For many years students at our Essex campus have been living with host families for their accommodation arrangements. This unique offer for our Essex students can be a massive bonus while training with us. Read on to find out more about this arrangement, and hear from some of our hosts about their experiences and answers to your questions!
What is a Host Family?
In this arrangement, a student occupies a host’s spare room, and pays rent to the host in return for a place to live while training with us. Host families come in all shapes and sizes, from individual hosts to large family households, with differing levels of involvement. Arrangements can vary widely to suit different preferences – some hosts provide full board, inviting you to share in their meals and family time. Others offer a more independent setup, where you’ll have your own space to live and prepare meals. Many strike a balance between the two, allowing you to experience a bit of family life while maintaining a level of independence.
Safety is a top priority, and our Essex student wellbeing team carries out strict background checks on our hosts and ensures everyone is protected during the process.
Host families are particularly beneficial for younger students applying to our Trinity Diploma course, or those venturing away from home for the first time. It provides a comfortable, supportive environment that bridges the gap between your familiar surroundings and the excitement of a new adventure.
What are the benefits of a host family arrangement?
Samantha: We take pride in working hard to provide a ‘home from home’ feel wherever possible feel giving our house guests and their family piece of mind knowing, whilst we encourage some independence (almost a half way house between fully living away from home), we’re here as a safety net if things get a little difficult as life sometimes can. With a host family providing a good home cooked meal, cleaning, support and conversation (which always has a lot of laughter built in) we find it’s another thing the student has less to deal with in that all important first year finding their feet away from home.
Kellie: Host families are all different but will often be a more relaxing and enjoyable way to live for your first year. In our home, students don’t live that differently to being in a private rent – we aren’t their parents, we don’t tell them what to do, they have other students living here to chat about college with, and we don’t have a problem with them getting home drunk which I am often asked! It will give you the opportunity to settle into college life with fewer things to worry about and organise, and is cheaper than living in a private rent or student house so will also give you more money to spend on life outside of college, at the pub, trips to see shows in London, or that cute top or expensive tap shoes you just can’t live without.
Will I be the only one living with my host?
Karen: We had 2 girls stay this year and 1 boy. Two of the students stayed on for their second year.
Kellie: We host 2-3 students each year, and the experience is unique depending on who lives with us! We have met some wonderful students and are still in touch with most of them.
Reassurance for parents of younger applicants
Kellie: As a parent, when I was helping my children look for uni accommodation they wanted to be somewhere safe, in budget, close to uni and were worried about the realities of housemates, paying shared bills, sharing utilities, buying household items, dealing with a landlord – it can sometimes feel overwhelming for a younger student.
If a host family like ours had been an option, it would have made all these concerns easier, and would have been a smarter option for us – find out more and decide for yourself!
Jane: I’ve been a host for many years… it’s a great stepping stone for them to be away from home but still the support of an adult if needed.
Joanne: If a parent is not all for independent house sharing, living with a host family is a great first step. It can last for one year or four. Don’t rule it out, check it out!
Do I have to leave my host family and move into rented accommodation after first year?
Emma: No! I had a girl for 7 years; she did not want to leave. Now she’s like family. In fact, I still have contact with all my students as my extended family, and they all come back to visit.
Donna: My 2nd student in particular chose to stay with us for the whole 3 years, despite being asked to house share with new friends he had made at Performers. He has literally become part of our extended family. We will remain friends for life.
Joanne: All the students who have resided with me and my twins have been fabulous, one stayed four years!
What advice would you give to a student looking for a host family?
Kellie: Host families are all different and offer different things. If you consider living in one you should first think about what you want from living away from home, then ask the hosts lots of questions to see if there is an accommodation that matches your needs. Talk to as many as you can, visit as many as you can if possible before making a choice.
Samantha: If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to your prospective host family, you may be pleasantly surprised. If you’re thinking of a host family speak to them, maybe visit if you can. Trust your instincts of what’s the right fit for you.
Joanne: Once you have spoken to a prospective host family, make sure you visit them and share as much information about each other, what each other’s expectations are. It’s a stepping stone to living on your own.
Karen: Once you have spoken to a prospective host family, make sure you visit them and share as much information about each other, what each other’s expectations are. It’s a stepping stone to living on your own. We can’t wait to meet you!
To discover more about Performers College, including auditions and how to apply, contact us at [email protected] or book an Open Day on our Events page.
