Come and join a British family living and enjoy cultural exchange in Billinge, Sweden

Details

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  Description

  We are a British family living in Southern Sweden.
  Helen and Martin met through Scouting and the open-hearted, generous, communal way of life close to nature is a fairly good starting point for our ethos. Good humoured practicality, tolerance and flexibility in as low demand a lifestyle as possible. Both of our boys have neuro-psychiactic differences/challenges and this family has weathered more than a few storms in the last decade.
  
  We have a property with much potential for hosting van-lifers, travellers, campers and so on. We are interested in education and personal development, managing adversity whilst enjoying life and supporting others, and more specifically outdoor activities, handcrafts and we are beginner Viking re-enactors.
  
  We used to host travellers occasionally and we had a few contacts return to work on the property, informally, to improve our ability to host guests. More recently we have realised that there are travellers out there who enjoy helping a host, building, repairing, renovating a property in exchange for accommodation and connection.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Child-care, learning about Autism, learning about ADHD, about Anxiety, about Oppositional Defiance traits and care of domestic animals and hens . . . or just come and help out as an open-minded 'au-pair' in a family where two parents/householders are often not quite enough.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  Some plans . . . .
  
  In the main we offer short stays for travellers so any work is on a casual and low-skilled basis, helping out with maintenance and neglect . . . Our lifestyle has not allowed us enough time, energy, mental health or money to keep up with the basic work needed to keep a property functioning well. Sanding, painting, gardening, repairs and so on.
  
  This poor battered house . . . all of the windows need taking out, sanding down, wood filler, repairing and repainting.
  
  The 'stuga' or guest cottage . . . we have all the potential for electrics, plumbing and drainage but need some help making the connections. There is a room fitted as a sauna which would make a wonderful toilet and shower room. We have an Ikea mini-kitchen ready to be fitted there. The plans are reasonable, the time and energy are lacking.
  
  A traditional Swedish camping shelter . . . in the corner of the 'fairy garden' hidden between bushes . . . dreamed of but not yet built. Outdoor, structural carpentry.
  
  In the 'dreaming' category I would love a balcony over car-port to provide views and fire escape from the camping loft (over the garage) and large covered verandah running the length of the back of the house . . . but these projects will require planning permission and detailed drawings, advice from those who have done it before or a friendly architect!

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  Sami: Fluent
  Swedish: Fluent
  French: Intermediate
  German: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  Guest room in outbuilding with cooking facilities which we hope to develop to include a camping toilet and later a shower room.
  
  Ancient motorhome with kitchen and camping toilet
  
  or camping!
  
  You would need to be fairly independent for much of the time, as we do also work long hours and cope with all of the above, sometimes single-handed. Our diets are not as good as they should be so all the offers I read here of organic, locally produced, vegetarian/vegan/carefully balanced meals are not generally possible here. I would probably offer you the chance to cater for yourselves using the stuga kitchen and join us for meals when we have the time to produce something suitable and enjoy the meal together.

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  What else ...

  We are near to both the Ringlake and Soderåsens National Park, on a bus route and with rail connections to many different locations all over Skåne.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  2 - 4 hours a day, 5 days a week.