1. Community Sponsorship in the UK
Refugee perspectives

2. Methods 17 interviews with refugees
Longitudinal (6 weeks and 12 months)
Retrospective (c12 months)
Questions
Reception
Expectations
Help – needed, received, useful
Aspirations, actions and priorities
Social connections
Integration

3. Arrival Relocating to the UK was a big decision
Not necessarily first choice
For the future of their children
Fear and anxiety
Welcoming committee reassuring
Accommodation already homely
‘We felt a big relief when we came to the house and met the other members of the group. They felt like family to me, from then until now’

4. ‘I was very scared at the airport
‘I was very scared at the airport. When we first arrived, I saw the people are all foreigners speaking foreign languages. Were we the only Syrian family on the plane? I asked myself, where was I? What did I put myself into? What is this world I am in now? I don’t know anything. I had many questions. How will I live? How will I raise my children here? But, when I saw them with the signs with our family names, I was slightly relieved’

5. First impressions Kindness and safety
Kin-like relations with some volunteers – deepening relationships
“she is like my Mum”
Rural/ urban mismatches
Some surprised that there were no other Muslims or Arabic speakers
‘I expected that I could find friends, I could go out with my friends, start a new social life and have fun. I expected that I would not stand out as a different person. We know that the UK has a lot of Arabs and Syrians - I expected to at least live near them, not with them but at least near them.’

6. Cultural differences Everything in the UK is organised or scheduled
Different ways of socialising – loss of spontaneity
Necessity of speaking English
Lack of understanding about cultural norms
Gender relations
Faith
Childrearing
Connections between children and family

7. Social Connections Migration bereavement
School and community events good for meeting people
Despite volunteer networks high levels of isolation – especially women and those in rural areas
Social media – connect across the world but…
Heightened anxiety about wellbeing of family left behind – too much time to worry

8. Integration
Accessing employment is difficult for ALL refugees but CS refugees unaware
Financial independence priority esp for refugee men
Expectation of being able to work almost immediately using manual skills
Learning English really difficult especially where literacy low
‘I am always worried about my children, trying to provide for them and speak their language. I do not want to be depressed because I cannot communicate. I want to get a job and be independent’
Sense of hopelessness
One to one language lessons more effective than ESOL
Volunteering for sense of purpose and progress

9. Conclusions
Majority of refugees have excellent relationships with their groups
The support received and warmth of welcome exceeded expectations and smoothed resettlement
CS social networks cannot assuage losses and loneliness
Some issues around unrealistic expectations
Socialising, language learning and financial independence main concerns
Gender differences in concerns

10. Recommendations Keep up the good work around welcome and support
Better matching to locations
Manage expectations before arrival
Identify mechanisms to connect refugees to others “like them” as well as to local people – virtual and face to face
Specific measures for women
Much more emphasis on one to one language learning
Find ways to get local employers involved
Identify support to advise about business start ups
Think about a named family CS option to support reunion