Helping refugee families settle in to life in the UK
- Julian House
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
This morning, the BBC reported that, in the last four years, there has been a five-fold increase in the number of refugee households who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
For several years now, the public narrative around refugees has been focused on people arriving in the UK in small boats; and it is this experience which is reflected in the BBC’s article.
But there is also a quieter expression of refugee resettlement: that of a formal process managed by the United Nations, which connects refugees from around the world with communities in the UK where they can find a long-term home, and a new start in life.
No matter how they arrive, refugees fleeing poverty, conflict and abuse deserve the chance to make a better life for themselves and their families.
Our Refugee Resettlement has been working with South Gloucestershire Council since 2022 to provide support for refugees to settle into life in the UK, including help with their finances, and accessing health services, education and employment.
Our clients come from a whole host of countries, focusing on refugees and asylum seekers from Syria, Afghanistan, Palestine, Hong Kong, Ukraine, Eritrea, Sudan, Somalia, Turkey, Albania, Iraq, Iran, and Pakistan amongst others.
What they carry now is the weight of loss and sadness alongside the hope of safety and a chance to rebuild their lives here, and like many people who truly resonate with the idea of ‘home is where the heart is’, this is the case for our clients, too.
This service gives individuals and families who have been through significant traumatic experiences (including war, violence and bereavement) a constructive and supported start to a new life in the UK.
When they arrive, refugees face multiple challenges. As well as processing the trauma that they have escaped in their homeland, they are likely to experience language barriers, cultural shock, isolation and, in some cases, discrimination and racism.
But they also bring new knowledge, experience and skills which adds so much to our communities.
When we welcome families to their South Gloucestershire homes, they welcome us into their lives with the same warmth they offer their own relatives. The people we support bring compassion, generosity, and a strong desire to learn, share, and connect with their new community.
The resettling families we work with face many challenges when rebuilding their lives in the UK, but a lack of work experience or life skills is never one of them.
Individuals have come from careers working as pharmacists, as teachers, for the UN. Others were partway through university before being forced to flee, and all are dedicated family members who want to contribute meaningfully to their new home.
These individuals’ resilience, adaptability, and intelligence are evident in both their past and present journeys. They arrive ready to work hard, build stability, and become active, valued members of the community.
