19 year old Au Pair for 1 month

So no payment officially- nothing stops the family from taking her on nice outings, pay for meals and give her a bit of pocket money hand to hand. Would be illegal for longer period, but fine for holiday stay.

I agree Lathyrus. It’s fraught with problems and if I were the OP I would say to the friend that legally it’s far too complicated. Once the friend is here the OP has no control over what she does or what money or benefits in lieu she accepts (if she can find any work without a DBS check) and the OP could easily end up in trouble. If the friend has had trouble finding a suitable arrangement that’s for a reason. No friendship is worth the risks the OP is being asked to take.

honestly? Just a short term holiday informal arrangement- no worries.

Claremont

So no payment officially- nothing stops the family from taking her on nice outings, pay for meals and give her a bit of pocket money hand to hand. Would be illegal for longer period, but fine for holiday stay.

No honestly Claremont, you might think it’s ridiculous but the rules are very clearly set out on Government websites.

The length of stay is not the determining factor. Nor is the amount or type of ‘help” given. The crucial factor is whether the “guest’ receives anything other than bed and board than could be determined to be pay - in which case they would be deemed to be working.

Pocket money could cover a whole range of payment so s not allowed. An occasional meal out with the family would be permitted, an outing would need to be as part of the family. Tickets for her to attend a concert independently for instance, would be deemed payment in kind. Gifts if any kind, jewellery, clothes would be regarded as payment.

As I’ve said, people do bend the rules and have a good chance of not being found out till something goes wrong. An accident, a chance word, a disagreement.

The OP may or may not decide to take that chance but please don’t continue to tell her that pocket money and other benefits are perfectly k.

I think the helping with children is also problematic.

Why does she want this?
Just trying to understand.

Years ago we had several French exchange students, they would have been 15-16 at the time, our daughters were the same age. They weren’t a great success and the option to return wasn’t taken up.

Claremont

honestly? Just a short term holiday informal arrangement- no worries.

I'm not sure about informal arrangements which involve young children.

I've done this when I was a teenager but that was aeons ago, both in this country and abroad.
When I say 'done this' I mean au pairing on an informal basis.