“Our kids tease us when we mispronounce some words with the correct local accent,” remarks Samir*, an Afghanistani refugee whose family has settled into their new life in the north of England.
At first, he explains, it was challenging for the family to adapt to rural life in the region, but eventually they had blended into the local community so completely that his children, who have adopted the local dialect, tease him about his different one.
“Now our community is turning into a multicultural community,” adds Samir, who along with his family was resettled to the UK following events in his home country.
Understanding Community Sponsorship
A key reason for the ease with which they have settled is down to support from a local support program. It gives refugees with all-encompassing support from a group of locals who commit to fundraise, secure reasonably-priced accommodation, and assist with the fundamental challenges of life in a new country.
This includes learning English, finding work, education or benefits, and registering with a doctor and dental practice.
Samir comments that thanks to their sponsorship group, the family have integrated well – even down to the local accents.
Official Future Plans
The government oversees the scheme, which is part of several resettlement pathways. The relevant government minister has said she aimed to further develop this approach.
“With management restored, we will open up new, limited routes for refugees for whom this country will be the first, safe haven they encounter. We will make community sponsorship the norm, so we know that the rate and size of change does not exceed what a local area is prepared to accept,” she remarked.
The Power of Local Connection
Sue Wall, part of a supporting group in Ashbourne, says that as a older woman, she slips into the same figure with the newcomers.
“That’s an role that the families respond to. If you help people become settled they are more able to return to their previous profession or something similar to it, which helps with their self-worth and self-esteem. If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a whole town to raise a family,” she notes.
Community Control and Successful Integration
Susannah Baker, the chair of a national support network, supports plans to develop targeted matching, allowing communities to be paired with refugee families they think will be a good fit.
“This puts the power firmly in the hands of communities, allowing them to identify and welcome refugees they are ready to support,” she says. “It is both caring and managed, delivering strong settlement results because communities are active partners from the beginning. When residents are engaged early, arrivals learn English more rapidly, find work sooner, and become part of local society.”
Personal Journeys:
Maryam’s Story: From Anxiety to Belonging
Maryam*, a 17-year-old from Syria refugee, came to Bristol with her family several years ago. The family was supported by a group of sponsors called Westbury Welcome.
“When I was three I travelled with my family from Syria to Jordan because of the big war in my country,” says Maryam. At first, the change between the busy area of Jordan and the calm street where they were given a home was a surprise, she says.
“In Jordan there are many people. When we arrived here we were given a house but when we looked out of the window and saw there was nobody in the street, it was really scary for me. I said to my mum, ‘should we just go back to Jordan?’ I think without Westbury Welcome we would have been trapped in a pattern of not understanding things.”
She says one of her earliest recollections was the meal the group cooked for the family after picking them up from the airport. “They cooked us Middle Eastern rice and chicken. I think it was the most generous meal I had eaten in my life.”
Now the family are embedded in their community. Maryam is working towards her A-levels and is hoping to then take a gap year before going to university.
“Not everyone understands why we came to the UK. We didn’t arrive for fun. Having supporters help us with everything from finding a GP to understanding how the buses work made things so much better for us.”
Eveline’s Perspective: Mutual Benefit
Eveline Johnstone, part of the group supporting Maryam’s family, said they formed under the guidance of a national charity that aids those who want to become community sponsors.
The group has subsequently supported other families. “It’s great for the families to have a network of people to support them and it’s great for us to do something positive and to welcome people. I have learned so much from the people who have come here,” Johnstone says.
Ori’s New Life: Roses and Resilience
For Ori*, a Syrian mother, one of the pleasures of living in the southwest – along with the huge support she has received – is having a yard.
“Back home we lived in an apartment block and the garden was on the roof. Here we live in a house with an upstairs and a downstairs, and I can grow flowers, camellias, vines and mint,” she says.
Jane Kivlin is a member of the group that has supported Ori and her family after being moved by a movie about how a Syrian refugee family are at first greeted with hostility but ultimately welcomed. She says of Ori’s family: “They are incredibly strong. They find a lot of things quite difficult but I don’t think I have seen any despair.”
Support in Scotland: A Springboard
Abby Boutlee, part of a group supporting an Afghan family in a rural Scotland, says: “It has gone really smoothly. The family have a traumatic history and some health problems but they are eager to be ‘new Scots’ and are keen to add to the life of the village. There are 14 of us supporting them and we hope to be a springboard for them into a new life where they can find their feet.”
A Final Reflection
“When we first arrived life was hard for us,” says Samir. “We found it a very quiet place compared to the city we had come from. We felt very isolated and didn’t know anyone. Now I’ve passed my driving test and have been given a place on a postgraduate course. We have made lots of friends here.
“Although we come from a totally distinct country and culture, we have so much in common with the people of this country. Community sponsorship is a powerful way to support people in need, and to build trust between people from different backgrounds.”
*Names have been changed
