Become a Local Link host

Offering friendship to international students is a key way to help students integrate into the city and community of Bristol. International students can struggle with isolation, homesickness, language barrier and culture shock - the Local Link scheme seeks to support students through these challenges, as well as enabling them to experience local life (many students only meet other students during their stay here).

Our aim is to link you up with students with whom you can share friendship, inviting them up to meet up in any way that suits you. Local Link is not for offering accommodation.

Your role as host is to make your linked students feel welcome in the UK and to understand what will help them. This may include enabling them to practise their English, introducing them to local places of interest, or inviting them round for a meal so they can visit your home. With Covid 19 continuing to have an impact, you may prefer to meet in a café or go for a walk - whatever works for you.

How do I sign up?

Please complete the registration form below, giving us as much information as possible. As part of this process we ask you for the name of a referee - this would normally be someone in leadership at your church, or if this is not applicable it could be your employer or someone you know well who is already involved with BISC.

Who will I host?

Students come to Bristol from all over the world. They may be staying here for just a few months, a year or for a few years. For some, this is their first visit to the UK. We do our best to link you with a well-matched student based on the information we receive from you and from them. You may want to think about hosting two students at the same time, as it can help them to feel more confident.

What happens next?

Students begin to arrive in September / October and can sign up for Local Link at any point in the year. We will get in touch with you when we have found a student(s) for you to host. We also email your student with your name and contact details so they know who you are. Please try to email/call your student as soon as you can after receiving their details, and let the BISC office know when you have made contact.

Please refer to our ‘Hints for Hosts’ page, designed to give you some helpful tips on hosting from others’ past experience.