Home is where the heart is – especially if you are hosting a refugee

Following political unrest between Russia and Ukraine for almost 10 years, in February 2022 a major escalation led to a Russian invasion resulting in more than 8.8 million Ukranians fleeing the county, many of them arriving in the UK, feeling scared and alone. As a response, many charities and organisations have worked tirelessly in fundraising and volunteering to help those arriving in Britain. The incredible generosity of hosts welcoming refugees for free forced the Government to rethink their policies and offer payment of £350 per month for accommodating them.

Charity organisation Refugees at Home has placed almost 3,000 guests from all over the world with a wide variety of hosts: empty nesters, those in their 80s, families with young children, LGBTQ+ partners and even Gary Lineker. Co-founder Sara Nathan answered all my questions.

Why did you establish Refugees at Home?

In 2015 when the European migrant crisis was being widely reported, I wanted to help people in need. My grandparents had hosted a Kindertransport boy, so I had this in the back of my mind. Having followed a career in journalism, I had the skills to highlight the issues at hand. The initial groundwork was done through Facebook, and I built upon it from there with the critical help of lawyers Travers Smith, who worked pro-bono.

Has being Jewish had any influence on your work?

As Jews, we have a tradition and a history of being refugees. My husband Malcolm and I have strong ties to West London Synagogue, where we became involved with a drop-in centre. My parents were married at WLS and so were we, with Reform Judaism an important part of my adult life. We got involved with the asylum seeker drop-in centre just after it started about 10 years ago and it’s where I first learnt about the challenges facing asylum seekers and what could be done to help. Our hosts are disproportionately Jewish, Quaker and LGBTQ+, as we all have experience of oppression and a commitment to relieving it. Almost none of our guests have ever met a Jew before. It has not been a problem. It has been enlightening for both sides.

There must be many challenges, but also many rewards?

There are challenges, of course: you have to share your space to some extent; some people need more help, advice and time than you sometimes have and the ‘move-on’ can be tricky, whether you are sad or simply relieved. But the rewards are wonderful: meeting different people, trying different food, learning about different places and politics – and how the UK works for those who are at the bottom of the socio-economic pile. Also, there’s someone to water the plants while you are away!

How many refugees have you hosted and how has your own family responded to your work?

Thirty-one to date – pretty much all men. Currently we are hosting Ibrahim, a refugee from Chad. In the past, we hosted several from Syria and Egypt plus Iran, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, Kuwait, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Baluchistan and probably some I’ve forgotten. My family have always been keen, and the grandchildren tend to get on particularly well with our guests. Moha, who stayed two years during lockdown, was a particular favourite.

Is the language barrier a problem?

Google translate is your friend. So are smiles and cups of tea.

How does the organisation raise awareness and all-important funding?

We get no funding from the Government, which is the most important thing to say. Money comes in from trusts and grants from High Holyday Appeals and personal donations. Plus, we have a Founders Circle for generous people who are happy to contribute at least £1,200. We are all over social media but not TikTok yet. And we do a lot of talking on broadcast and print media. When Gary Lineker stepped forward to help, there was a massive surge in people offering assistance because it was big news.

Has the Government’s Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme given you hope for the future?

The site crashed within the first two hours of its launch in March 2022 due to overwhelming interest. Homes for Ukraine is the first time there has been any Government engagement with hosting, but we hope it’s not the last. The Minister for Refugees, Lord Harrington (also a member of WLS), says he hopes it’s part of the UK response to refugees going forward. Whenever any refugee story shows people suffering, people come forward.

You mentioned about refugees ‘moving on’ – where do they go?

Asylum seekers often go into Home Office accommodation to sit out the wait until their claim is decided, but refugees go all over the place: to become lodgers or to share a house, sometimes to hostels or the YMCA. It depends on what they need. It’s hard for them to rent as prices and deposits are high and it’s hard to find a guarantor as a refugee. If a placement comes to an end, sometimes we will host again.

What key advice can you give prospective hosts?

1. Treat people as you would any honoured guest coming to your place: flowers in a vase, towels on the bed; some toiletries.

2. Always give them a front door key.

3. Don’t ask direct questions about their story – if they want to tell you, they will. It’s not a price for hosting.

4. Eat together at least once a week but not every night.

5. Be clear about boundaries and what matters to you in our home. Guests need to know.

If your kids have left home, or you’re looking to repurpose that spare room, or if you just want to do something to help those needing to flee their homes, perhaps hosting is for you. www.refugeesathome.org

FOOTBALLER FRIEND

With the help of Refugees at Home, former footballer Gary Lineker hosted Rasheed, a refugee from the Balochistan region between Pakistan and Iran, for three weeks in August 2020.

Gary said afterwards: “’It’s been fascinating and a real education for my boys as well. Because obviously they’re privileged – they know they’re privileged – but then to hear this guy’s story… and he was brilliant with them. I’ll definitely do it again.’

Gary posted a letter on his Instagram account from Rasheed thanking him for the stay, which said: “I can never forget your hospitality, love and company that you and your lovely respectful children gave to me. There is a saying in Balochi language, that if you give me a glass of water, I owe you in my entire life. In fact you did more.”