From our host contact, Taryn Field
Hosts — do you use social media platforms with your WWOOFers? I’ve heard from a couple of hosts that they use WhatsApp groups as a good way to communicate with their WWOOFers. Do any other hosts do this or something similar? I would be interested to hear about how technology can assist in hosting, and if there are positive or negative aspects to it. Please let me know your thoughts and experiences at info@wwoof.org.uk.
Recently we have received feedback from hosts regarding communication with WWOOFers and how some WWOOFers are not responding to confirm their stay.
I suggest, as part of your communications with WWOOFers, that you send an email a few weeks before they are due to arrive giving the WWOOFer and yourself a deadline for confirmation. This should help you if WWOOFers do not confirm by the suggested date, as you will you at least have a reasonable amount of time to make other arrangements.
Here’s an example of what I mean:
Hi Maria, Please can you confirm that you are still planning to WWOOF with us on the 12-24th September? If I do not receive a reply from you by the 28 August, I will assume you are NOT coming, and make appropriate arrangements.
Alice Law, potential trustee, off on her WWOOFing adventure
From all of us
You’re probably aware that the full WWOOF UK team, trustees and staff, meet three times a year for formal Council meetings. Our June meeting was held for the second time at a brilliant venue in central Birmingham, Cherry Reds Café, saving us all time and reducing costs by making it possible to hold the meeting on one day. At the meeting WWOOFer Emma Robinson was confirmed as a trustee and we already have reason to be grateful for her experience in marketing. We are really fortunate too that three other potential trustees were with us; hosts David Beaton and Matthew Pumphrey and 19 year old Alice Law who is from a host family but now off on her own WWOOFing adventure. Thanks everyone!
photo: Scarlett Penn
