How to share what we have?
Discussion
I'm not sure how to word this, so bear with me if I ramble a bit.
My wife and I are incredibly lucky. We've recently retired in our dream home, a very remote 4/5 bedroom barn conversion set in 20 acres in the Scottish Borders. We're not rich financially, but we can comfortably afford the life we want to live, walks in the countryside, gardening, swimming in the river, chopping wood, tootling about in my old tractor and eating very well.
Our kids have grown up and left home, and although they and other family visit regularly, the house is largely underused.
We really appreciate how fortunate we are and would love to share what we have with others, especially those who might be going through a tough time.
We've been trying to think of how we might be able to offer stays to people who need an escape whether it's a short break or an extended getaway.
Where we live is not for everyone, 12 miles from the nearest town, no shops, pubs or streetlights and at 900 feet up a hillside, when the weather hits, there's not much to do but settle down in front of the fire with a book.
The question for the PH massive is how can we offer what we can give to someone who needs/wants it.
We'd thought about fostering or foster breaks, but that seems like too much hard work and long-term commitment. We'd thought about offering accommodation to refugees, but the remoteness and lack of transport would put most off. We've considered 'Workaway' schemes as I can always find a useful project for someone but that would restrict the clientele ( we think people with kids would love it here).
Any suggestions/ charities we could offer our services to?
My wife and I are incredibly lucky. We've recently retired in our dream home, a very remote 4/5 bedroom barn conversion set in 20 acres in the Scottish Borders. We're not rich financially, but we can comfortably afford the life we want to live, walks in the countryside, gardening, swimming in the river, chopping wood, tootling about in my old tractor and eating very well.
Our kids have grown up and left home, and although they and other family visit regularly, the house is largely underused.
We really appreciate how fortunate we are and would love to share what we have with others, especially those who might be going through a tough time.
We've been trying to think of how we might be able to offer stays to people who need an escape whether it's a short break or an extended getaway.
Where we live is not for everyone, 12 miles from the nearest town, no shops, pubs or streetlights and at 900 feet up a hillside, when the weather hits, there's not much to do but settle down in front of the fire with a book.
The question for the PH massive is how can we offer what we can give to someone who needs/wants it.
We'd thought about fostering or foster breaks, but that seems like too much hard work and long-term commitment. We'd thought about offering accommodation to refugees, but the remoteness and lack of transport would put most off. We've considered 'Workaway' schemes as I can always find a useful project for someone but that would restrict the clientele ( we think people with kids would love it here).
Any suggestions/ charities we could offer our services to?
Desiderata said:
I'm not sure how to word this, so bear with me if I ramble a bit.
My wife and I are incredibly lucky. We've recently retired in our dream home, a very remote 4/5 bedroom barn conversion set in 20 acres in the Scottish Borders. We're not rich financially, but we can comfortably afford the life we want to live, walks in the countryside, gardening, swimming in the river, chopping wood, tootling about in my old tractor and eating very well.
Our kids have grown up and left home, and although they and other family visit regularly, the house is largely underused.
We really appreciate how fortunate we are and would love to share what we have with others, especially those who might be going through a tough time.
We've been trying to think of how we might be able to offer stays to people who need an escape whether it's a short break or an extended getaway.
Where we live is not for everyone, 12 miles from the nearest town, no shops, pubs or streetlights and at 900 feet up a hillside, when the weather hits, there's not much to do but settle down in front of the fire with a book.
The question for the PH massive is how can we offer what we can give to someone who needs/wants it.
We'd thought about fostering or foster breaks, but that seems like too much hard work and long-term commitment. We'd thought about offering accommodation to refugees, but the remoteness and lack of transport would put most off. We've considered 'Workaway' schemes as I can always find a useful project for someone but that would restrict the clientele ( we think people with kids would love it here).
Any suggestions/ charities we could offer our services to?
Sounds a great idea.My wife and I are incredibly lucky. We've recently retired in our dream home, a very remote 4/5 bedroom barn conversion set in 20 acres in the Scottish Borders. We're not rich financially, but we can comfortably afford the life we want to live, walks in the countryside, gardening, swimming in the river, chopping wood, tootling about in my old tractor and eating very well.
Our kids have grown up and left home, and although they and other family visit regularly, the house is largely underused.
We really appreciate how fortunate we are and would love to share what we have with others, especially those who might be going through a tough time.
We've been trying to think of how we might be able to offer stays to people who need an escape whether it's a short break or an extended getaway.
Where we live is not for everyone, 12 miles from the nearest town, no shops, pubs or streetlights and at 900 feet up a hillside, when the weather hits, there's not much to do but settle down in front of the fire with a book.
The question for the PH massive is how can we offer what we can give to someone who needs/wants it.
We'd thought about fostering or foster breaks, but that seems like too much hard work and long-term commitment. We'd thought about offering accommodation to refugees, but the remoteness and lack of transport would put most off. We've considered 'Workaway' schemes as I can always find a useful project for someone but that would restrict the clientele ( we think people with kids would love it here).
Any suggestions/ charities we could offer our services to?
I've got some friends who live a slightly "alternative" lifestyle, and they holiday at friends-of-friends helping out with some sort of project – so a bunch of them will go to somewhere and camp for a few days while they all help re-roof a barn or dig out a floor or something.
For something a bit more formal there is https://www.workaway.info/en/hostlist/europe
How about a retreat centre?
My wife is a Buddhist and goes on retreats occasionally, and this sounds like the sort of place she'd love. The remoteness is just what is needed, and you wouldn't see much of them as the whole point is to be alone and get on with lots of meditation and study.
A place to cook and a bathroom separate from the rest of the house would be ideal.
Contact the nearest Buddhist centre, and don't forget there are Christian retreat centres as well, so other religious groups might be interested. They would be quite willing to pay for the facilities, and wouldn't be expecting the Ritz.
My wife is a Buddhist and goes on retreats occasionally, and this sounds like the sort of place she'd love. The remoteness is just what is needed, and you wouldn't see much of them as the whole point is to be alone and get on with lots of meditation and study.
A place to cook and a bathroom separate from the rest of the house would be ideal.
Contact the nearest Buddhist centre, and don't forget there are Christian retreat centres as well, so other religious groups might be interested. They would be quite willing to pay for the facilities, and wouldn't be expecting the Ritz.
Lovely thought OP.
There's a service provided via Local Authorities called Shared Living.
It provides a transition to independent living for young adults with learning difficulties whose own families have abandoned them (normally from a very young age so have spent their lives in some form of care environment). They come and move in and live as part of your family for a period of time that can range from a few weeks to several years.
It's a paid gig but those who offer their homes tend not to do it for the money.
I did made some films for this in Essex and it is a really nice thing and rather inspiring.
So do a bit of research with your local authority and see what they might need.
Whatever you do, you do need to work it through a formal institution of some form, if not a local authority then a charity or healthcare provider.
There's a service provided via Local Authorities called Shared Living.
It provides a transition to independent living for young adults with learning difficulties whose own families have abandoned them (normally from a very young age so have spent their lives in some form of care environment). They come and move in and live as part of your family for a period of time that can range from a few weeks to several years.
It's a paid gig but those who offer their homes tend not to do it for the money.
I did made some films for this in Essex and it is a really nice thing and rather inspiring.
So do a bit of research with your local authority and see what they might need.
Whatever you do, you do need to work it through a formal institution of some form, if not a local authority then a charity or healthcare provider.
119 said:
Why would you move away from people in to the middle of nowhere and then have them stay in your house?
Regret?
No regrets, we've lived here for 28 years, just moved into a different house for our retirement. We've always had a full house through our kids, their friends, other family, their friends and various waifs and strays we've picked up over the years. Just got a little more capacity ( time and space wise) now.Regret?
119 said:
Why would you move away from people in to the middle of nowhere and then have them stay in your house?
Regret?
Wrong track. Regret?
Genuine kindness I expect.
It’s a thought that often goes through our mind - we’re privileged to live in an exceptional location (also in the boonies) with rare wildlife that many never see. It gives us so much pleasure and we love sharing it with others, strangers included.
I can completely get where the OP is coming from and will follow this thread to see what avenues can be explored.
Sounds like a lovely place, the Borders is one of my favourites places in the world. Also what a really lovely idea.
Just building on what others have said, I would suggest using a secluded acre to allow charities to use; could be folk with mental health issues, struggling families, recovering addicts, etc. They could learn bushcraft type stuff, maybe set up a little allotment to tend to, look after some chickens and just generally enjoy the peace and a wonderful bit of British countryside and all the benefits of a bit of fresh air and graft. Maybe some basic glamping stuff put in for accommodation. They could have it for free on the proviso that they maintain it and cover any costs (within reason).
If you don't want the complexities of human beings, you could do a big wildflower meadow and get some bees. Harvest the honey, sell it, donate profits to local charity. Or the same with eggs. Or both.
Let us know what you do
Just building on what others have said, I would suggest using a secluded acre to allow charities to use; could be folk with mental health issues, struggling families, recovering addicts, etc. They could learn bushcraft type stuff, maybe set up a little allotment to tend to, look after some chickens and just generally enjoy the peace and a wonderful bit of British countryside and all the benefits of a bit of fresh air and graft. Maybe some basic glamping stuff put in for accommodation. They could have it for free on the proviso that they maintain it and cover any costs (within reason).
If you don't want the complexities of human beings, you could do a big wildflower meadow and get some bees. Harvest the honey, sell it, donate profits to local charity. Or the same with eggs. Or both.
Let us know what you do
A friend of mine does this but with a focus on overseas students and has had a regular stream of students from all over the world co-habiting with him/his wife/kids for probably 20years now - from what I can gather they stay anywhere from 2nights to 6mths.
He loves the diversity it brings to the household in conversation, food, etc.
I believe he has an arrangement with a local university but dont know the intricate details of it.
He loves the diversity it brings to the household in conversation, food, etc.
I believe he has an arrangement with a local university but dont know the intricate details of it.
Along the lines of having people stay over, but with a difference....
Setup a motorhome aire/certified site. Some are little more than a grass field, and others have the full facilities for disposing waste and having a toilet/shower block.
I believe you can have something like 5 or 6 vans staying without planning permission if it is limited to members of a club (eg. the one of the 2 big motorhome clubs).
Charge £10-20 a night and it brings in some money to cover the costs, and you get a stream of people coming through but without having them in the house.
Setup a motorhome aire/certified site. Some are little more than a grass field, and others have the full facilities for disposing waste and having a toilet/shower block.
I believe you can have something like 5 or 6 vans staying without planning permission if it is limited to members of a club (eg. the one of the 2 big motorhome clubs).
Charge £10-20 a night and it brings in some money to cover the costs, and you get a stream of people coming through but without having them in the house.
Alorotom said:
A friend of mine does this but with a focus on overseas students...
My brother did this with students at their local posh private school over the half term breaks - it wasn't worth the kids flying half way round the world for just a week, so they stayed with locals.They had the same kids regularly so got to know them. Mostly Chinese girls who loved being able to access a proper kitchen to cook authentic food for a change, so they didn't even have to go to any extra effort to feed them....
Although I suspect there aren't many schools close to the OP by the sound of it.
Truckosaurus said:
Along the lines of having people stay over, but with a difference....
Setup a motorhome aire/certified site. Some are little more than a grass field, and others have the full facilities for disposing waste and having a toilet/shower block.
I believe you can have something like 5 or 6 vans staying without planning permission if it is limited to members of a club (eg. the one of the 2 big motorhome clubs).
Charge £10-20 a night and it brings in some money to cover the costs, and you get a stream of people coming through but without having them in the house.
In a similar vain, idiots like me who like to take pictures of space (Astrophotography) are always looking for dark remote sites to do imaging from, there are a few dedicated forums to Astro where you could advertise for a members only admission, most just need somewhere to park for a night or two and you wont get noise or light complaints off them either Setup a motorhome aire/certified site. Some are little more than a grass field, and others have the full facilities for disposing waste and having a toilet/shower block.
I believe you can have something like 5 or 6 vans staying without planning permission if it is limited to members of a club (eg. the one of the 2 big motorhome clubs).
Charge £10-20 a night and it brings in some money to cover the costs, and you get a stream of people coming through but without having them in the house.
StevieBee said:
Lovely thought OP.
There's a service provided via Local Authorities called Shared Living.
It provides a transition to independent living for young adults with learning difficulties whose own families have abandoned them (normally from a very young age so have spent their lives in some form of care environment). They come and move in and live as part of your family for a period of time that can range from a few weeks to several years.
It's a paid gig but those who offer their homes tend not to do it for the money.
I did made some films for this in Essex and it is a really nice thing and rather inspiring.
So do a bit of research with your local authority and see what they might need.
Whatever you do, you do need to work it through a formal institution of some form, if not a local authority then a charity or healthcare provider.
I do like this idea, although my wife spent her whole working life helping children with behavioural problems so while she has the skills,it might not be much of a retirement for her. We're keen to do something positive ,but still want to enjoy our retirement.There's a service provided via Local Authorities called Shared Living.
It provides a transition to independent living for young adults with learning difficulties whose own families have abandoned them (normally from a very young age so have spent their lives in some form of care environment). They come and move in and live as part of your family for a period of time that can range from a few weeks to several years.
It's a paid gig but those who offer their homes tend not to do it for the money.
I did made some films for this in Essex and it is a really nice thing and rather inspiring.
So do a bit of research with your local authority and see what they might need.
Whatever you do, you do need to work it through a formal institution of some form, if not a local authority then a charity or healthcare provider.
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