Information for host families
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THE AGENCY
Young people from any permitted country can join our lists. The agency was started in 1992
particularly to help young people from central and eastern Europe have the opportunity to
be in an English family, and gain practice in English language and a better understanding
of the west. From May 2004 most of the countries involved joined the European Union
and travelling to the UK no longer required clearance formalities.
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AU PAIRS
Au pairs are young people of 17 - 27 who help the family with light housework, care of
children and cooking preparations whilst having enough free time at home to study English.
Au pairs should live as part of the family, having their own bedroom. Hours of work should
not be more than 25 hours per week (up to 5 hours a day) and a minimum of two full days
off per week should be given. There are some variations
to these general guidelines.
Pocket money is anything between £60-£100 per week - the basic rate depends on the cost
of essential transport where you live, and on the fees charged by local language courses.
Most au pairs expect to have an opportunity to attend language courses in English.
Language courses are run both by local colleges and privately. Au pairs need to budget to
meet these fees out of their pocket money.
Au pairs pay their own fares to England. It is very good
if they can be met at their arrival point. They are advised to keep sufficient funds by
for their return journey, if they do not already have a return ticket.
There are reciprocal arrangements between these countries for medical care, but an au pair
will be charged NHS prescription and dental fees as normal.
You may want your au pair to drive a car. Please look at important
advice about this.
It is obviously important for an au pair to be able to make friends and meet a variety of
people while in England. Often this happens at language school, and the agency can suggest
local courses tailored to an au pair budget and usually designed for flexible attendance.
We are also here to help sympathetically with any problems which may arise.
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FORMALITIES
Au Pairs are subject to quite precise regulations laid down by the British government Home
Office. You can check on these at the Home Office website (eligibility
and regulations
88-94). The UK government allows au pairs only from certain countries. Au pairs from some
of these countries need advance clearance, and will need to apply to the British Consulate
for an au pair visa. Both for this and for arrival at UK immigration control a
letter is needed from the host family, which is a clear invitation to come in an au pair
capacity. The agency can help prepare the invitation letter, ensuring that all appropriate
information is given.
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CONDITIONS
The au pair becomes a family member, so as host you become responsible for her (or his)
board and lodging, from arrival at your home till the end of the engagement. When
the au pair arrives from abroad you are responsible for the costs of travel from the
appropriate point of arrival in the UK to your home.
There is a trial period of one month. If within this period the au pair is agreed to be
unsuitable, the Agency will try to arrange an early replacement. If this is not possible,
a proportionate refund of the placement fee will be made.
If for any personal or practical reasons the client decides at some time beyond the trial
period to end the arrangement with the au pair, one month's notice must be given to the au
pair and to the Agency, allowing us to try to make alternative placement arrangements.
Notice to the Agency should be given or confirmed in writing. The client remains
responsible for the full board of the au pair for the notice period (or in the case of the
first week for seven days after notice). Beyond the notice period the Agency will take
responsibility for the au pair.
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You can see what kind of
information is normally needed by looking at
the on-line registration form here.
It is always a good idea to plan about a month in advance. The agency will certainly
try to help with short notice requests, but you should allow a sensible time for a
satisfactory arrangement.
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87 Greenfield Crescent
Patcham
BRIGHTON BN1 8HL
U.K.
telephone: (0044)(0) 1273 563-887
fax: (0044)(0) 1273 888-678
e-mail: info@euro-pairs.com
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