About Us

What is HOST UK?

HOST UK works with international students, 18 years and over, who are  studying at UK institutions, to give them a visit for a day or a weekend in a British home. All of our hosts are volunteers and they host because they enjoy meeting people from other cultures and places.

More than 100 Universities and Colleges nationwide subscribe to the HOST Programme and most pay for their students to go on a HOST visit because of the value that it adds to their international students' experience of studying in Britain.

HOST has a small number of paid staff and around four volunteers in the office and around 40 voluntary Regional Organisers. We have about 1,500 volunteer host families from northern Scotland to Cornwall and from Northern Ireland to East Anglia.

The proprietor of HOST UK is Hosting for Overseas Students, a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales under Company number 02179430, and registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales under Charity number 327592.

Registered Office: 1 Ardleigh Road, London N1 4HS

Tel: 020 7254 3039

Email: info@hostuk.org

Website: www.hostuk.org

How is HOST Funded?

In the past HOST received grants from the British Council, some charitable trusts and The Victoria League as well as private donations.However the core grant from the British Council is being withdrawn next year due to re-organisation within the British Council. HOST is therefore building new sources of funding and new partnerships to diversify its income.

• If you can help HOST with its fundraising, please contact Chief Operating Officer Susie Rajagopal
• You can support HOST in a variety of ways and by making small purchases though the HOST shop.
• HOST also has a Friends of HOST scheme for its supporters. Participating institutions pay subscription and application fees. We have various fundraising events and receive donations from individuals.

It was our 20th Anniversary in 2007!

We were started in 1987 by the Victoria League, the British Council and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. 2007 was our 20th Anniversary.Please click here to see the pictures of our 20th Anniversary Chairman's Reception.

 

Who are our Board of Governors?
	Mark Pellew CVO - Chairman Mark is a retired diplomat.
Gerry Bell Gerry was previously an international student from Malaysia and is now an international student adviser at the University of Manchester
	Neil McIntosh Neil is the Chief Executive of CfBT Education Trust, one of Britain's largest educational charities, and a former Director of VSO
Margaret Hancox Margaret is an MA, University of Glasgow.   She is a linguist and has had careers in international business and university administration.   Widely travelled in both  professional and private capacities.   Has lived in families in all five continents.   Has hosted for HOST since its foundation with her husband Neil
	Elspeth MacGregor Elspeth has worked most of her life abroad as an English language teacher. She is  now semi-retired and teaches occasional Conflict Transformation workshops for international organisations and she is also active in volunteer work locally.
Rodney Austin Rodney LLB (1969), Barrister & Solicitor (New Zealand), is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Laws, University College London. He is a member of the Society of Legal Scholars and JUSTICE, and he takes an active interest in UCL alumnus affairs and was the Secretary of the Bentham Club for many years.
	Trina Golland Trina is a Regional Organiser and hosts with her husband Jerry
Sam Harris Sam (seen here at Conference 2006 - 2nd from left) works at the International Students' Society in Manchester
	Sue Millington-Hore Treasurer Sue is a qualified accountant who runs a practice with her husband Kit. She is an enthusiastic golfer.