How to apply

Apply to be a guardian

Do you love spending time with children and have room in your home to offer care and support to an international student at a UK boarding school?

Imagine if your child were attending a boarding school in Moldova and the reassurance you would gain from having a local family to support them and keep you regularly informed on how they are getting on?

Friendly, supportive and reliable British families who care for international children at uk boarding schools.

This is an excellent opportunity:

For your own children to make new friends and to learn about other countries and cultural understanding.
To fill the ‘empty nest’ when your own children have perhaps gone off to university or left home.
To become involved in the school life of a young person, supporting them through attendance at school matches, concerts, parents’ evenings.
To build lasting friendships with international families overseas.
To put your spare bedroom to good use.

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Step one

Complete and return the application form, you can either return the form by scanning it and emailing it to office@guardianfamily.co.uk OR you can also post your completed form to Siobhan Skaife at the following address.

Hampden House, Monument Park, Warpsgrove Lane, Chalgrove, Oxon OX44 7RW

The details on your form help us to match you up with a potential child and to tell their family overseas about you. This form also requests contact details of two referees who know you well enough to vouch for your ability to care for children. We will also ask all family members who live at home and are over 18 to complete a CRB form, so we can carry out an enhanced background check.

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Step two

We will contact you by phone to discuss the role in more detail, answer any questions you may have and to tell you a little more information about the children for whom we are currently seeking guardian families.

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Step three

If we have a child who you are keen to meet, we will arrange for one of our staff team to come and meet you in your home. During the visit we will ask to see the bedroom where the child will be staying and for a tour of your home. We will also spend some time with you getting to know you a bit better and will be able to discuss the child for whom we are seeking a guardian in a bit more detail. Following the visit, we will ask you if you are happy to proceed to the next step.

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Step four

We send a report about you and your family to the child’s family back home, asking if they are happy to proceed to the next step.

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Step five

If you and the child’s parents are happy to proceed, we will arrange for the child to come and have a trial stay with you. This might be for an exeat weekend or for a half term. This is your opportunity to meet the child and see if you feel they will settle in your family. It is also the chance for the child to meet you and see if they feel happy to stay with you long-term.There is no long-term commitment or obligation at this stage.

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Step six

Following the trial visit, we seek feedback from all parties and if everyone is happy to proceed, we then confirm you as the child’s guardian. We will inform the school and send you a float to cover anticipated expenses for the forthcoming term, as well as asking you to confirm your availability for forthcoming exeats, half term holidays and airport runs.