Domenico Vernava, Milan, Italy

My name is Domenico Vernava; I am British and work in Milano Italy. Although my main profession is as an architect, I also teach English and have around 20 students of all ages.

Around　 2 years ago I was asked by　 a few of my students about home stay possibilities in England so I started making an internet search on possible companies that would service my request.

I contacted quite a few companies in England and to be honest I was disappointed by the feedback with one exception www.homestay-online.com.

I was sent an email by Lorna Allen, the Director of Live and Learn Homestays Ltd who said that she would be able to help me with my request, well to say the least I told her what I was looking for and in no time at all she furnished me with not just 1 but 3 different options as I was looking for accommodation for children and adults.

From then on it was easy I just filled in the form on the web site and Lorna did the rest. As you can imagine when parents send their children to another country they will be a little apprehensive but they were comforted knowing that their homestay family had been police checked and they, the parents, had internet and phone contact with their children 24/7.

I must add that Lorna made frequent calls and visits to the host family and also took photos of the children at their home and sent them to the parents, GREAT.

The value for money was excellent and the excursions offered　were varied and imaginative - from golf, archery, museums, canoeing in Wales, well what I can say. The students have been in 2009, 2010 and are already planning their next visit for 2011!

Mumpreneur 2011 Award

BIRMINGHAM BASED "MUMPRENEUR" REACHES FINALS OF NATIONAL BUSINESS AWARDS

Local mum and entrepreneur, Lorna Allen, has earned herself a place in the final lineup of The Mumpreneur Awards, an annual ceremony aimed at celebrating parents throughout the UK who manage the difficult task of juggling business with family life.

The mother of 2 runs Live and Learn Homestays Ltd., an organisation offering personalised English courses and leisure activities to people visiting the Midlands region from abroad. Lorna's customers (homestay guests) benefit from a full immersion experience where they are placed with host families and have the unique opportunity to improve their English skills and learn about British culture through sharing their host families' lives.