Pippa’s Guardians: Host families needed for international students studying at UK boarding schools
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Every year, thousands of overseas students are educated at independent schools across the UK.
When their school closes for half term holidays and exeat weekends, they need a host family to provide a home away from home.
Pippa’s Guardians has been providing high quality Guardianship services to international students for over 20 years. The company understands the value of a good home and how a host family can positively impact a student’s wellbeing.
The families Pippa's Guardians looks for are welcoming and interested in other cultures. Having children of similar ages helps but isn’t the most important thing as there are many successful host families who have no children, younger children or older children who have left home.
Internet access is very important, and each student will need their own bedroom with a desk or somewhere quiet for homework. Being part of a family and experiencing day-to-day family life enhances a student's study and plays a part in improving their English language.
As well as receiving a generous payment, becoming a Pippa’s Guardians host family is a wonderful experience; providing the opportunity to really make a difference to a student whilst they are studying in the UK.
For children of host families it can be really exciting and interesting getting to know other children who have had very different life experiences to them.
For families where children have grown up and left home, it is a chance to enjoy the fun and companionship of having younger people in the home once again.
Anne Weir has recently hosted a student from Singapore.
“My student was a delight to host, polite, helpful and a pleasure to have around," said Anne.
"She worked hard on her school work, was very focused on her revision and the practical work she did for her food technology course. She even cooked us a three-course meal as part of her school work which was a great success.”
Students come from all over the world. It is a marvellous and interesting way to learn about the cultures, traditions and daily life of young people and their families from countries very different to our own.
Many of Pippa’s Guardians host families form lifelong friendships with students and their families and stay in touch even after they have left school for university.
Host families are needed for students joining local schools this September, including Oundle School, Uppingham School and Oakham School.
If you are interested in hosting a student, please contact hostfamilies@pippasguardians.co.uk or find out more at www.pippasguardians.co.uk