Hosts' Home Page

Could HOST be for you? If you enjoy meeting people, if you are interested in other cultures, if you can offer an occasional welcome to your home… HOST could be for you! HOST is about: International students There are thousands of students from all over the world at British universities and colleges. As well as pursuing their academic studies, many hope to meet the people and experience the culture here. Yet the majority have little access into the life of the country outside the campus. Volunteer hosts By offering one or two invitations per year for a day, a weekend, or over Christmas or another festival, hosts can make a great difference to the lives of international students and their impressions of the UK. At the same time, the hosts have the interest and pleasure of making friends with well-informed adult guests from overseas. “I am forever indebted to HOST for providing me with such wonderful friendships” - A Host from Sussex Please note that HOST places students on a voluntary basis for one-off weekend and Christmas visits only. We are NOT looking for long-term paid accommodation.

A meeting of cultures

HOST offers a uniquely personal opportunity to both students and hosts to be ambassadors for their own country and to make a positive contribution to international understanding. What better way of exploring and learning about a country than spending time with the people who live there? What easier way of encountering the rest of the world, than in the comfort of your own home!

“We have been round the world in our own sitting-room” - A Cornish Host

Want to know more?

Opening your home and your life to a stranger from another country may seem an unusual thing to do. Yet since HOST was founded in 1987 several thousand people have joined the scheme and found it immensely worthwhile.

People offer to join HOST for many reasons. Some want to meet people from countries they already know; others find the students give them an insight into places they are never likely to visit. Some want to introduce their children to people of other backgrounds; others have no children at home, but enjoy the company of young people. Some want to forge links with particular parts of the world; others are looking for a little language practice with a native speaker. All enjoy making strangers welcome, and helping them to feel at home here.

As one host couple told us - “HOST, you have changed our lives!”

Call or e-mail us with your mailing address and contact telephone number and we will be delighted to send you an information pack and put you in touch with a local organiser.

h o s t s @ h o s t u k . o r g

020 7739 6292

What the students say:

“It is a really unforgettable event. For an overseas student, it is a good opportunity to learn and experience British life.”

- Taiwanese student who visited North Yorkshire

“I have spent the whole year only with international students and I think it is important to go back to Brazil having spent time with British local people as well.”

- Brazilian visitor to Cornwall

“I learnt more about English people during that weekend, than in three months living as a student in London.”

- Yugoslavian student who visited a host in Wiltshire