COULD YOU LET A HOME TO A REFUGEE FAMILY?
The Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement scheme (SVPR) enables the most vulnerable families to be relocated from refugee camps in the Middle East to a safe country where they can rebuild their lives.
Read Abdul’s story of coming to the UK with his family and find out how you can help transform the lives of other families in need through our property appeal.
Read Abdul’s story of coming to the UK with his family and find out how you can help transform the lives of other families in need through our property appeal.
My daughters have a future here
Interview by Katie McIntosh | May 2019
Abdul travelled to the UK with his wife and three daughters (aged 7, 11 and 13) just over a year ago.
When I go to meet Abdul at his home in Elmbridge, Surrey, it’s torrentially raining. ‘What awful weather!’ I say. ‘I go out with no umbrella!’ he exclaims, ‘I like the rain.’ He shows me through to his cosy lounge. I take off my shoes, apologise for my wet socks and we settle down to talk about his family’s move to the UK, and their hopes for the future. |
Abdul working on his allotment
Image © Vicki Felgate / Elmbridge CAN |
Tell me a little bit about your life before you came to the UK.
We moved from Syria to Jordan a few years ago and were resettled in the UK from there. We had quite a few problems in Jordan. It was hard to have a life there. My brother and my sister are still there.
How did you feel when you knew you were being given a home in the UK?
When I knew we were going to be resettled in the UK I felt like I could relax for the first time. My daughters would have a future and be safe.
Were you told exactly where you were going?
We didn’t know exactly where we would be going other than it was in the Surrey area… I knew that England was a very beautiful country.
What was it like when you got here?
It immediately felt safe, quiet and peaceful. Not an angry place. It feels like home now.
Have you felt welcomed?
Yes. My neighbours are very kind, and people have been good to us.
How are your daughters getting on a school? Do they like it?
Both schools have been very supportive and [the girls] enjoy going. They’ve all made lots of friends and feel at home.
How has Elmbridge CAN supported you and your family?
When we moved in we needed furniture and they supported us with this. They showed me how to sign up for English lessons at Kingston College too – although my youngest daughter is fluent now and corrects me all the time! I can definitely say I have friends in Elmbridge CAN now.
What about work? What did you do in Jordan?
I used to work in a medical factory. I’d like to do a similar thing here, when my English is good enough. I’m concentrating on learning English for now, and I’m spending time in my allotment.
Tell me more about the allotment – is it local to you?
Yes, very close to our house. I’m growing tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, all kinds of things. It’s a way to make local friends. I’ve become friends with an older man, in his 80s, who also has an allotment there. I really enjoy spending time there.
What have you found difficult about life here?
Speaking English is difficult, but I’m learning and I know that with time I’ll be fluent, like my youngest.
Do you think people understand your situation?
Some do, some don’t. But for me, I just see the helpful people.
We moved from Syria to Jordan a few years ago and were resettled in the UK from there. We had quite a few problems in Jordan. It was hard to have a life there. My brother and my sister are still there.
How did you feel when you knew you were being given a home in the UK?
When I knew we were going to be resettled in the UK I felt like I could relax for the first time. My daughters would have a future and be safe.
Were you told exactly where you were going?
We didn’t know exactly where we would be going other than it was in the Surrey area… I knew that England was a very beautiful country.
What was it like when you got here?
It immediately felt safe, quiet and peaceful. Not an angry place. It feels like home now.
Have you felt welcomed?
Yes. My neighbours are very kind, and people have been good to us.
How are your daughters getting on a school? Do they like it?
Both schools have been very supportive and [the girls] enjoy going. They’ve all made lots of friends and feel at home.
How has Elmbridge CAN supported you and your family?
When we moved in we needed furniture and they supported us with this. They showed me how to sign up for English lessons at Kingston College too – although my youngest daughter is fluent now and corrects me all the time! I can definitely say I have friends in Elmbridge CAN now.
What about work? What did you do in Jordan?
I used to work in a medical factory. I’d like to do a similar thing here, when my English is good enough. I’m concentrating on learning English for now, and I’m spending time in my allotment.
Tell me more about the allotment – is it local to you?
Yes, very close to our house. I’m growing tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, all kinds of things. It’s a way to make local friends. I’ve become friends with an older man, in his 80s, who also has an allotment there. I really enjoy spending time there.
What have you found difficult about life here?
Speaking English is difficult, but I’m learning and I know that with time I’ll be fluent, like my youngest.
Do you think people understand your situation?
Some do, some don’t. But for me, I just see the helpful people.
As I leave I notice some Barbie stickers on the front door, ‘my daughters’, he explains.
I sit in my car for a while watching the rain pouring down, and I think about my children and what it would be like to have to move them to an entirely new country so they could be safe and have a future. I think about what that would really mean, practically and emotionally, and the strength required to do such a thing.
And I resolve to tell everyone about Abdul only seeing the helpful people.
Want to support families like Abdul’s?
Elmbridge Borough Council has committed to resettling up to 15 refugee families under this scheme. Finding willing landlords and suitable properties in Elmbridge is a huge challenge. But if we don't find houses, we can't help more families. That's why we’re appealing for properties.
We're looking for a small number of private local landlords with homes to let. If you have a home to let, please get in touch and find out whether this scheme could work for you. If you don’t have a property to let, you can still help. Please spread the word – download our housing appeal flyer and share it with friends, family work colleagues, ask for it to be included in local newsletters or on a noticeboard in local shops or libraries.
Together we can transform the lives of refugees.
Please note: the names in this story have been changed to protect the identities of the people we support.
I sit in my car for a while watching the rain pouring down, and I think about my children and what it would be like to have to move them to an entirely new country so they could be safe and have a future. I think about what that would really mean, practically and emotionally, and the strength required to do such a thing.
And I resolve to tell everyone about Abdul only seeing the helpful people.
Want to support families like Abdul’s?
Elmbridge Borough Council has committed to resettling up to 15 refugee families under this scheme. Finding willing landlords and suitable properties in Elmbridge is a huge challenge. But if we don't find houses, we can't help more families. That's why we’re appealing for properties.
We're looking for a small number of private local landlords with homes to let. If you have a home to let, please get in touch and find out whether this scheme could work for you. If you don’t have a property to let, you can still help. Please spread the word – download our housing appeal flyer and share it with friends, family work colleagues, ask for it to be included in local newsletters or on a noticeboard in local shops or libraries.
Together we can transform the lives of refugees.
Please note: the names in this story have been changed to protect the identities of the people we support.
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Read our interview with SVPR landlord Alex
Elmbridge Borough Council info on housing Syrian refugees
Download and share the housing appeal leaflet
Elmbridge Borough Council info on housing Syrian refugees
Download and share the housing appeal leaflet