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“Our kids tease us when we mispronounce certain words with the correct local accent,” explains Samir*, an Afghan refugee whose family has settled into their new life in the English countryside.

Initially, he explains, it was challenging for the family to get used to rural life in the region, but eventually they had integrated into the neighbourhood so well that his children, who have picked up the local dialect, tease him about his own one.

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

The Role of Local Support Schemes

Part of the ease with which they have settled is down to support from a local support program. It offers refugees with wraparound support from a team of locals who agree to raise money, find reasonably-priced accommodation, and assist with the basic challenges of life in a foreign land.

This involves studying English, finding work, study or benefits, and signing up with a doctor and dental practice.

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

Official Future Plans

The government oversees the scheme, which is part of several resettlement pathways. The Home Secretary has said she aimed to further develop this model.

“With control restored, 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 rate and size of change does not outstrip what a local area is prepared to accept,” she said.

A Grandmotherly Role

Sue Wall, part of a assisting group in the area, says that as a older woman, she slips into the same figure with the arriving families.

“That’s an identity that the families understand. 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 town to raise a family,” she notes.

Empowering Locals for Successful Integration

Susannah Baker, the chair of a sponsorship alliance, welcomes plans to develop named sponsorship, allowing communities to be paired 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 caring and controlled, delivering strong integration outcomes because communities are engaged from the outset. When residents are involved early, newcomers learn English more quickly, find work sooner, and become part of local society.”

Personal Journeys:

Maryam’s Story: From Anxiety to Belonging

Maryam*, a 17-year-old from Syria refugee, arrived in Bristol with her family several years ago. The family was aided by a group of sponsors called Westbury Welcome.

“When I was three I walked with my family from Syria to Jordan because of the big war in my country,” says Maryam. Initially, the contrast 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 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 the support group we would have been trapped in a pattern of not understanding things.”

She says one of her first memories was the meal the group prepared for the family after picking them up from the airport. “They cooked us traditional 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 going to university.

“Not everyone understands 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 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 auspices of a national charity that aids those who want to become community sponsors.

The group has later supported other families. “It’s wonderful for the families to have a network of people to support them and it’s rewarding for us to do something constructive and to greet people. I have gained 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 pleasures 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 roses, 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 movie about how a Syrian refugee family are initially greeted with suspicion but in the end 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 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 ‘part of Scotland’ and are keen 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 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 excellent way to support people in need, and to foster trust between people from diverse backgrounds.”

*Names have been changed