A Jersey family who have spent six years welcoming English-language students into their home have been lauded for their “care” and “warmth” as they were crowned ‘Hosts of the Year 2025’.
St Brelade’s College praised winner Clare Mansfield and her family for their “willingness to step in at short notice, always with a positive attitude”.
Since 2019, Clare and her family have welcomed both adult and junior students, and have also opened their doors to students with additional needs.
The college said that the Mansfield family were being recognised for “consistently showing genuine care and warmth to everyone they host”, adding that they had received a great amount of positive feedback with requests to return from previous students.
“It’s hard to believe we’ve been hosting for over five years now; the time really has flown by!” Clare said.
“Each year brings new faces, new stories, and new memories, and we’ve loved every minute of it.”
She explained that, for them, hosting is about “watching [the students] grow in confidence”, adding that “it’s amazing to see how quickly they settle in, start to flourish, and become part of the family”.
She said that they enjoy playing games together, sharing treats that the students bring from their home, and receiving handwritten notes at the end of their stays.
Clare explained: “There are always moments of learning and the occasional challenge, but the rewards far outweigh them.
“Some students have even returned to stay with us again, which is always such a joy.”
She added that the family “feels truly honoured” to have been recognised, and that they “can’t wait to continue sharing this wonderful experience for years to come”.