EIL UK - About EIL

This is how it is done - Morris Dancing that is!

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 08:04:11 +0000

Visit UK

About EIL

During June 2011 EIL hosted a group of European visitors in the UK on an Arts and Crafts Workshop funded by the Grundtvig Programme. One of the activities the group took part in was joining in a display given by the Silurian Morris Men in Malvern. The Morris Men spent time teaching the group.

Grundtvig

European programme

Silurian Morris Men

Europe versus Morris Men

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 08:01:11 +0000

Visit UK

About EIL

Grundtvig

European programme

Silurian Morris Men

75 years and still going strong!

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 12:32:49 +0000

2011 is the year that EIL is celebrating the 75^th year of trading since it was established in the UK.

Over the years EIL has gone from simply arranging homestay accommodation to becoming a well-established organisation providing volunteering opportunities for people of all ages. EIL is also a sending and receiving organisation for European Voluntary Service and other European funded programmes, and a leading partner in the Intercultural Training Partnership providing intercultural training for EVS volunteers based in the UK. EIL works with partners in many countries around the world to provide life-enriching experiences for volunteers.

On May 25^th the Trustees of EIL hosted a lunch for over 60 guests - ranging from retired host families to current partners. At the lunch speeches were given by Mel Nock – the chairman of the Trustees; Mike Butler, a retired host family and local coordinator and current member of EIL and Jon Elphick, the son of Jim and Mary Elphick who helped to develop EIL into the force that it is today, opening their home and lives to hundreds of volunteers between 1956 – 1990.

The Trustees and staff of EIL would like to thank everybody who has helped the organisation over the years and are looking forward to working with many new volunteers in the years to come.

http://www.malverngazette.co.uk/news/local/9047578.Malvern_charity_marks_75_years/

Goodbye to Mona

EIL UK — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:14:07 +0000

Today we say a sad goodbye to Mona. Mona is from Germany and has spent the last month volunteering in the EIL office. She came to find out what goes on at an international charity and chose EIL after spending 9 months on an EVS project at a local charity in 2008. She has been a great addition and we are sorry that she has to return home to continue her studies.

Mona said "I had a really good time here and I found it very interesting to see all the different programmes. It was really good to get an insight into everything and it was nice for me to help and to be involved in projects. Everyone was really nice to me so I really enjoyed it here."

Thanks for all your help Mona! We'll miss you!

Mixing it with the Mayor!

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 14:24:34 +0000

During a recent homestay weekend in Worcester a group of American students who are attending university in the UK spent time meeting with the Mayor of Worcester, Mike Layland, and visiting the Guildhall. The students all found this an interesting and very different experience and even made it into the local paper!

The homestay visit was organised by EIL on behalf of the ‘Arcadia Institute for Study Abroad’. The students were staying with local families in the Worcester area and apart from visiting the Guildhall they also went bowling, took part in a guided walk around Worcester and visited the shops.

Although homestay visits are short many students enjoy the opportunity to have home-cooked meals and relax in a family environment. Often students return to their host families again during their stay in the UK and some keep in touch for years afterwards. Lasting friendships have been formed, and there have been host families who have travelled to visit the students after they have completed their studies and returned home.

Internet Protection - Guidance for host families

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 13:46:55 +0000

Following several instances of misuse of internet provision, EIL have published some guidance for host families, to help them reduce the risk of anonymous illegal downloads or uploads from their internet connection.

October Newsletter Published

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 10:37:25 +0000

The October edition of the EIL newsletter can be viewed at http://eepurl.com/bcMqU

Some Days...Some Lives....Somewhere in England

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:30:29 +0000

EIL have been hosting a group of American students visiting the UK for the past month to learn about film and to make a short film about young people in Britain and about their lives and culture.

The video is called 'Some Days...Some Lives...Somewhere in England' and follows the group from Malvern, to Bradford, Liverpool and Derby. During their travels the group met young people from all these areas, visited youth centres and radio stations and talked to people about what it means to be young in Britain today.

The film has been put together with the help of Film City Productions, a film production and training company based in Derby.

View the video here

Some Days...Some Lives...Somewhere in England

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:27:25 +0000

Visit UK

Groups Incoming

About EIL

This is the video created by the 2010 Summer Abroad Film Group during their month travelling around Britain meeting young people and learning about life and culture in Britain today.

“what have you done today to make you feel proud?!”

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:57:29 +0000

“Red Shirts are burning government buildings in Ubon- violence could spread, so please stay at your project, avoid town centres and crowds"

Laura Clayson, an EIL sponsored volunteer to Thailand, has sent a newsletter about her experiences and the volunteer work she is doing.

Read her newsletter here

July newsletter published!

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:36:33 +0000

Read the latest news from EIL here.

New projects in Gloucester and Worcester.
2 new medical / health programmes added
American groups in the UK
Host family information

EIL project gets 'creative'!

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:00:20 +0000

EIL UK is hosting an EVS (European Voluntary Service) Short Term Creative Arts Project from 8^th – 28^th July 2010 in Gloucester.

The aim of the project is to give disadvantaged young people the opportunity to build up their basic / social / life skills in an informal way through a short volunteering experience. It also enables the participants to learn about life in another culture. Art (creative / performance arts) is an excellent medium for this type of project as there is little need to have foreign language skills in order to get across what you want to say; you just ‘express yourself’ through your art.

The volunteers will be ‘getting creative’ alongside young people from Gloucester 66 Star Youth Club and together they will produce some work which can be shown to the world on Sunday 18^th July at the Gloucester ‘World Together’ Festival in Gloucester Park. The group will then fine tune their work and put on a mini show the following weekend.

The group is made up of volunteers from Italy, France and Sweden and they are aged between 18 and 24 years of age, and they speak very little English!

Funding awarded for re-run of successful ‘Changing Minds’ project.

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:03:03 +0000

Following the success of the ‘Changing Minds’ project run by EIL in Gloucester last year, a similar project will be run in Worcester during August this year.

The aim of the project is to bring together young people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds in Worcester to work together on an Identity Project, looking at issues that affect them and their communities. The group will meet with policy makers who have a direct impact on their lives, with opportunities to discuss matters important to them and their lives.

EIL have been awarded ‘Celebrating Diversity’ funding from Worcestershire County Council for this project as well as funding from the European ‘Youth in Action’ programme.

Click for more information about the Worcester ‘Changing Minds’ project or contact Catherine at EIL on 01684 562577

Welcome to Angelina!

EIL UK — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 09:58:09 +0000

We would like to welcome Angelina to the UK. Angelina is from Germany and is here for 5 months on the Youth in Action EVS programme. She will be volunteering in Gloucester, Worcester and Hereford on various youth work projects, including a 3 week project for international young people and a summer project for young people from different backgrounds.

We hope you enjoy your time here!

Can you help a charity in distress?!!

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:31:52 +0000

We have a group of 8 adult volunteers (18 – 25) and 2 leaders coming to work in Gloucester City on a cultural youth project with ‘Increase the Peace’ 8^th to 28^th July. The volunteers come from Italy, Sweden and France.

We had arranged a student house to accommodate them but this has just fallen through and we are desperately looking for somewhere for them to stay. The volunteers are willing to share rooms, dormitory style. As we are a charity, there is a modest budget (£80 per person per week) to provide for their needs. A student house would be ideal or just someone with a big house who enjoys the company of young people from different cultures!!!!

If you can help please contact Lorraine at EIL l.lockyer@eiluk.org

EIL offer new Medical/Health Volunteering Programmes

Wed, 19 May 2010 14:40:48 +0000

In an extension to the partnership between EIL UK and GeoVisions, EIL are now offering volunteering programmes specifically related to health projects. Although some of the programmes require training in or knowledge of medicine and health care, many are open to anybody who would like to volunteer in this area of work. If you would be interested in these programmes visit the medical/health programmes pages of our website.

May Newsletter from EIL

Fri, 14 May 2010 11:41:48 +0000

The May Edition of the newsletter from EIL features articles about Safer Travel, Vodafone Grant, Volunteering in Morocco, Charitable donation, Chile Earthquake programme and new Medical and Helath programmes.

Read the newsletter .

If you would like to receive a copy of future newsletters from EIL, please contact us and let us know. info@eiluk.org

Families Wanted!

Wed, 12 May 2010 14:43:03 +0000

At EIL we are always on the look out for families who are interested in other people and other cultures to act as hosts for some of the people who want to travel to the UK to learn more about our wonderful culture and way of life. Families need to be able to welcome a stranger into their home as one of their family and make the visitor feel comfortable. If you think your family fits the bill or if you know a family who might please see the Host Family pages on our website for more information.

Safer Travel Partnership

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 10:02:07 +0000

EIL have joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's 'Know Before You Go' Campaign Partnership.

The campaign was launched in 2001 to encourage people to prepare themselves for travelling to foreign destinations.

The main messages of the campaign are;

Get adequate travel insurance
Check the FCO's country travel advice
Visit your GP as soon as possible before travelling
Check your passport is in good condition and valid and that you have all the necessary visas
Make copies of important travel documents and / or store them online using a secure data storage site
Tell someone where you are going and leave emergency contact details with them
Take enough money and have access to emergency funds.

Be prepared, take care ou yourself and have a great time abroad!

Teach English abroad

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:42:19 +0000

Would you like to teach English Abroad?

EIL UK are working with GeoVisions to offer 2 programmes for individuals to travel aborad and teach conversational English - either to a family or to an organisation, and you do not even need to be a 'teacher'. You do need to have a good standard of spoken English and obviously you need to be interested in travelling and talking - but other than that....!

Have a look at Conversation Corps (living and working with a family) or Conversation Partner (tutoring staff at an organisation) to find out more information about where you could be travelling to in a couple of months!

http://eiluk.org/travel-abroad/conversation-corps

http://eiluk.org/travel-abroad/conversation-partner