THE search is on for Winsford and Middlewich families who might be able to offer a home to a teenage exchange student.

American Scandinavian Student Exchange is a non-profit organisation which is aiming to find 15 homes to host students from abroad.

It is now in its 52nd year of operation and hopes to grant students their cherished ambition of the experience of life in Britain for the 98/99 school year.

All students selected for the ASSE scheme are chosen for their character, academic standing and ability to get on well with people of all ages.

A spokeswoman from the organisation said: "These young people from the USA, French and English-speaking Canada, Brazil and New Zealand are the kind anyone would be proud to have in their homes and introduce to their friends.

"A host family is asked to provide a room and meals on a volunteer basis.

"ASSE students pay their own fare and have complete medical and liability insurance. They have their own pocket money supplied by their parents and will be in full-time education for the duration of their 10-month stay.

"Full support will be provided by the local ASSE representative.

"Host families will not necessarily have teenagers at home, nor indeed children at all, as the students will make their own friends at school or college.

"Although the families do not receive any payment, the rewards can be great when having a new member of the family from a different part of the world.

"Most placements lead to lifelong friendships between families involved."

Anyone interested in becoming a host family or seeing the full details of students can contact Tren Fisher on 01565 651157.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.