STUDENTS will be able to find out the benefits of taking a gap year before entering further education at an event taking place in Malvern this month.

Malvern College, on College Road, is hosting a gap year fair on Thursday, October 21 and about 50 organisations involved with areas such as voluntary projects abroad will be at the event.

Among those organisations represented will be Africa and Asia Venture - which arrange voluntary work abroad, the English Speaking Union - which runs exchange trips with students in North America and Canada and travel agents STA Travel.

There will also be several companies there which offer one-year internships, organisations who arrange overseas teaching opportunities and groups involved in conservation projects.

The free event - organised by the Independent Schools Careers Organisation, takes place in the college's main assembly hall, from 4pm to 7pm.

Teachers and pupils - as well as parents - from across Herefordshire and Worcestershire have been invited.

The college's head of science Chris Hall - who helped organise the fair, said he hoped more than 200 people would attend.

"There's a huge variety of opportunities that are out there for students to do when they're taking their gap year," he said.

"They can do anything and everything and the joy of these organisations is that they set up these placements and also have staff on the ground, who settle them in and are there, if there is a problem.

"It gives students an enormous opportunity to learn new skills but also to see another part of the world."