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“Our children tease us when we mispronounce certain words with the proper regional accent,” remarks Samir*, an Afghanistani refugee whose household has settled into their new life in the north of England.

At first, he explains, it was challenging for the family to adapt to country living in the region, but over time they had assimilated into the neighbourhood so well that his children, who have adopted the regional accent, tease him about his own one.

“Now our community is becoming a varied community,” says Samir, who along with his family was resettled to the UK following events in his home country.

The Role of Local Support Schemes

Part of the ease with which they have settled is due to support from a local support program. It gives refugees with comprehensive support from a group of locals who agree to raise money, source affordable accommodation, and assist with the basic hurdles of life in a foreign land.

This encompasses studying English, finding work, education or support services, and registering with a doctor and dentist.

Samir states that thanks to their sponsorship group, the family have integrated well – even down to the local accents.

Government Oversight and Expansion Hopes

The authorities oversees the scheme, which is one of several refugee resettlement programmes. The relevant government minister has previously stated she hoped to further develop this approach.

“With management restored, 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 outstrip what a community is prepared to accept,” she said.

The Power of Local Connection

Sue Wall, part of a assisting group in Ashbourne, says that as a grandmother, she slips into the same role with the newcomers.

“That’s an role that the families respond to. If you help people become integrated they are more able to resume their previous profession 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 notes.

Empowering Locals for Strong Outcomes

Susannah Baker, the chair of a national support network, welcomes plans to develop targeted matching, 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 select and support refugees they are prepared to support,” she says. “It is both compassionate and controlled, delivering strong settlement results because communities are active partners from the beginning. When local people are involved early, arrivals learn English more quickly, find work earlier, and become part of community life.”

Stories of Settlement

Maryam’s Story: From Anxiety to Community

Maryam*, a 17-year-old Syrian refugee, came to Bristol with her family in 2018. The family was aided by a group of sponsors known as Westbury Welcome.

“When I was three I travelled with my family from Syria to Jordan because of the conflict in my country,” says Maryam. At first, the change between the bustling area of Jordan and the quiet street where they were given a home 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 nobody in the street, it was really daunting 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 understanding 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 traditional rice and chicken. I think it was the largest meal I had eaten in my life.”

Now the family are part of their community. Maryam is working towards her A-levels and is hoping to then take a gap year before going to 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 easier 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 auspices of a national charity that supports those who want to become community sponsors.

The group has later supported other families. “It’s wonderful 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 Strength

For Ori*, a Syrian mother, one of the joys of living in the southwest – along with the immense support she has received – is having a yard.

“Back home we lived in an flat and the garden was on the roof. Here we live in a house with an upstairs and a downstairs, and I can grow flowers, 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 Springboard

Abby Boutlee, part of a group supporting an Afghan family in a Scottish village, says: “It has gone really smoothly. The family have a traumatic history and some health problems but they are eager to be ‘part of Scotland’ 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,” reflects Samir. “We found it a very quiet place compared to the city we had come from. We felt very alone 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 excellent way to support people in need, and to foster trust between people from different backgrounds.”

*Names have been changed