Host families needed in Devon
A Devon-based work placement company is seeking host families for international trainees as it prepares for its busiest summer yet.
The Training Partnership (TTPL) is welcoming more than 240 trainees to the county in July, and another 300 from August to October, with a need for host families in Exeter, Torbay and across South Devon for this summer, autumn and beyond.
Host families are usually professional couples, or a family with children, or a single person, with a spare single or twin room.
Nadine Stroud, the company’s Business Development Manager, said: “Having hosted and worked with trainees for many years I can say without a doubt that being a host family is a great way to learn about different cultures and languages. The participants bring a fresh energy and enthusiasm to the home and integrate easily into the UK way of living.
“You are expected to provide support and encouragement, to meet them on arrival and settle them in but they are mostly over 18 and have a great social life outside of the family too.”
Hosts can choose to provide half board, full board or self-catering, and can have up to four trainees stay at one time, if they have suitable accommodation available. Most trainees have a good level of English language skills and many are graduates.
Olivia Williams from Exeter has hosted international trainees for 30 years. She said: “I absolutely love it. I get young people from all over the world coming to stay with me and I keep in touch with them when they leave. I’ve been to a wedding of an Italian who stayed with me and another person has just got engaged. At Christmas I get so many cards from them all so it’s lovely to be able to keep in touch.
“I like having trainees to stay but it is really hard to say goodbye. It’s a lovely thing to do and I would encourage others to become host families. It was definitely a learning curve at first but it turned into something which I thoroughly enjoy doing.”
The Training Partnership has a dedicated Accommodation Officer and Student Support Officer to assist families and trainees during their stay. Host families can earn from £75 per week per trainee.
The company, based at Torquay Innovation Centre, works with hundreds of Devon firms to provide placements in different sectors ranging from engineering and IT to tourism and retail, including Crealy Adventure Parks, South Devon College, Valeport, Ernest Jackson Ltd, Chelston Hall Surgery, Optix Solutions and Paignton Zoo.
To find out more please contact Andrea Tolson, Accommodation Office, on 01803 321222 or andrea@ttpl-uk.com
