“My kids correct us when we mispronounce some words with the authentic regional accent,” states Samir*, an Afghanistani refugee whose household has settled into their new life in the north of England.
Initially, he explains, it was hard for the family to get used to rural life in their new area, but after a while they had assimilated into the neighbourhood so well that his children, who have adopted the regional accent, tease him about his different one.
“Now our town is becoming a multicultural community,” adds Samir, who together with his family was resettled to the UK after events in his nation of origin.
The Role of Local Support Schemes
Part of the ease with which they have settled is down to support from a community sponsorship scheme. It offers refugees with comprehensive support from a team of volunteers who commit to fundraise, source affordable accommodation, and assist with the fundamental challenges of life in a foreign land.
This includes learning English, finding employment, education or benefits, and signing up with a GP and dental practice.
Samir states that thanks to their sponsorship group, the family have settled in successfully – even down to the regional accents.
Official Future Plans
The authorities oversees the scheme, which is one of several refugee resettlement programmes. The Home Secretary has previously stated she hoped 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 standard, so we know that the pace and scale of change does not outstrip 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 naturally adopts the same figure with the newcomers.
“That’s an identity that the families understand. If you help people become integrated they are more able to return to their original career or something akin to it, which helps with their sense of identity and confidence. If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a town to raise a family,” she explains.
Empowering Locals for Successful Integration
Susannah Baker, the chair of a national support network, welcomes plans to develop targeted matching, allowing communities to match 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 compassionate and controlled, delivering strong integration outcomes 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.”
Stories of Settlement
Maryam’s Story: From Fear to Community
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 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. At first, the change between the busy area of Jordan and the calm street where they were housed was a shock, 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 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 pattern of not comprehending 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 traditional rice and chicken. I think it was the biggest 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 arrive 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: Mutual Benefit
Eveline Johnstone, part of the group supporting Maryam’s family, said they set themselves up under the auspices 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 gained 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 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 downstairs, and I can grow flowers, camellias, jasmine and mint,” she says.
Jane Kivlin is a member of the group that has supported Ori and her family after being inspired by a movie about how a Syrian refugee family are initially greeted with hostility 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 despair.”
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 traumatic history and some health problems but they are ready to be ‘new Scots’ and are enthusiastic to contribute 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 it was difficult for us,” reflects 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 succeeded in 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 brilliant way to support people in need, and to foster trust between people from different backgrounds.”
*Names have been changed