“My kids correct us when we don’t pronounce some words with the correct local accent,” explains Samir*, an Afghanistani refugee whose household has settled into their new lives in the north of England.
Initially, he says, it was challenging for the family to adapt to rural life in their new area, but eventually they had integrated into the neighbourhood so well that his children, who have picked up the regional dialect, tease him about his own one.
“Now our area is becoming a diverse community,” adds Samir, who together with his family was resettled to the UK following the situation in his nation of origin.
Understanding Community Sponsorship
A key reason for the smooth transition with which they have integrated is down to support from a local support program. It provides refugees with comprehensive support from a group of locals who agree to fundraise, find reasonably-priced accommodation, and help with the fundamental hurdles of life in a foreign land.
This encompasses learning English, accessing employment, study or benefits, and signing up with a GP and dental practice.
Samir comments that thanks to their sponsorship group, the family have settled in successfully – including the regional accents.
Official Future Plans
The government oversees the scheme, which is part of several refugee resettlement programmes. The Home Secretary has said she aimed to expand this approach.
“With management established, 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 outstrip what a community is prepared to accept,” she remarked.
The Power of Local Connection
Sue Wall, part of a assisting group in Ashbourne, says that as a grandmother, she naturally adopts the same role with the arriving families.
“That’s an role that the families understand. 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 sense of identity and confidence. If it takes a community to raise a child, it takes a town to raise a family,” she says.
Community Control and Strong Outcomes
Susannah Baker, the chair of a national support network, supports plans to develop named sponsorship, allowing communities to match with refugee families they think will be a suitable match.
“This puts the power firmly in the hands of communities, allowing them to identify and welcome refugees they are prepared to support,” she says. “It is both caring and controlled, delivering strong settlement results because communities are active partners from the outset. When residents are involved early, arrivals learn English more quickly, find work sooner, and become part of community life.”
Stories of Settlement
Maryam’s Story: From Fear to Belonging
Maryam*, a 17-year-old Syrian refugee, came to Bristol with her family several years ago. The family was aided by a group of sponsors called Westbury Welcome.
“When I was three I walked with my family from Syria to Jordan because of the big war in my country,” says Maryam. At first, the contrast between the bustling area of Jordan and the quiet street where they were housed was a shock, she says.
“In Jordan there are crowds. When we arrived here we were given a house but when we looked out of the window and saw there was no one in the street, it was really scary for me. I said to my mum, ‘should we just go back to Jordan?’ I think without the support group we would have been trapped in a cycle of not understanding things.”
She says one of her first memories 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 largest meal I had eaten in my life.”
Now the family are embedded in their community. Maryam is studying for her A-levels and is hoping to then take a year out before attending university.
“Not everyone comprehends why we came to the UK. We didn’t come 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: Learning and Welcoming
Eveline Johnstone, part of the group supporting Maryam’s family, said they set themselves up under the guidance of a civic organisation that aids those who want to become community sponsors.
The group has later supported other families. “It’s great for the families to have a whole group of people to support them and it’s rewarding 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: Gardens and Resilience
For Ori*, a Syrian mother, one of the pleasures of living in Devon – 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 roses, camellias, jasmine and herbs,” she says.
Jane Kivlin is a member of the group that has supported Ori and her family after being inspired by a film about how a Syrian refugee family are initially greeted with suspicion but ultimately 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 smoothly. The family have a difficult history and some health problems but they are ready to be ‘new Scots’ and are enthusiastic 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.”
Looking Forward
“When we first arrived it was difficult for us,” says Samir. “We found it a very still 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 completely different country and culture, we have so much in common with the people of this country. Community sponsorship is a excellent way to support people in crisis, and to build trust between people from different backgrounds.”
*Names have been changed
