Families in the borough are being invited to provide homes for Spanish students for three weeks as part of a buddy scheme this summer.

A group of around 50 Spanish boys and girls from Madrid, Toledo and Valencia will be making the journey to Bury and Bolton at the end of June and attend high schools for the last few weeks of the summer term.

Bury-based Language-Link will be running its annual buddy scheme to escort the 11-17-year-olds and are hoping to find "local caring families" with sons or daughters of a similar age who share similar hobbies and interests. 

All Spanish students will be escorted back to Spain before the schools break up for summer holidays.

Around 20 secondary schools in the region have supported placements through Language-Link with a number of primary schools and sixth form colleges.

The programme has grown successfully in recent years and always proves to be a culturally and educationally enriching experience for everybody involved and is also great fun.

A Language-Link spokesperson said: "The British student does not need to be studying Spanish to participate, however, this is a tremendous opportunity for boys and girls who are studying Spanish.

"This experience would be very beneficial in their language learning journey, and they will certainly get the chance to practice and improve their knowledge of the Spanish language with a native speaker of their own age.

"Many of our local school-age boys and girls have forged friendships for life and are inviting their Spanish buddies back for the third or fourth consecutive year. 

"Each year many of our local students choose to welcome the chance to trade the gloomy North West for blue skies, beaches and paella on a return trip to stay with their Spanish buddies and their families.

"This year's Spanish students include keen footballers and sport enthusiasts, musicians, linguists and members of the Spanish scout and guide movements while others enjoy gaming or shopping.

"Indeed, whatever interests the British student has, Language-Link is confident that there will be a suitable Spanish student with whom they can be successfully matched.

"All participating Spanish students are looking for British pals from caring, enthusiastic families with whom they can experience local life and improve their English during their stay."

Language-Link will also invite the British and Spanish students together with school representatives to a paid for evening at Baci restaurant in Harwood to "eat pizza, pasta and talk Spanglish!" 

Football coaching organised by First Football Coaching Academy at The Elton High School is another attraction enjoyed by previous participating students.

Language-Link is very keen to involve more host families who have sons or daughters in school Years Nine,10 and 12 and believes the programme presents a fantastic opportunity for those students studying Spanish at GCSE or advanced levels.

Families who would like more information regarding hosting students this summer should make contact as soon as possible by email to haydn@languagelinkintl.com.