“Once a teacher, always a teacher” - Tracey and Bill’s Story

Tracey has been a host in Saltash since June 2025, and when she welcomed a new client, Bill, into her group, she immediately recognised the name. As they chatted more during his first Filo day, the connection became clear: Bill had been Tracey’s History teacher back in the 1980s.

“He made history exciting,” Tracey says. “I absolutely loved his lessons and became really interested in the subject because of him.”

At the time, she had been a borderline student in the subject, but Bill decided to enter her for both exam papers. Tracey passed her O-Level and went on to study History at A-Level, eventually becoming a teacher herself.

“The more we talked, the more it all came back to him,” she says. “He remembered only entering two students for both exams, and I was one of them.”

A Typical Filo Day

Their Filo days usually begin with tea and conversation around the kitchen table. The group often talk about local events, memories of Saltash, or topics in the news. Bill naturally takes the lead in many of the conversations and activities. “Once a teacher, always a teacher,” she laughs. “Bill still tells me what to do sometimes.”

Lunch is then prepared while the group continues chatting nearby. Tracey says the group are easy to cook for and enjoy homemade puddings, especially Bill’s favourite: Build-your-own Eton Mess.

What stands out most to Tracey is the sense of familiarity and comfort that develops over time. “You can see people slowly come out of their shell. At first, some people can feel really anxious being somewhere new, but after a few weeks, they relax and start to feel at home.”

Becoming a Host

Before becoming a host, Tracey cared for her mum, who lived with Alzheimer’s. During that time, she became aware of The Filo Project while looking into support for her mum and for herself as a family carer. After her mum passed away, she applied to become a host herself.

 “At the time, I was mostly thinking about carers and how much they need support. But once I started hosting, I realised how important the social side is for the person attending too.”

“You Don’t Have to Fill Every Minute”

Reflecting on her experience as a host so far, Tracey says one of the biggest lessons she has learned is not to overcomplicate things. “At first, you feel like you need to constantly entertain everyone, but actually you don’t. Awkward silences aren’t awkward at all. Sometimes people just need time to sit together and feel comfortable.”

Tracey also believes patience is one of the most important qualities for hosting.

For anyone thinking about becoming a host, her advice is simple: “Definitely do it. So many people need this support and there just isn’t enough capacity. If you’ve got the space and the time, go for it. You naturally become emotionally involved because people are coming into your home and becoming part of your life. But it’s incredibly rewarding.”