HostNation recognise that whilst asylum seekers and refugees over the age of 18 are not technically classified in legal terms as vulnerable adults many of them are nevertheless vulnerable. The form is both a screening and a profiling questionnaire and for this reason requests a lot of personal information.

You will need to upload some documents as ID as well as provide us with two references. We need these for safeguarding purposes but all personal information and documents will be data protected and will not be shared with others. Once the information has been submitted and references checked, someone from the team will contact you to discuss befriending.

We also ask you to commit to reading the befriending guide which has a lot of information on seeking asylum in the UK, the problems many asylum seekers and refugees encounter, how the system works, best practice befriending, boundaries, signposting to specialist support services etc.

Scope of Services

HostNation is an introductory service putting socially isolated asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in need of friendship, in contact with local, volunteer befrienders offering friendship. We aim to create interactions between two different populations (UK residents and those seeking refuge) who have problems intersecting, but we cannot recommend anyone on the site to you. This is an altruistic, social arrangement, not a contractual obligation and there is no payment nor are volunteer befrienders expected to provide any professional services.

We try to manage the expectations of refugees referred to HostNation and help them to understand that befrienders commit to meeting their befriendee socially once every week or two weeks over a period of 3 months. We will also explain that befrienders are not social workers, case workers or legal experts and cannot help with the progress of asylum claims or housing applications but may be able to help their befriendee access expert support should it be needed. For information on the role of the befriender please read the Befrienders Guide.

HostNation is not responsible for verifying the accuracy of information given by befrienders or referrers. We will do what we can to ensure a successful match but cannot guarantee that friendship will emerge. We are not making recommendations or any representations about the suitability or appropriateness of any relationship that arises either directly or indirectly through the use of the website.

Whilst we will help to arrange the first meeting, HostNation cannot take responsibility for managing the continuing relationship between befriender and befriendee. Support after the initial meeting is limited; further meet ups are arranged directly between befriender and befriendee. HostNation will check on the status of the relationship at 1 month and 3 month intervals. During the three months, befrienders can contact HostNation with any queries or concerns and we will do our best to respond as quickly as we can, but we are unable to provide a full support service.

Exclusion of Liability

As HostNation is an introductory service, we do not accept responsibility for any relationships formed as a result of using our web site.  To that end, please note that we hereby exclude all and any losses, liabilities, claims, damages, expenses or costs (whether as a consequence of our negligence or otherwise) arising directly or indirectly in connection with any content on or provided through the web site (including any relationship which is initiated by or results from use of the web site).

At HostNation we will only collect, process and store information about you that you have willingly provided. We aim to be open about collecting this information and clear about what we will use it for. You do not need to give us any information to use our website, although as a result of your use of the website we may collect cookies and other related information (see below).

We will not share your information with third parties or outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) without your permission unless we are legally permitted or required to do so. There are times when we may be forced to share your information with police, regulatory bodies or legal advisors without your permission (sometimes referred to as ‘breaching confidentiality’).

Read our full privacy policy here.