Frequently Asked Questions

Helpful Rider is a one-woman, motorbike-powered service offering short-term, practical help for people, pets and homes. I provide occasional babysitting, elderly companionship and check-ins, house & pet sitting, local errand running, and personal organising/decluttering (not cleaning). 

Insurance & Safety

Your safety – and the safety of your home, family and pets – is extremely important to me. I hold appropriate insurance for my work (public liability and cover for childcare, home help, house sitting and pet sitting), and I’m Enhanced DBS-checked, adult and paediatric first aid trained, and have Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) training.

I’m happy to share proof of my DBS and insurance details on request, so you can feel confident about who you’re inviting into your home.

Need references for peace of mind? No problem. I can provide references from past and current clients upon booking. 

Each service has its own rate. Full details for each service are on the individual service sections of the website. Please, visit my Services page for details. 

I travel by motorcycle and only use super unleaded petrol.

To cover fuel and running costs, I charge £0.35 per mile, calculated on the estimated return journey from my base in Oxford to your address and back. (Prices are subject to change due to inflation in petrol prices)

As an example:

• 10-mile return trip ≈ £3.50

• 20-mile return trip ≈ £7.00

• 30-mile return trip ≈ £10.50
  
  

I always calculate and confirm the travel cost in advance, and it is paid up front along with the service.

I accept bank transfer or cash only at the moment.

For most bookings, I’ll confirm the total cost in writing (service agreement + any travel), share my bank details, and your booking is secured once the deposit is paid.

Local services (babysitting, elderly companionship, errands, personal organising):

• • New clients: 50% deposit in advance to secure the booking, with the remaining 50% due on the day of the service (by bank transfer).

  • Regular/trusted clients: in some cases, I may agree to payment in full after the service, within 24 hours, but I may still ask for a deposit for longer or more complex bookings.

House sitting and house + pet sitting:

• • 50% deposit in advance to confirm the booking.

  • The remaining 50% is due 7 days before the start of the sit.
    
    

For international house sits, all travel costs and a 50% deposit are paid in advance, with the balance due before the sit starts.

Please, read in full my Terms & Conditions for more info. 

I understand that things change. However, because I’m a one-person service and reserve time just for you, I do have a Cancellation Policy.

Full details are set out in my Cancellation Policy. Please, make sure you read it carefully to understand what happens if you need to cancel or if I need to cancel your booking.

No. I’m happy to ride in normal rain (this is the UK, after all!), but I won’t travel in severe or unsafe weather – for example, storms, very high winds, ice, heavy snow or flooding.

Because I use a motorcycle, safety has to come first. If the weather makes it unsafe to ride, I may need to cancel or reschedule your booking at short notice. If that happens, any payments you’ve made for that booking will be refunded in full. Please, make sure to read my Terms & Conditions of use and Cancellation Policy in full before booking to understand the conditions. 

No. I don’t take on fixed nanny/support contracts or guaranteed weekly hours. My work is occasional and short-term – think one-off evenings, short blocks of support, and temporary cover rather than being your only or main long-term childcare/support provider. 

I’m based in Kidlington, Oxford - UK, but I can cover anywhere in the UK as long as we can make the trip practically and financially worthwhile.

For local services (babysitting, elderly companionship, errands, organising), I mainly work in Oxford. For house sitting and house & pet sitting, I’m happy to travel further across the UK, as long as:

• Travel is covered (charged per mile), and

• The length of stay and daily rate together make the trip cost-effective
  
  

I’ll always discuss this with you and give a clear quote before you book.

No. I offer live-in house sitting, which means:

• I sleep at your property each night

• I spend a reasonable amount of time there each day (including with your pets, if you have them)

• I may go out for walks, exercise, errands or a look around town during the day
  
  

I’m a house/pet sitter, not a security guard, so I provide a regular, reassuring presence rather than being inside the house every minute.

Yes, I do. For house sits, I ask that you provide some basic food supplies, such as:

• Rice or pasta

• Vegetables

• Fruit

• Yoghurt

• Milk

• Simple cupboard essentials
  
  

I don’t expect you to buy specialist items or meat for me – just enough basic ingredients so I can cook simple meals while I’m looking after your home (and pets, if you have them).

I can offer longer house sits if they fit around my other work.

For long-distance sits (over roughly an hour’s ride from my base), I usually:

• Require a minimum number of nights (often 4 or more), and

• Add a per-mile travel cost
  
  

For very short stays far from home, I may charge a minimum-fee equivalent or simply decline the booking if it isn’t practical.

Yes, international house sitting is possible, depending on the location and dates.

I have previously completed house sits in Portugal and I’m open to other locations in Europe if:

• All travel costs are covered (flights/transport to and from your home)

• There is suitable, safe accommodation and food for the duration of the sit

• We agree on a fair daily rate for the responsibilities involved
  
  

International sits are considered on a case-by-case basis, and we’ll always confirm all arrangements in writing before you book.

For most house & pet sits with dogs, I:

• Feed them according to your routine

• Provide fresh water and basic grooming/clean-up

• Guarantee at least two walks a day (morning and afternoon/early evening), adapted to your dog’s age and health

• Adjust exercise during extreme heat or bad weather to keep them safe

• Follow your instructions on leads, recall, treats and games
  
  

There is a daily pet-care add-on on top of the house-sitting rate, which depends on the number and type of animals.

I’m happy to look after dogs, cats and small pets (e.g. rabbits, guinea pigs) as long as they are generally safe and friendly to handle.

If your pet has complex medical or behavioural needs, we’ll discuss carefully whether I’m the right person.

No. For everyone’s safety, I do not look after:

• Dogs or cats with known behaviour issues (such as aggression, history of biting, serious reactivity or guard-dog training), or

• Pets with ongoing medical conditions that require medication, injections, close monitoring or complex care
  
  

I look after generally friendly, stable dogs, cats and small pets who don’t need specialist behavioural or medical support.

If your pet has more complex needs, it’s usually best to work with a specialist pet sitter or veterinary nurse service who is set up for that kind of care.

This service is for independent older adults who can manage their own personal care but would benefit from:

• Company for a few hours

• Someone to pop in and check they’re okay

• Help with small tasks or simple paperwork

• An occasional check-in + small top-up shop
  
  

I do not provide personal care, medication management, heavy lifting or emergency response.

My errand service is for small top-ups only, not full weekly shops. I travel by motorcycle, so I can carry roughly one small bag of groceries (up to around 6kg).

Think: milk, bread, a few tins, fruit/veg and basic bits you’ve run out of – not crates of drinks, large packs of bottled water, or lots of bulky items.

No. I am not a carer or nurse and I do not provide:

• Personal care (bathing, showering, toileting, dressing)

• Lifting or moving people who need physical assistance

• Administering medication or managing medical routines

• Any kind of emergency or 24/7 response service
  
  

My role is companionship/check-ins/groceries top-up and practical help for independent adults, plus support with everyday tasks.

I offer occasional, flexible babysitting in your home. I’m Enhanced DBS-checked, adult and paediatric first aid trained, and have experience in primary education and safeguarding training.

I don’t take on fixed nanny contracts or guarantee weekly hours – I’m best thought of as a reliable backup / short-term option for evenings, busy days or short periods (generally up to one or two weeks at a time), not your only childcare provider. Nevertheless, I can offer babysitting weekly if I don't have a current booking, but parents shouldn't count on me as their only babysitter option, as my schedule varies from week to week. 

No. I do not provide care for children with complex needs or complex medical conditions who require specialised care, constant monitoring or medical procedures.

I’m happy to support neurotypical children and children with mild additional needs who are generally independent and do not require specialist care. If you’re unsure whether I’m the right person, you’re welcome to get in touch with some details and I’ll be honest about what I can and can’t safely offer.

No. My personal organiser service is about decluttering and organising and helping you to find an organisation system that works for your home, not cleaning.

I help you:

• Decide what to keep/donate/recycle

• Create simple, realistic storage and systems

• Make spaces calmer and easier to manage
  
  

If you also need a cleaner or handyman, I’m happy to work alongside them, but my focus is on sorting, decisions and layout, not scrubbing.

No. I never carry passengers on my motorcycle – this includes adults, children and pets.

All of my services involve me coming to you to help with people, pets and homes on site. I don’t offer lifts, school runs on the bike, or any kind of passenger transport.

Sometimes. If I’m free, I’m happy to help with last-minute or short-notice bookings, but:

• Everything depends on my existing schedule (including house sits in other areas)

• Very last-minute requests may incur a small surcharge

• Full payment (including travel) is required in advance to confirm last-minute bookings
  
  

It’s always best to book as early as you can, especially for house sits and school holiday dates.

Unfortunately, no. Motorcycle theft in the UK is a serious problem, and my bike is how I get to all my other clients.

For any house sitting or overnight support, I need a safe place to park and securely lock my motorcycle (for example, a driveway, private parking space or secure yard/garage).

If you’re not sure whether your parking is suitable, feel free to ask and we can talk it through.