Host Homes

In most Global Xchange programmes our volunteers stay with local hosts in the communities that they are working in. We feel that this gives them a far better insight into life in their host community. By living with a local they gain an invaluable and unique perspective of the culture. Similarly, the host home also benefits and learns from the experience of having guests from different backgrounds staying with them.

 

If you’re thinking of hosting for a Youth Xchange then we’ll ask you to host two volunteers as the team is grouped into counterpart pairs. As far as possible pairs will be the same sex and therefore will need only one bedroom as they'll be expected to share. 

 

As a host you'll be asked to provide breakfast, a packed lunch and an evening meal.  This doesn’t mean that you have to cook all the time or feel obligated to keep them entertained. Our real priority is finding hosts who are happy to involve volunteers in the daily life of their home and community. So tret them like one of the family - if the other members of your house do chores, then get the volunteers on the rota, if you normally share the cooking then get them in the kitchen! We’re not asking you to be a hotel or a B&B and assure you that the volunteers are asked to remember they are living in someone elses home. The volunteers will be expected to abide by your rules and decisions when they are with you.

 

The current allowance for host homes is £100 per pair, per week. This is paid in installments at a time convenient to the host household. The allowance aims to cover the extra food, water, electricity etc that the volunteers will use during their stay. 

 

There are also two programme supervisors living and working in your community who are responsible for members of the team throughout the exchange and are available to provide support to host homes whenever needed. They will visit host homes regularly and should be the first point of contact in the event of any problems.  

....that its not always easy to take two strangers into your home for nearly three months and it's a big decision to make. However, we firmly believe that there are excellent benefits to be gained from the experience. For more information see what our past hosts have had to say.