 0800 374991 or visit csv.org.uk/gapyear.

Rachel Burden (pictured), BBC Radio Five Live presenter, on behalf of CSV, Pentonville Road, London