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“My children correct me when we mispronounce some words with the correct local accent,” states Samir*, an Afghanistani refugee whose household has settled into their new lives in the English countryside.

At first, he explains, it was challenging for the family to get used to rural life in the region, but over time they had integrated into the local community so completely that his children, who have picked up the regional accent, joke with him about his different one.

“Now our town is turning into a varied community,” adds Samir, who along with his family was relocated to the UK after the situation in his home country.

The Role of Community Sponsorship

A key reason for the smooth transition with which they have settled is down to support from a local support program. It provides refugees with wraparound support from a team of locals who agree to raise money, source affordable accommodation, and assist with the fundamental challenges of life in a new country.

This involves learning English, accessing employment, education or support services, and registering with a GP and dental practice.

Samir comments that thanks to their sponsorship group, the family have integrated well – including the local accents.

Government Oversight and Expansion Hopes

The government 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 established, 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 pace and scale of change does not exceed what a local area is prepared to accept,” she remarked.

The Power of Local Connection

Sue Wall, part of a assisting group in Ashbourne, 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 integrated they are more able to resume their original career or something similar to it, which helps with their self-worth and self-esteem. If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a whole town to raise a family,” she explains.

Empowering Locals for Strong Outcomes

Susannah Baker, the chair of a national support network, supports plans to develop targeted matching, allowing communities to match with refugee families they think will be a suitable match.

“This places control firmly in the hands of communities, allowing them to select and support refugees they are ready to support,” she says. “It is both compassionate and controlled, delivering strong settlement results because communities are engaged from the outset. When local people are engaged early, arrivals learn English more quickly, find work sooner, and become part of community life.”

Personal Journeys:

Maryam’s Story: From Anxiety to Belonging

Maryam*, a 17-year-old from Syria 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 big war in my country,” says Maryam. At first, the change between the bustling 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 no one 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 stuck 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 Middle Eastern rice and chicken. I think it was the most generous meal I had eaten in my life.”

Now the family are embedded in their community. Maryam is working towards 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: Mutual Benefit

Eveline Johnstone, part of the group supporting Maryam’s family, said they formed under the auspices of a civic organisation that aids 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 rewarding for us to do something positive and to greet people. I have gained 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 huge 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 ground floor, and I can grow roses, shrubs, 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 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 challenging but I don’t think I have seen any despair.”

Support in Scotland: A Springboard

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 ready 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,” says Samir. “We found it a very still 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 powerful way to support people in crisis, and to foster trust between people from different backgrounds.”

*Names have been changed