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“Our kids correct me when we don’t pronounce some words with the authentic local accent,” states Samir*, an Afghanistani refugee whose family has made a home in their new life in the north of England.

Initially, he says, it was difficult for the family to adjust to rural life in their new area, but after a while they had assimilated into the neighbourhood so completely that his children, who have picked up the local dialect, tease him about his own one.

“Now our area is turning into a diverse community,” adds Samir, who together with his family was relocated to the UK after events in his nation of origin.

Understanding Local Support Schemes

A key reason for the smooth transition with which they have settled is down to support from a local support program. It gives refugees with wraparound support from a team of locals who commit to fundraise, secure reasonably-priced accommodation, and help with the basic hurdles of life in a new country.

This involves learning English, accessing employment, study or support services, and signing up with a GP and dental practice.

Samir states that thanks to their support team, the family have settled in successfully – including the regional accents.

Official Future Plans

The authorities manages the scheme, which is one of several resettlement pathways. The Home Secretary has previously stated she hoped to expand this model.

“With management established, 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 standard, so we know that the pace and scale of change does not outstrip what a local area is prepared to accept,” she said.

The Power of Local Connection

Sue Wall, part of a supporting group in Ashbourne, says that as a grandmother, she naturally adopts 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 original career or something akin to it, which helps with their self-worth and self-esteem. If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a town to raise a family,” she says.

Empowering Locals for Strong Outcomes

Susannah Baker, the chair of a sponsorship alliance, welcomes plans to develop targeted matching, allowing communities to be paired with refugee families they think will be a good fit.

“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 controlled, delivering strong integration outcomes because communities are active partners from the beginning. When local people are involved early, arrivals learn English more quickly, find work sooner, and become part of community life.”

Stories of Settlement

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 called 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 quiet street where they were housed 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 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 understanding 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 largest meal I had eaten in my life.”

Now the family are part of their community. Maryam is studying for her A-levels and is hoping to then take a gap year before attending university.

“Not everyone comprehends why we came to the UK. We didn’t arrive for fun. Having the group 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 guidance 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 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 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 top floor and a ground floor, and I can grow roses, camellias, vines and herbs,” 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 hostility but ultimately welcomed. She says of Ori’s family: “They are incredibly strong. 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 difficult history and some health problems but they are eager 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 launchpad for them into a new life where they can settle in.”

A Final Reflection

“When we first arrived life was hard for us,” reflects Samir. “We found it a very still place compared to the urban area 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 totally distinct country and culture, we have so much in shared experience with the people of this country. Community sponsorship is a excellent way to support people in crisis, and to build trust between people from different backgrounds.”

*Names have been changed