A Warm Welcome Awaits
Experience Comfort and Care at Home From Home Canterbury
Safe, Supportive Homestay for International Students in Canterbury
Home From Home Canterbury provides a smaller, more personal homestay experience for international students studying in the UK.
Founded by Becky Stone, a qualified therapist, the focus is on creating a calm, emotionally supportive environment where students feel safe, welcomed, and genuinely cared for while living away from home.
Unlike larger hosting agencies, every student is personally supported within a real family home environment built around trust, communication, wellbeing, and consistency.
Our Mission
The moment I realised something wasn’t right
Sometimes it only takes one situation to change everything.
For me, it was discovering that the guardianship system, the very network designed to protect international students, was not always operating to the standards parents and schools believed it was.
When I first became involved in hosting, I assumed every organisation followed the same safeguarding procedures: DBS checks, references, safeguarding training, and proper home inspections.
That is what parents are promised.
That is what schools rely on.
But as I became more involved, I realised safeguarding standards were not always as consistent or transparent as they should be.
That experience completely changed the way I viewed student welfare and guardianship support.
Home From Home Canterbury provides safeguarding-focused homestay and guardianship support for international students studying in Canterbury and the surrounding areas.
What I discovered behind the paperwork
A guardianship company had been appointed for one of the students I was hosting.
On paper, everything looked legitimate: forms, official language, logos, and processes.
But once I started asking questions, concerns quickly appeared.
- No DBS verification had been completed.
- References had never been taken.
- My home had not been inspected.
- Yet official confirmation letters were still being issued.
The more I learned, the more uncomfortable I felt.
Because behind every missing check is a real young person living far from home, trusting the adults around them to keep them safe.
That was the moment I realised safeguarding could not simply become paperwork or administration.
It has to be personal, consistent, and taken seriously.
A Leader in Care
Creating a Nurturing Atmosphere
Why I decided to build something different
Instead of walking away, I decided to build something better.
That experience became the foundation for Home From Home Canterbury, a smaller, more personal homestay environment built around care, transparency, and emotional wellbeing.
As an independent host, I intentionally keep things personal so that every student staying with me feels genuinely known, supported, and cared for.
I wanted to create an environment where:
- safeguarding is taken seriously
- communication stays open and honest
- emotional wellbeing matters
- students feel safe, seen, and supported
For me, real safeguarding is not just about paperwork or compliance.
It is about creating a calm, safe, and supportive environment where young people feel comfortable, emotionally secure, and properly cared for while living away from home.
As a qualified therapist working with both adults and young people, I understand how important emotional safety, consistency, and trust are when students are adjusting to life abroad.
That understanding naturally shapes how I support students and families through Home From Home Canterbury.
Understanding the importance of safeguarding standards
Through this process, I also became aware of the importance of recognised safeguarding accreditation within international student guardianship.
AEGIS (The Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students) is the nationally recognised safeguarding and inspection body for guardianship organisations in the UK, recognised by UKVI, schools, and the Department for Education.
Working towards AEGIS standards involves:
* enhanced DBS checks
* professional references
* safeguarding training
* home inspections
* verified policies and procedures
* ongoing safeguarding reviews
It is a thorough process, and rightly so.
Because safeguarding should never be treated as a formality when young people are living far from home.
Testimonials from Grateful Parents
Peace of Mind for Parents
Creating a Nurturing Environment
Why smaller homestay environments can make a difference
Large agencies often manage many students, hosts, and properties at once.
Home From Home Canterbury is intentionally smaller and more personal.
That means students are genuinely known, communication is more direct, and changes in a young person’s wellbeing are noticed more quickly.
Students are not treated as placements or numbers.
They are treated as individuals.
I believe that personal connection matters enormously when supporting international students who may be adjusting to a completely new country, school, routine, and culture.
Empowering Students
Building a genuine “home from home”
The name Home From Home Canterbury was chosen very intentionally.
I wanted to create a safe, calm, nurturing environment where students feel welcomed, emotionally supported, and comfortable being themselves while studying in the UK.
For me, good guardianship and hosting are built on:
- trust
- consistency
- communication
- emotional awareness
- kindness
- transparency
Parents deserve peace of mind.
Students deserve stability and support.
Schools deserve guardians they can trust to genuinely prioritise student welfare.
That is the standard I believe international students should receive.
What I want parents to know
If you are a parent reading this from overseas, wondering whether your child will feel safe and cared for while living abroad, I completely understand those concerns.
Handing your child over to strangers takes trust.
You want to know someone will notice if they are struggling.
You want to know they feel supported emotionally as well as practically.
You want to know there is consistency, communication, and care behind the scenes.
That is exactly what I aim to provide through Home From Home Canterbury.
Not just accommodation, but a genuinely supportive environment where young people can settle confidently into life in the UK.
Welcome to Our Home
Experience the Warmth and Comfort of Home From Home Canterbury
Looking for a Safe Homestay in Canterbury?
If you are considering homestay or guardianship support for your child and would like to see whether Home From Home Canterbury may be the right fit, you are very welcome to arrange a free discovery call.
I would always encourage students to join the conversation too if they feel comfortable. Finding the right homestay is about much more than simply providing a room, it is about making sure the environment, personalities, values, and communication feel right for everyone involved.
There is absolutely no pressure or expectation to commit.
The most important thing is finding the right fit for both the student and their family.
Get in Touch for More Information
Schedule Your Visit or Consultation
Looking for the Right Homestay Fit?
Finding the right homestay is about much more than simply finding a room.
I believe students and parents should feel comfortable, supported, and genuinely confident before making any decisions. That’s why I offer a free discovery call where parents and students can ask questions, get a feel for the environment, and see whether Home From Home Canterbury feels like the right fit.
Support & Advice for International Families
I regularly share guidance for parents and international students about settling into life in the UK, emotional wellbeing, safeguarding, homestay support, and adjusting to boarding school life in Canterbury.