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Meet and Greet

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Meet and Greet

Before you leave South Africa, make sure you get to the airport in enough time and ensure the transition is as stress-free as possible.

It can be a little overpowering when you arrive in the UK if you do not have family or friends to welcome you. There’s a lot to take in. New smells, sights, noises, where to go . . . .

If you’d like a little help from trusted South Africans to make the process smoother at a realistic price, get in touch.

South Africans UK has a Meet and Greet service for South Africans moving from South Africa to the UK.

Services include:
• Meet and Greet at Heathrow or Gatwick
• Welcome pack with refreshments or whatever you require on arrival
• Drop off at your destination or arrange accommodation
• Child-Friendly equipment like car seats
• Sim Card / Travel Cards

Get in touch with us to chat about your unique requirements.

Pic Source: Photo by Sohel Patel from Pexels Thanks

Darryn Binder wins Moto3 at Catalan GP

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Darryn Binder wins Moto3 at Catalan GP

Well now, aren’t these two South African brothers just an item?

Darryn Binder, brother of Brad Binder (who recently won the MotoGP), has claimed his own victory by winning at the Moto3 Catalan GP.

The 22-year-old celebrated his first Moto3 win after starting in 9th position and taking the race in the last lap.

Darryn and Brad Binder.
Source: Instagram/darrynbinder_40

England tour to South Africa 2020

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England tour to South Africa 2020

Rumour has it that England will likely go for three ODIs and three T20s for a few weeks between mid November and December. The team will be homed in a biosecure environment in Cape Town with matches expected in town and Paarl.

Read more about it here.

Newlands Corner

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Newlands Corner
Day out for the bike enthusiast on a Saturday or Sunday in decent weather.
Beautiful views of the Surrey Hills and a great burger & milkshake on the menu.

https://www.surreywildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/newlands-corner

Hever Castle

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Hever Castle

Hever Castle is the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I.

Take in a piece of history and walk around spectacular manicured gardens with many water features and a lake. You can also book a tour of the exquisite castle that dates back to the 13th Century.

www.hevercastle.co.uk

Whispers From the African Bush

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Whispers From the African Bush

South African illustrator, author David Anderson has published a children’s book entitled Whispers from the African Bush which is now available to purchase in the UK on amazon.co.uk.

The book was originally published in South Africa by Shuter & Shooter Publishers under its original title of Whispers from the Bushveld along with a second collection entitled More Tales from the Bushveld. Both books are recommended reading in the South African school system.

Keen for new challenges, David moved to Toronto, Canada in 1990 along with his young family. He had been the editorial cartoonist for a number of South African publications including The Rand Daily Mail, The Sunday Times and The Star, Johannesburg. He now works as a freelance illustrator, children’s book author and cartoonist.

Tips for budding authors: Write about things you love or are at least passionately interested in, and develop a thick skin. Unless you are very lucky you will have your prize creation rejected a number of times before it is accepted. Join writer’s groups, use social media and never stop learning.

“If you do read “Whispers if the African bush” and it resonates with your kids, I’d love to see reviews on Amazon”. – David Anderson

David Anderson

www.dandersonillustration.com

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South Africa’s Belinda Davids on BGT

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South Africa’s Belinda Davids on BGT

Critically-acclaimed vocalist, marquee entertainer, world traveller and all-round fierce South African woman is how Belinda Davids describes herself.

Belinda was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and began performing professionally at the age of 14.

She recently wowed the judges and the UK during the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent with her version of Whitney Houston’s I have Nothing.

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Education

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Education

Many people move to the UK to offer their children a better future and finding a school where they are happy and cared for is important.
Keep in mind that you are in a foreign country and the schooling system here works differently and it may take some time to get used to.

The schools and teachers are very focused on the students and they want a smooth transition for your son/daughter.

When are they ready?
Once your child turns three, they are entitled to free education. It is not compulsory yet, but you can apply for placement. There are three slots in the year when children are enrolled:
September 1, January 1, and April 1. Your child can start in the first slot after their third birthday. They will be awarded a morning or afternoon slot.

Most children start school full-time in September after they turn 4. All children must enter full-time education once they reach compulsory school age. This is on 31 December, 31 March or 31 August following their fifth birthday – whichever comes first.

Key Stage 1 – 5 to 7 years old
Key Stage 2 – 7 to 11 years old
Key Stage 3 – 11 to 14 years old
Key Stage 4 – 14 to 16 years old (GCSE’s)
Key Stage 5 – 16 to 18 years old (A Levels)
Key stage 1 and 2 are usually done at primary school and key stage 3 and 4 at secondary school.

At the end of KS4, learners have completed their GCSE’s (General Certificate of Secondary Education) the equivalent of GR10 in SA. They then have the choice of moving to KS5 to complete their A levels, the equivalent of GR11 & GR12 in SA. When A levels are achieved the students will be able to apply for higher education or university.

Finding a school
You will apply for placement in your area using your council’s application form. https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-primary-school-place. You can research the schools in your area and apply to those you deem suitable.

There might not be openings, so you might want to apply at a few schools and then take it from there.

Types of schools
Infant School – between the ages of 4 and 7
Junior School – between the ages of 7 and 11
Primary School – between the ages of 4 and 11
Secondary School – between the ages of 11 and 18
Sixth Form – between the ages of 16 and 18

Ofsted
Schools are rated in this country by Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted). This is an organisation that is monitoring standards in schools by regular inspection and there are 4 Ofsted ratings so this will give you a good idea if you have approached a good school or not. https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/

Grade 1 – Outstanding that provides exceptionally well for the needs of its pupils and prepares them for the next stage of their education or employment at the highest possible level.
Grade 2 – Good school that provides well for the needs of its pupils and prepares them effectively for the next stage of their education or employment.
Grade 3 – Requires Improvement is not inadequate but neither is it satisfactory.
Grade 4 – Inadequate with significant weaknesses and is failing to prepare its students for the next stages of their lives.

You can also visit www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk for more information on schools.

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Buying a Car

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Buying a Car

Cars are relatively inexpensive in the UK and you can easily pick up a good runner for around £500. It may be a few years old but to start off with it’s definately the way to go.

If you live in London central, you will not need a car. We suggest signing up for a Zipcar account and using a Zipcar when you need one. You pay per hour and you simply use an app to locate cars near your location.

Driver’s licence
You will need to exchange your SA drivers’ licence for a UK one within the first 12 months. If your SA licence expired, you will need to do a driving test in the UK before you can get a licence. It is quite easy to exchange your licence and we suggest doing it sooner rather than later as it could affect your insurance premium. Apply online and they will send you the forms. Simply fill them in, send them along with a £43 fee and your SA licence to the designated address. www.gov.uk/exchange-foreign-driving-licence

Buying a Car
Buying a car is quite an interesting experience. Every car needs to pass MOT each year, if your car does not pass you need to fix all the concerns, or it will be scrapped. If the car does not pass MOT, you cannot insure it and it is illegal to drive without insurance. You will be pulled over and your car will be confiscated. We would suggest purchasing a car that has either just passed MOT or has a few months left on its MOT.

Best sites for purchasing cheap second hand cars are:
Autotrader
Ebay
Facebook Marketplace

Insurance
The cars here may seem cheap, that is because they are! However, it is not uncommon for your insurance to be more than the car is worth. If you buy a £450 car you could easily pay the same amount in annual insurance. This will become less once you have a UK driving record. Keep that in mind when shopping for cars. A lot of people buy cheap cars with long MOTs and drive them for a year. Once their insurance premiums decrease, they purchase a newer car.

Vehicle Tax
Keep in mind that you will also pay annual tax on your car. Here is a useful link. www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax-rate-tables

Related.

I am an ex-teacher turned part time CV writer,  online educator, and blogger who moved to Ireland with my husband three years ago. We brought along 4 pets and too many books to count. After a year in Ireland we made the move to London. We love exploring new places and taking long hikes around Surrey where we live. All of which I exploit on my blog that mostly serves to amuse my mother and my best friends. 

Welcome Home

Staff Reporter
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Welcome Home

It may be daunting to think of all the things you need to do as soon as you arrive. Some things are common knowledge, like getting a UK phone number, but some are unique to your new home. We have compiled a list of things that you need to do as soon as you get settled.

Get a UK sim. You can get a pay as you go sim which can later be converted to a contract. We would suggest getting a sim only contract as soon as you are able to as this will assist you in building your credit rating. After a few months, you can upgrade your contract to include a phone if needed. Click here for more detailed information on this topic.

Register with a GP. You will need to complete a GMS1 form that you can get from your closest practice or download from the NHS website. If you enter your postcode on the website www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-gp they will tell you where your closest GP is. Phone them to find out whether they are accepting new NHS patients and deliver the forms. You will then be allocated a hospital number once accepted.

Setting up a bank account. This is much more complicated than it is in South Africa. If you do not have a proof of address and a payslip it is almost impossible. You can use a service like Monzo or Starling, but they do not contribute towards your credit rating. This is something that is imperative if you want to buy property or anything else on credit. I would suggest registering to vote, this will give you proof of address, getting a letter from your company will also help.

Register to vote. Once you are on the electoral register you will have proof of address and it will count towards your credit rating. It takes only 5 minutes to register. www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Get a National Insurance number. You will need a National Insurance number (NI) in order to work. Visit the website for updated information and the latest rules. www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number.
You can make an online appointment by phoning 0800 141 2075. Do not use the online agencies that offer to make one for you it is a scam. You should not be paying to make an appointment.

Related.

I am an ex-teacher turned part time CV writer,  online educator, and blogger who moved to Ireland with my husband three years ago. We brought along 4 pets and too many books to count. After a year in Ireland we made the move to London. We love exploring new places and taking long hikes around Surrey where we live. All of which I exploit on my blog that mostly serves to amuse my mother and my best friends. 

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