A research project led by the University of Westminster has recently investigated the nature and functioning of the Community Sponsorship scheme in London, which is a refugee resettlement programme with local people at its heart.
The researchers’ findings and recommendations for how resettlement planning can be improved to support Syrian refugees’ social integration in London were shared in an event on 12 July, attended by academics and field practitioners.
The research was led by Dr Lilian Miles, Reader in Sustainability and Social Enterprise from Westminster Business School, and Dr Tim Freeman, Associate Professor in Leadership from Middlesex University Business School, with Dr Maria Granados, Senior Lecturer from Westminster Business School, and Christina Flora, Doctoral Student from the University of Westminster’s School of Humanities.
Since 2015 the UK has welcomed 20,000 refugees fleeing Syria. Their social integration is an important concern as it reduces social distance between groups and promotes consistent values and practices. In the UK, community sponsorship groups, involving individuals, faith groups, churches and local charities support the resettlement of Syrian refugees by helping them to learn English, find accommodation, access medical and social services, and build skills to adapt to life in the UK. These groups play a crucial role in supporting refugees toward self-sufficiency, employment and independence.
However, community sponsorship groups cannot cover everything which refugees require. A lack of access to English language lessons leaves many refugees still unable to integrate. It is not always easy to find accommodation. Discrimination increases their mistrust of their host societies and leads to a reluctance to assimilate. Refugees may also experience difficulty in finding employment to help them become independent. Their qualifications are not always recognised in the UK, although some refugees are highly qualified and skilled. There is also the issue of women refugees, who have different experiences compared to men. They may come from very traditional regions and can find liberal values difficult to understand. In many cases, women are not able to travel or leave the house without being accompanied, which can cause problems with picking up children, visiting their GP, shopping or socialising.
The research team worked with eight community sponsorship groups to identify a number of recommendations which can make resettlement planning more effective. It was suggested that there is a great dependency on the part of refugees towards them, so providing a framework which reduces this dependency would be crucial. Exchanging information with families before arrival would help manage their expectations towards the community sponsorship groups. There are also effective ways outside of the classroom where refugees can learn crucial life and language skills, for example, in volunteering roles. Building a database for community sponsorship groups could help with exchanging information. To encourage them to build networks, community sponsorship groups can register refugees to external groups, such as sports clubs or English language clubs.
Organisations and individuals who work with refugees can prepare in advance by learning the language and culture of refugees and developing inter-cultural awareness. They can allocate suitably qualified volunteers to meet the needs of refugee families and to get to know them. Volunteers often become friends with families, so they can recognise possibilities which others might not. However, supporting volunteers is also important, for example, by organising volunteer integration programmes, or buddy schemes so that they can turn to someone if they need help.
Lead researcher Dr Lilian Miles said: “Integration for refugees can be a traumatic process, after leaving behind their homes, families and friends in situations of conflict, war or poverty. Only few have strong social connections in the new community and resettling into a different culture can be challenging.”
“Given the many challenges to Syrian refugee integration, I wanted to explore how we can support them better, through the community sponsorship scheme. Ultimately, there are many benefits to inclusive societies; respect, tolerance, connection, dignity, giving back to their communities.”
The findings are relevant for the resettlement of other refugee populations in London, such as The Afghan Refugees Resettlement Scheme, which also envisages the involvement of local community groups in resettling refugees. Trainers of community sponsorship groups may be interested in these findings, while researchers with an interest in social inclusion and refugee resettlement can build on them.
The research was funded by University of Westminster Strategic Priorities Fund between March and July 2022.
Learn more about Research with Impact at the University of Westminster.
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