Who We Are &
What We Do

Alpha Guardians is a Suffolk-based guardianship organisation dedicated to supporting international students studying in the UK — and the families who trust us to care for them.

Alpha Guardians team
Our story
Over fifteen years of caring for students

Alpha Guardians was founded with a simple but important purpose: to ensure that international students studying in the UK are never truly alone. We believe every child deserves a trusted adult in their corner — someone who knows them, understands their circumstances, and can step in whenever they’re needed.

Based in Suffolk, we have been providing guardianship and host families for over fifteen years. In that time we have welcomed more than 500 students into our care — many of whom have gone on to some of the UK’s top universities.

We are a small, dedicated team. We know our students by name, and we know their families. That personal approach is what sets us apart.

500+
Students placed
15+
Years experience
24/7
Emergency cover
100%
AEGIS accredited
What we believe
Our values

Safety first

The safety and wellbeing of every student in our care is our absolute priority. We never compromise on our safeguarding standards, and our AEGIS accreditation reflects that commitment.

Personal care

We are not a large organisation. We keep our numbers manageable so that every student and family receives genuine personal attention — not just a number in a system.

Honesty & transparency

We are open about what we offer, what we charge, and what families can expect. We believe trust is built through clarity and consistency over time.

Always available

Emergencies don’t follow office hours. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — because when something happens, families need to know someone will answer.

High standards

From our host family vetting process to our school relationships, we hold ourselves to the highest standards in everything we do — because our students deserve nothing less.

Rooted in Suffolk

We are proud to be a local, independent business. Being based in Suffolk gives us strong connections with schools, families, and communities across the region.

The people behind Alpha Guardians
Our team
TJ

Trudy Jacklin

Founder & Director

Trudy founded Alpha Guardians with a passion for supporting young people far from home. With over fifteen years of experience in educational guardianship, she leads the team with warmth and dedication.

AG

The Guardian Team

Student welfare & support

Our small, dedicated team of guardians work closely with students, schools, and host families — providing the day-to-day care and support that makes all the difference.

HF

Our Host Families

Vetted hosts across Suffolk

Our network of warm, experienced host families are at the heart of what we do. Carefully selected and regularly supported, they provide students with a true home away from home.

Accreditations & memberships
Recognised standards

Alpha Guardians is proud to be accredited by the leading bodies in UK educational guardianship and English language education. These accreditations are our commitment to you.

AEGIS

AEGIS Accreditation

The Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students. AEGIS is the recognised accreditation body for UK guardianship organisations, setting and maintaining standards of practice.

BSA

BSA Certified Guardian

We are a BSA Certified Guardian, recognised by the Boarding Schools’ Association, demonstrating our commitment to working closely with UK boarding schools and upholding the highest standards in student welfare and support.

FSB

Federation of Small Businesses

As an FSB member, we are part of a community of UK small businesses committed to high standards, ethical practice, and making a positive contribution to the communities we serve.

ST Alphe

ST Alphe Finalist

We are proud to have been recognised as a finalist in the ST Alphe awards, which celebrate excellence and best practice across the UK’s international student guardianship sector.

Where we are based
East Anglia & Beyond

Alpha Guardians is based in Suffolk and covers a wide area across East Anglia — including Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and Essex. As a general guide, we work with schools and host families within approximately an hour’s drive, which includes north Norfolk and the surrounding counties.

East Anglia is home to some of the UK’s finest independent schools, beautiful countryside, and welcoming communities — making it an excellent location for international students to study and grow. Our strong local roots mean we know the schools, the families, and the area exceptionally well.

We are registered in England & Wales under company number 08540578.

East Anglia ≈ 1 hour Norwich Cambridge Colchester London Alpha Guardians Ipswich · Suffolk North Sea N
Our Policies

Policies & Documents

Our full suite of safeguarding and operational policies is available to view below. Each opens in a new window. If you need any policy in another format, please contact us.

Bullying / Cyber Bullying Policy

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Anti-Radicalisation Policy

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Low Level Concern Policy

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Whistleblowing Policy

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Welfare, Health and Safety Policy

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Online Safety Policy

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Data Protection Policy

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Complaints Policy

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Missing Student Procedure

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Safer Recruitment Policy

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Staff / Host Code of Conduct

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Privacy Notice

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Statement of Aims

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Student Code of Conduct

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Terms and Conditions

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Private Fostering Statement

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Get in touch with our team

We’d love to hear from you — no obligation, just a conversation.

Contact us today