Stories tagged Volunteer

Community sponsorship stories from the point of view of the volunteers.

“Although being thanked was never our main motivation on some level we did expect gratitude”

A volunteer acknowledges that she expected gratitude from the refugee family that her Group supports. She examines the roots of these expectations and explains how she came to understand her role better once she confronted these expectations.

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"I know the importance of having a community – not just one person – but a community who is prepared to make that transition easier for you.”

Sofia Gamio is a junior doctor working at the James Cook hospital in Middlesbrough. In the little spare time she has, Sofia is preparing to welcome refugee families to Newcastle with her Community Sponsorship group, Tyneside Welcomes. Ahead of International Migrants Day, we chatted to Sofia about where her motivation for supporting refugees comes from, and how she got involved in Community Sponsorship.

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- Volunteer
- North East
“Spread the word, never give up, and follow up on any lead”

Catherine’s Community Sponsorship group in North Wales, Croeso Menai, have had so much support from their community that they were able to furnish the family’s home for free and have now been offered a second property so that they can welcome another family to the area in the coming months. Here Catherine shares her top tips for finding and preparing a home.

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- Housing
- Wales
- Volunteer
“Well, now you have sons”

Community Sponsorship volunteer Svenja Powell is one of the founding members of Canterbury Welcomes Refugees. The group first welcomed a Syrian refugee family in 2019: a mother and father, their two grown-up sons and their two primary-age children. Here Svenja tells us about lifting language barriers, a cautious introduction to Father Christmas and doorstep story-telling during lockdown.

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“You're hoping to catch new people and inspire somebody to start another group in another locality”

Catherine’s Community Sponsorship Group, Croeso Menai, welcomed a refugee family to North Wales in February 2021 and is already preparing for a second family. The community there have been very supportive in helping Croeso Menai to smash fundraising targets and fully furnish a home for the family. Catherine shares her top tips on keeping your community engaged and enthusiastic.

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“Community Sponsorship wasn’t just pie in the sky - this was something very real on the ground that very real people were doing.”

Svenja Powell co-founded Canterbury Welcomes Refugees in 2018. We chatted to Svenja about who’s who in her group, support from local students and how to organise a fabulous fundraiser.

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“Helping this family has been a big turning point in my life.”

After a long career in early years education and family support, Carol was ready to make the most of her retirement. Then, very suddenly, her husband Mike became unwell. He was diagnosed with cancer and passed away just six months later. Here Carol shares her memories of that difficult time and describes how volunteering with her local Community Sponsorship group gave her life a new purpose.

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“I really believe that Community Sponsorship has changed the course of my life.”

Sam, a refugee from Syria, arrived in the UK in 2017 through the Community Sponsorship scheme. In this blog he shares his Community Sponsorship story – from being welcomed to the UK to preparing to welcome a new family as a volunteer himself.

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- Refugee
- London
- Community
“I think there’s a lot of good in people and Community Sponsorship is a real opportunity to bring it out.”

Former head teacher Ellie Stacey is one of our pioneering Community Sponsors, having played a key role in building groups in Bude and Falmouth. Here Ellie tells us how volunteering helped her embrace retirement - and how inspired she feels by the power and potential of Community Sponsorship.

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“It is quite remarkable that they have put their roots in the ground now.” 

Qaiser Malik is a founding member of the multifaith Redbridge Community Sponsorship Partnership. The group welcomed a Syrian family to London back in 2019. Here, Qaiser shares his memories of their arrival and tells us how they’ve settled into the community.

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“It’s really special knowing that hundreds of people in Ripon have donated so that a refugee family can find safety here.”

Community Sponsorship groups are required to raise £9000 to resettle a refugee family. Ruth Foulds leads the Ripon City of Sanctuary Community Sponsorship group. They’ve raised more than £6000 so far. Here she tells us how they’ve approached fundraising.

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“It’s such an enriching experience.”

Originally from Omagh in Northern Ireland, Damien lives in Cardiff and works in education. He joined the Croeso Roath Cathays Community Sponsorship group in 2016 and welcomed a Syrian family to Cardiff in 2019. Here, Damien chats to us about faith, fundraising and football.

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Films

“It has brought us closer together.”

Iman Khan from Kettering Refugee Assistance tells us about why he got involved in Community Sponsorship and the impact that it's had on his community.
“They push me so I can stand without help”

In 2017, Syrian refugees Hani, Amneh and their two children were welcomed to a new life in Ottery St Mary, Devon, thanks to Abide, a Community Sponsor group in Devon.
A Warm Devon Welcome

Meet some of the Community Sponsorship groups who with the support of Lead Sponsor, The Pickwell Foundation, are welcoming families to Devon. Hear about impact welcoming refugees is having on them and their communities.