“Being able to speak to an experienced host was incredibly useful.”
Earlier this year, Penny got in touch with us to find out more about hosting in their Reading home. Although she and her husband had been thinking about it for a while, they had a few concerns and questions. After arranging a callback with a member our team, we put her in contact with one of our experienced hosts who spoke about her experiences, motivating the couple to sign up for their first guest.
“We have four bedrooms in our house,” said Penny. “Since our kids have grown up and left we have some spare rooms that would be usable if we were to host, so it just made sense for us to offer them.”
As is common with many first-time hosts, their first placement was a short one, and they opened their home to a young man from Ethiopia for eight nights.
“He was lovely, and I was a bit sad when he left us, but I’m actually delighted for him because he’s now got a flat, he’s got a room, and he’s been accepted into university in Cardiff.
“After two days, he was like part of the family. He went on a day out to Oxford with my husband and our grandchildren and he seemed to enjoy being out with them.”
While speaking to a member of our team, Penny expressed an interest in chatting to someone who had hosted before, and we put her in touch with Rachel, another one of our hosts.
“The call back process was really simple, and being able to speak to an experienced host was incredibly useful. It was helpful to know about some of the challenges that can come with hosting, and Rachel was incredibly positive about the whole experience, and that was very helpful and motivating.”
For those considering hosting, Penny has some words of advice: “I would say just try it. I think it’s an amazing experience and almost life changing. It’s opened my eyes a little more.
“If it’s not going to work for you you’ll know quite quickly and things can be sorted out. Even if it’s just for a few nights, you might think it’s just a drop in the bucket, but it makes such a difference for them.”
After their first placement, the couple were keen to host again and two months later they were joined by a guest from Nigeria.
If you’re also considering hosting and would like to talk it through with a member of the tean, visit our call back page to register your interest and we’ll get in touch with you at your convenience.
