Would you like to share your culture and experiences with others while learning about theirs? Do you have a spare room? Would you like to earn an extra tax free income?

Become a host family for an international student studying at a UK boarding school near you.

Every year, thousands of school age overseas students are educated at independent schools across the UK. When their school closes for half term holidays and exeat weekends, they need a great host family who will provide a home away from home.

Pippa’s Guardians has been providing high quality guardianship services to international students for 25 years and understand the value of a good home and how a host family can positively impact on a student’s wellbeing. 

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 here in the UK, in many cases a very long way from home.

The families we look for are welcoming and interested in other cultures. Having children of similar ages helps but isn’t the most important thing as we have many successful host families who have no children, younger children or indeed older children who have left home. Being part of a family and experiencing day-to-day family life enhances students’ study and plays a part in improving their English language. 

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 “She was a delight to host, polite, helpful and a pleasure to have around. She worked hard on her school work 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”.

Our 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, as well as being a great way to earn extra money. Many of our host families form lifelong friendships with our students and their families and stay in touch even after they have left school for university.

Students live at their boarding schools during term time and most travel back home to their families for the longer holidays like Summer, Christmas and Easter. The majority of students therefore only need hosting during half terms and occasional weekends. Our local Area Managers look after our students during term time and are close by to support you whilst your student is staying in your home.

If you are interested in finding out more, contact: hostfamilies@pippasguardians.co.uk or visit our website www.pippasguardians.co.uk