“My children correct me when we mispronounce certain words with the correct regional accent,” explains Samir*, an Afghanistani refugee whose family has settled into their new life in the north of England.
Initially, he explains, it was challenging for the family to get used to rural life in the region, but over time they had integrated into the neighbourhood so thoroughly that his children, who have adopted the local dialect, joke with him about his own one.
“Now our area is becoming a varied community,” says Samir, who along with his family was relocated to the UK following the situation in his home country.
The Role of Local Support Schemes
Part of the smooth transition with which they have integrated is due to support from a community sponsorship scheme. It provides refugees with wraparound support from a team of residents who commit to raise money, find reasonably-priced accommodation, and help with the fundamental challenges of life in a foreign land.
This involves studying English, finding work, study or support services, and registering with a GP and dentist.
Samir comments that thanks to their sponsorship group, the family have settled in successfully – even down to the local accents.
Official Future Plans
The authorities oversees the scheme, which is part of several refugee resettlement programmes. The relevant government minister has said she hoped to expand this approach.
“With management established, we will open up new, capped 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 willing to accept,” she said.
The Power of Local Connection
Sue Wall, part of a assisting group in the area, says that as a older woman, she slips into the same role with the arriving families.
“That’s an role that the families recognise. If you help people become integrated they are more able to return to their original career or something similar to it, which helps with their self-worth and self-esteem. If it takes a community to raise a child, it takes a whole town to raise a family,” she explains.
Empowering Locals for Strong Outcomes
Susannah Baker, the chair of a sponsorship alliance, supports plans to develop named sponsorship, allowing communities to be paired with refugee families they think will be a good fit.
“This places control firmly in the hands of communities, allowing them to identify and welcome refugees they are prepared to support,” she says. “It is both compassionate and managed, delivering strong integration outcomes because communities are active partners from the beginning. When local people are involved early, arrivals learn English more rapidly, find work sooner, and become part of local society.”
Stories of Settlement
Maryam’s Story: From Fear to Community
Maryam*, a 17-year-old from Syria refugee, arrived in Bristol with her family in 2018. The family was aided by a group of sponsors known as Westbury Welcome.
“When I was three I walked with my family from Syria to Jordan because of the conflict in my country,” says Maryam. Initially, the contrast between the bustling area of Jordan and the calm street where they were housed 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 cycle of not comprehending things.”
She says one of her first memories was the meal the group prepared for the family after picking them up from the airport. “They cooked us Middle Eastern rice and chicken. I think it was the biggest 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 year out before going to university.
“Not everyone comprehends 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 set themselves up under the auspices of a national charity that aids those who want to become community sponsors.
The group has later supported other families. “It’s wonderful for the families to have a whole group of people to support them and it’s rewarding for us to do something constructive and to welcome people. I have gained so much from the people who have come here,” Johnstone says.
Ori’s New Life: Roses and Strength
For Ori*, a Syrian mother, one of the pleasures of living in Devon – along with the huge support she has received – is having a garden.
“Back home we lived in an flat and the garden was on the roof. Here we live in a house with an top floor and a ground floor, and I can grow roses, shrubs, vines and herbs,” she says.
Jane Kivlin is a member of the group that has supported Ori and her family after being moved by a film about how a Syrian refugee family are initially greeted with hostility but in the end welcomed. She says of Ori’s family: “They are incredibly resilient. They find a lot of things quite challenging but I don’t think I have seen any hopelessness.”
Support in Scotland: A New Start
Abby Boutlee, part of a group supporting an Afghan family in a rural Scotland, says: “It has gone really well. The family have a difficult history and some health problems but they are ready to be ‘part of Scotland’ and are keen to contribute to the life of the village. There are 14 of us supporting them and we hope to be a launchpad for them into a new life where they can settle in.”
Looking Forward
“When we first arrived it was difficult for us,” reflects 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 succeeded in my driving test and have been offered a postgraduate course. We have made lots of friends here.
“Although we come from a completely different country and culture, we have so much in shared experience with the people of this country. Community sponsorship is a excellent way to support people in need, and to foster trust between people from different backgrounds.”
*Names have been changed
