Page 16 - StudyTravel Magazine November 2023 Issue

WHG Advert - Study Travel Magazine 2023.pdf 3 12/09/2023 12:47:07

guArdiAnships

seCondAry foCus

The end of the Covid-19 pandemic and a rule
change introduced by the UK government have
boosted international student interest in
UK guardianship providers over the last 12
months, as Bethan Norris discovers.

secondAry

tudent numbers are very steady now. The Chinese standards to all its
positive,” says Will Hume from students have been members, when it
C SWhite House Guardians https:// slow to come back comes to vetting
whitehouseguardians.co.uk/. “As but next year I new homes and
M
well as the backlog of students think they will families, most
Y
coming through who froze their return.” providers point
plans during the pandemic, the new Vicky Dick- out that their
CM
MY UK National Minimum Standards for inson of Pippa’s own procedures
Boarding Schools [introduced] in Guardians are particularly
CY
September 2022 has reinforced the https://pippas- robust. Lorna says,
CMY
need for appropriate and accredited guardians.com/ “Safeguarding is at
guardianship for the benefit of the believes that the the centre of every-
K
students and schools.” Covid pandemic also thing we do. We back-
An update to the rules last year helped to show parents, ground check all adults over
concerning children under the age of schools and students the critical value 16 years and also ensure that their
18 years coming to the UK to study in of their services. “The guardianship motivation behind hosting students is
a secondary school, which now puts sector and associated stakeholders correct. Hosts are only paid expenses
the onus on schools to ensure the learnt many lessons from the Covid rather than a salary. All families are
safety and security of their students pandemic and above all it highlighted required to undertake a safeguarding
even when they are not at school, has the importance of good guardianship,” course. We receive lots of feedback
thrown the accredited guardianship she says. “The ability to proactively from our students that they feel very
sector into the limelight at home and respond to the changing needs of well supported.”
overseas, according to providers. parents to maintain the safety and Another area that has become
Lorna Clayton from Academic Fami- wellbeing of their children in all even- more prominent in recent years is stu-
lies https://academicfamilies.com/, tualities, now plays an even greater dent mental health and guardianship
says that they have been very busy part in the provision of professional providers take this area of support
since the rule change and welcomed guardianship services. The needs and very seriously. Lana Foster from Bright
the increased professionalism in the expectations of overseas parents have World Guardianships www.brightworld.
sector that it has encouraged. She changed, and the sector now has an co.uk says, “We have a mental health
adds, “We have experienced increased opportunity to react to the many posi- champion initiative and we now have
numbers of students wanting our tives that have come about as a result all head office staff trained as Mental
services since the end of the Covid of the pandemic.” Health Champions, 25 host
pandemic. There has been a bulge While the guardianship association families around the country
in demand but it is becoming more AEGIS (see box) sets down minimum and 15 local coordinators - with

Photo: Bright World Guardianships November 2023 13