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“Our kids correct me when we don’t pronounce certain words with the correct local accent,” states Samir*, an Afghanistani refugee whose family has made a home in their new lives in the English countryside.

At first, he says, it was difficult for the family to get used to rural life in the region, but over time they had blended into the neighbourhood so thoroughly that his children, who have adopted the local accent, joke with him about his different one.

“Now our area is turning into a varied community,” adds Samir, who along with his family was relocated to the UK following the situation in his nation of origin.

The Role of Local Support Schemes

Part of the smooth transition with which they have integrated is due to support from a community sponsorship scheme. It gives refugees with comprehensive support from a group of residents who commit to fundraise, secure reasonably-priced accommodation, and assist with the basic hurdles of life in a new country.

This involves learning English, accessing work, study or support services, and registering with a doctor and dentist.

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

Government Oversight and Future Plans

The government oversees the scheme, which is part of several resettlement pathways. The Home Secretary has previously stated she hoped to further develop this approach.

“With control restored, we will open up new, limited 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 rate and size 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 slips into the same figure with the newcomers.

“That’s an identity that the families understand. If you help people become integrated they are more likely to return to their original career or something akin to it, which helps with their sense of identity and self-esteem. If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a town to raise a family,” she says.

Community Control and Successful Integration

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

“This puts the power firmly in the hands of communities, allowing them to identify and welcome refugees they are prepared to support,” she says. “It is both caring and controlled, delivering strong settlement results because communities are active partners from the beginning. When residents are involved early, newcomers learn English more rapidly, find work sooner, and become part of community life.”

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 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. Initially, the contrast between the bustling area of Jordan and the quiet street where they were given a home 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 scary 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 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 most generous 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 gap year before going to 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: Mutual Benefit

Eveline Johnstone, part of the group supporting Maryam’s family, said they formed under the guidance of a national charity that supports those who want to become community sponsors.

The group has subsequently supported other families. “It’s great 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 greet people. I have gained so much from the people who have come here,” Johnstone says.

Ori’s New Life: Gardens 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 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 downstairs, and I can grow flowers, shrubs, 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 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 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 find their feet.”

A Final Reflection

“When we first arrived life was hard for us,” says Samir. “We found it a very quiet place compared to the city we had come from. We felt very alone 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 excellent way to support people in crisis, and to foster trust between people from diverse backgrounds.”

*Names have been changed