“Our children tease us when we mispronounce certain words with the correct local accent,” states Samir*, an Afghanistani refugee whose family has settled into their new lives in the English countryside.
Initially, he explains, it was hard for the family to adjust to country living in the region, but eventually they had assimilated into the local community so thoroughly that his children, who have adopted the regional dialect, tease him about his own one.
“Now our community is turning into a varied community,” says Samir, who along with his family was resettled to the UK after events in his nation of origin.
Understanding Local Support Schemes
Part of the ease with which they have integrated is down to support from a community sponsorship scheme. It provides refugees with all-encompassing support from a group of residents who agree to raise money, source reasonably-priced accommodation, and help with the fundamental hurdles of life in a foreign land.
This involves learning English, accessing employment, study or benefits, and signing up with a doctor and dentist.
Samir states that thanks to their support team, the family have settled in successfully – even down to the local accents.
Government Oversight and Future Plans
The authorities oversees the scheme, which is one of several refugee resettlement programmes. The relevant government minister has said she hoped to further develop this approach.
“With control restored, we will create 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 pace and scale of change does not outstrip what a community is willing to accept,” she remarked.
A Grandmotherly Role
Sue Wall, part of a supporting group in the area, says that as a older woman, she naturally adopts the same role with the arriving families.
“That’s an role that the families recognise. If you help people become settled they are more likely 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 explains.
Community Control and Successful Integration
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 suitable match.
“This puts the power firmly in the hands of communities, allowing them to select and support refugees they are ready to support,” she says. “It is both caring and managed, delivering strong integration outcomes because communities are active partners from the outset. When residents are engaged early, newcomers learn English more rapidly, find work earlier, and become part of local society.”
Personal Journeys:
Maryam’s Story: From Fear to Community
Maryam*, a 17-year-old Syrian refugee, arrived in 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 travelled with my family from Syria to Jordan because of the conflict in my country,” says Maryam. Initially, the change between the busy 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 frightening for me. I said to my mum, ‘should we just go back to Jordan?’ I think without Westbury Welcome we would have been stuck in a cycle of not comprehending things.”
She says one of her earliest recollections 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 studying for 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 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 formed under the auspices of a civic organisation that supports those who want to become community sponsors.
The group has subsequently supported other families. “It’s wonderful for the families to have a whole group of people to support them and it’s great for us to do something constructive 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 joys of living in Devon – along with the immense 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, jasmine 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 at first greeted with suspicion but ultimately welcomed. She says of Ori’s family: “They are incredibly resilient. They find a lot of things quite difficult 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 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 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.”
A Final Reflection
“When we first arrived life was hard for us,” says Samir. “We found it a very still place compared to the urban area 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 powerful way to support people in need, and to build trust between people from different backgrounds.”
*Names have been changed
