spotlight on RHC Jane Thurlow

Aug 26, 2017

In a recent newsletter we mentioned that there are Regional Host Contacts (RHCs) around the country; that is a network of experienced, knowledgeable WWOOF members who are available to support hosts to engage positively with WWOOFers and provide a good quality experience.

As an occasional feature we will be providing pen portraits of some of these individuals. In this edition it is the turn of Jane Thurlow. She looks after South Yorkshire and Derbyshire. We had a chat with her and asked her to tell us all about being an RHC. Here’s what she said:

What first attracted you to WWOOF?

I was a member back in the late 70s with good intentions to go WWOOFing, but then managed to get my first allotment and working full time meant I never actually went WWOOFing. Fast forward about 20 years and I found I knew the local regional co-ordinator and invited her to talk to an organic group I had set up. At the end of her talk she suggested that I could become a host. It had never occurred to us that we could do this as although we had a large garden and allotment, we didn’t have a farm. But we thought about it and signed up as hosts. At that time most of the WWOOFers were from the UK doing weekends. We haven’t looked back since and over the years must have hosted hundreds of WWOOFers from a wide range of nationalities.

What advice would you give anyone thinking about becoming an RHC?

Being an RHC isn’t too onerous – in my case just being available to any host in my area who has a particular query or problem and arranging the occasional get-together is most of the job.

Tell us about a memorable moment for you as an RHC

That must be when I arranged a get together at the Pennine Community in Wakefield. It was particularly good to have hosts AND WWOOFers from the area there. We had a lovely lunch, tour of the site and some time working together. It was a great opportunity to encourage those who had joined but not yet WWOOFed to take the plunge. They could see that us hosts could be quite friendly!

If you would like to connect more with hosts in your area becoming an RHC might fit the bill! Anyone over the age of 18, has some experience of hosting or WWOOFing in the UK, likes meeting new people, is happy using the phone and emails as key methods of communication and doesn’t mind keeping basic records is welcome to apply. The ability and time to visit hosts would also be helpful – but is not essential. Get in touch using info@wwoof.org.uk.

Episode 7 – Claudio Pozzi

Episode 7 – Claudio Pozzi

The guest of this episode is Claudio Pozzi from WWOOF Italia. Despite being the founder of WWOOF Italia, Claudio played a key role in the early development of the Federation of WWOOF Organisation. His long term involvement and his vision of the WWOOF movement are very...

WWOOF UK needs YOU! We’re recruiting Trustees

WWOOF UK needs YOU! We’re recruiting Trustees

Would you like to join an existing group of five dedicated individuals who are committed to overseeing the direction of WWOOF UK? Do you want to help more people experience first-hand the meaningful connection to self, land and others that immersion in a low impact...

25% off WWOOF UK membership until 2nd April

25% off WWOOF UK membership until 2nd April

Use discount code DAFFODILS when you sign up before the 2nd April for a 25% discount on any WWOOF UK membership. Don't be an April fool and miss out on this great discount! We have lots of hosts eagerly awaiting new enthusiastic WWOOFers for the season, and plenty of...

Follow up ‘Rat Control’ responses

Follow up ‘Rat Control’ responses

Thank you all for such a great array of responses to the #PennToPaper Rat Control article in the last newsletter. If you didn’t get around to reading it or want to refresh your memory, then here’s the link. Read on to explore the answers you all contributed, and don't...

Lesley Gorski a WWOOFing legacy

Lesley Gorski a WWOOFing legacy

Last year, we received the sombre news that long-standing WWOOFer Lesley Gorski had passed away. We were very saddened to hear this news as Lesley was well known by WWOOF staff, and had been one of the last remaining old-school members still using the...