About GSOS
Why GSOS exists.
It began with one family helping another.
GSOS started in one family.
A cousin moved to Essex from East Africa to start university. His family lived in Manchester. They drove to London to pick him up and helped him settle in.
A niece moved to Coventry. Her mother had to fly with her, and pay for an expensive hotel during the settling-in week.
A son moved to Crawley for a new job. His cousin helped him settle in over a single day — desk, bedding, food shopping, lunch. He still remembers it as one of the most useful things anyone has ever done for him.
These were small, ad-hoc family interventions. They saved each new arrival weeks of confusion. But not every student has family nearby. Not every parent can afford to fly across the world to help.
Four beliefs that shape every booking.
The first week in a new country shouldn't be the hardest one.
A stranger who shares your language is not a stranger for long.
The logistics matter — but it's the human presence that makes the difference.
Parents deserve to know their child is safe, in real time.
A small team in the UK.
We're growing a network of vetted student hosts city by city. We launched in 2026 for the September intake, with support in major cities such as London and Manchester.
The work behind every booking is done by a small founding team — Liz, plus a handful of brilliant hosts and an occasional consultant for legal, design, and translation. We answer parents personally. We don't outsource the welcome.
Get in touch.
For enquiries about a booking: tell us about your child's arrival. For everything else: [email protected].
Enquire about September 2026