“Our children correct us when we mispronounce certain words with the authentic regional accent,” states Samir*, an Afghan refugee whose household has made a home in their new life in the English countryside.
At first, he notes, it was difficult for the family to get used to country living in the region, but after a while they had integrated into the local community so completely that his children, who have picked up the local accent, joke with him about his own one.
“Now our town is turning into a multicultural community,” adds Samir, who along with his family was relocated to the UK following events in his nation of origin.
Understanding Community Sponsorship
Part of the smooth transition with which they have settled is down to support from a local support program. It offers refugees with comprehensive support from a team of locals who agree to raise money, source affordable accommodation, and assist with the fundamental hurdles of life in a new country.
This includes learning English, finding work, 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 – including the local accents.
Official Future Plans
The authorities manages the scheme, which is part of several refugee resettlement programmes. The relevant government minister has said she hoped to expand this approach.
“With control restored, we will create 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 willing to accept,” she said.
A Grandmotherly Role
Sue Wall, part of a supporting group in Ashbourne, says that as a older woman, she naturally adopts the same figure with the arriving families.
“That’s an role that the families respond to. If you help people become integrated they are more likely to resume their original career or something similar to it, which helps with their sense of identity and confidence. If it takes a village 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 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 settlement results because communities are active partners from the beginning. When residents are engaged early, newcomers learn English more quickly, find work earlier, and become part of local society.”
Stories of Settlement
Maryam’s Story: From Fear to Belonging
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. Initially, the change between the busy area of Jordan and the calm 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 frightening 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 comprehending things.”
She says one of her first memories was the meal the group cooked for the family after collecting 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 part of their community. Maryam is working towards her A-levels and is hoping to then take a year out before attending university.
“Not everyone understands 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 national charity 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 network of people to support them and it’s rewarding 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: Roses and Strength
For Ori*, a Syrian mother, one of the joys of living in the southwest – along with the huge support she has received – is having a garden.
“Back home we lived in an apartment block and the garden was on the roof. Here we live in a house with an top floor and a downstairs, and I can grow roses, camellias, vines 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 suspicion but ultimately welcomed. She says of Ori’s family: “They are incredibly strong. They find a lot of things quite difficult 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 eager to be ‘new Scots’ and are keen to add 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 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 offered 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 shared experience with the people of this country. Community sponsorship is a powerful way to support people in crisis, and to build trust between people from different backgrounds.”
*Names have been changed
