Holiday hosting

For many supporters of the Medical Foundation it is important to feel they can offer more than just money. The holiday scheme gives them the chance to play a more active role in helping torture survivors to integrate in British society. Holiday hosts open up their homes to clients, often families, providing them with new experiences and welcome respite.

Some families who arrive at the MF prefer the reassurance of staying close to their home and friends in London, while others seek a complete escape to far-flung destinations such as Scotland or the countryside.

The holiday scheme is co-ordinated by Carmelle Denning and Philippa Hislop who make every attempt to match people who share common interests or who have similar backgrounds in terms of the size of the family. Assessing the suitability of clients for the scheme is done in conjunction with MF clinicians, who will make the initial referral.

Clients are then interviewed and Carmelle and Philippa ensure the host families are provided with any relevant information. The host families are also interviewed and equipped with an information pack, including suggestions for activities during the stay and what to expect.

"A lot of the hosts have got lovely homes in beautiful places which they feel that they want to share," says Phillipa. "It's the empty nest syndrome as well; their children may have left home and now they have the time and space to open up their homes to people. There is a core of people who take clients every year. New host families read about it or learn of it through word of mouth."

The initial costs of the holiday including a limited amount of spending money are met by the MF. Placements are offered for individual clients as well as families of anything up to six people.

"We try to stress to the hosts that they should not feel they have to be doing something all the time but to do whatever they would be doing normally," says Philippa. "That might be simply going shopping, attending church fetes or meeting family."

For information on becoming a host, contact Carmelle Denning or Philippa Hislop on 020 7697 7777.