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 at weekends, they need a great host family who will provide a home away from home.

Pippa’s Guardians provides Guardianship services to international students who are studying at boarding schools across the UK.

They find supportive and caring families who can offer a welcoming home for students during their school holidays.

Julie Cowley, Area Manager for Pippa’s Guardians, looks after students studying in North Wales.

She explained: “The families we look for are welcoming and are 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.

“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 students’ study and plays a part in improving their English language.”

Becoming a host family can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for the family too; 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.

Sue and Steve Taylor live in Wrexham and have been a host family for three years.

They said: “We initially saw a flyer for Pippa's Guardians on a local noticeboard, we decided to get in touch since we have a spare room and have both always been keen travellers and love experiencing other cultures.

“We relish any opportunity to meet people from other countries as we feel that this exchange enhances everyone's life, the chance to earn some money in doing so was also appealing.

“We have young children who have also benefited from the experience, they also really enjoyed playing football with an older child and taught each other some English/Chinese too!”

Host families are needed for internationals students joining Ruthin School this September. If you are interested in hosting a student, please contact hostfamilies@pippasguardians.co.uk.