Helpx / Wooff hosts. How do you choose?

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Helpx / Wooff hosts. How do you choose?
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Sally Too

Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 2511
Location: N.Ireland

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 10 6:58 pm Post subject:

woodsprite wrote:

I never did, we just treated them to days out.

Ditto.

I treat them like they are some distant relative's kids who want to travel. They join in all we do and are a part of our family for the time they are here. We lay on some special days out too - which actually my family love - and have found that helpers are appreciative. I like the fact that no money changes hands.

We did once slip a young long term helper £20 as she was going into Belfast with a short stay older couple who we thought might do the bus tour etc. and we wanted our young helper to be able to afford to do that too.

I guess if hosts were doing this just for the work that helpers provide, then it doesn't really always balance...... but we enjoy the company and the buzz of having visitors and that is what makes the whole effort worthwhile. And now I look round my garden and remember helpers by the various things they achieved for us! Very satisfying.

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 10 7:12 pm Post subject:
It's something I am vaguely interested in pursuing for Ma's place. But she will loathe the idea because it involves talking to people .

Sally Too

Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 2511
Location: N.Ireland

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 10 7:45 pm Post subject:
Chez, I'm not sure how well that would work.......

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 10 7:48 pm Post subject:
Quite

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 10 7:50 pm Post subject:
I am being a wooffer's day out on Tuesday - a friend from work has them and has asked that I show her and them how to make soap I'd better make a cake (or will toast and my own honey do?)

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 10 7:53 pm Post subject:
Toast and your own honey. It's delightfully British. And get Sean to dress entirely in tweed.

Sally Too

Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 2511
Location: N.Ireland

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 10 8:16 pm Post subject:
Tea toast and honey on the lawn with a man in tweed..... What fun. And just totally normal of course too...

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 10 8:33 pm Post subject:

Chez wrote:

And get Sean to dress entirely in tweed.

Is casual clothing OK for this sort of event then?

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 10 8:35 pm Post subject:
It being Yo, she'll probably be in a flowery dress and Hunter wellies

Sally Too

Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 2511
Location: N.Ireland

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 10 8:37 pm Post subject:
Very jolly. Can I come too?

T.G

Joined: 13 Sep 2009
Posts: 7280
Location: Somewhere you're not

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 10 8:40 pm Post subject:

Jamanda wrote:

It being Yo, she'll probably be in a flowery dress and Hunter wellies

sean? never had him pegged for a floral print man more a twinset and pearls

Bulgarianlily

Joined: 01 Jun 2008
Posts: 1667
Location: South West Mountains of Bulgaria

Posted: Sat Jul 31, 10 6:25 am Post subject:
We make sure they get to see the local attractions, go out of our way to find events or village happenings that they can be involved in, and have recently bought two bikes for them to get off into the forests paths on. We plan some sports equipment like a table tennis table or such at some point.

Green Rosie

Joined: 13 May 2007
Posts: 10498
Location: Calvados, France

Posted: Sat Jul 31, 10 8:06 am Post subject:
We don't pay them but likewise take them out and about to local attractions and usually pay for a meal for them on their last day. One did ask of they could do some extra work for pay but they turned out to be the Helper from Hell who didn't even manage to do the work they were supposed to let alone any extra .

Sally Too

Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 2511
Location: N.Ireland

Posted: Sat Jul 31, 10 9:52 am Post subject:

Green Rosie wrote:

We don't pay them but likewise take them out and about to local attractions and usually pay for a meal for them on their last day. One did ask of they could do some extra work for pay but they turned out to be the Helper from Hell who didn't even manage to do the work they were supposed to let alone any extra

I always think the "extra for pay" throws up a load of dilemmas. Really because as a host you then would have to define exactly where their help for their stay ends and the pay for the extra starts.

I like to think that if folk appreciate what we are doing for them then they will do a little "extra". We certainly give "extra" to just board and lodging. So if we were paying helpers more then we'd have to put a value on the extras we give them too.

Considering most get: to ride horses, a bike for their own use, use of trampoline, trips out and lifts when they ask, and generous servings of wine etc. in the evenings. I think it could only become an awkward arrangement.

woodsprite

Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 2943
Location: North Herefordshire

Posted: Sat Jul 31, 10 10:13 am Post subject:

I agree. We provided a bike, use of all of our sports equipment and in the helpxers room there was a small fridge stocked with beers ( not masses) and milk etc, a kettle and tea/coffee making stuff, chocolate/crisps and a portable TV.
Some prefer to be slightly independant from the family, some were with us 24/7. One New Yorker who was with us for 3 months bought his own games machine to hook up to the TV. I'd say that you have to be prepared to have them with you 24/7, if you cant face that, dont do it. Having said that we only had one who was truely like that and she was ridiculously homesick, poor kid.

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