Delivering Homestay Experiences Whilst Ensuring Your Safety
The COVID-19 pandemic came as a rather unfortunate turn of events back in March this year and with it came changes to our everyday lives. From being locked down to learning how to co-exist whilst staying 2 meters apart at all times (turns out it's harder than it sounds), we’ve all had to make adjustments in order to adapt to “the new normal”.
London is no different with disinfectant dispensers nearly everywhere in the city, people wearing face masks in indoor spaces, and social distancing being implemented wherever possible. New measurements have even been introduced recently - now bars and pubs are required to close at 10 pm in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Also, gatherings are limited to groups of 6 and should preferably take place outdoors.
Despite all of this, the city remains bustling and full of excitement with new attractions popping up every week! Most museums and galleries, London’s outdoor cinemas and markets, and London’s most famous parks and gardens, such as Hyde Park or Kew Gardens, are open and attracting lots of visitors every day. The fact of the matter is, if you follow government guidelines there’s no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy your stay in the British capital even during the pandemic times.
We encourage you to stay informed on the topic and read the most reliable sources possible. We’ve put together a list of handy links so you can stay updated on what the latest news is:
NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Citizen Information: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/covid19/covid19_overview.html
Office for Students: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/for-students/student-guide-to-coronavirus/
Government Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/education-and-childcare
Here at Host Family Stay, our priority has always been delivering the best possible homestay experience whilst ensuring safety for both guests and the hosts. For this reason, we have trained our staff and offered guidance to hosts on the best ways to follow safety and safeguarding guidelines when hosting students from abroad. We have also been granted “We’re Good to Go” status by Visit Britain for the compliance with COVID-19 related measures in the UK hospitality sector.
Our team is committed to helping students with accommodation in London, so feel free to call or email us whenever you are in need of a homestay! We’re very fortunate to have such an incredible community of hosts that are more than happy to receive students during these times.
For those who are unable to travel at the moment, but would love to know what British life is like or simply wish to improve their English, we have introduced a virtual experience - Virtual Stay. This service allows young people to connect to hosts in the UK from their own countries. Anyone can join in, as a couple, sibling, with friends or as an individual student! If this sounds like something you want to do, get in touch with us!
Most importantly, we want you all to stay safe during these times and stay in touch!