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 one family's story of coming to the UK and find out how you can help transform the lives of other families in need through our property appeal.
Read one family's story of coming to the UK and find out how you can help transform the lives of other families in need through our property appeal.
Seham's storyInterview by Sabah Khan | Language support by Susan Eade
South West London's newest residents hail from war-torn Syria. They came to the UK as part of the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme.
I met with sisters Seham and Sultana (both in their 40s) and their elderly mother to find out more about their journey and experience of living in the UK so far. |
Image © Sabah Khan / Elmbridge CAN
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Tell me about your lives before you had to leave Syria.
We had full lives, filled with family and friends. Our 5 brothers and their families were all within walking distance, so our house was always bursting with noise.
When did the Syrian conflict start affecting your life?
When the war started, our brothers were forced to enlist in the army. We lost 3 of them to the war. The other 2 now live in Germany with their families, so we’re still separated from them.
Our precious 11 year-old niece was shot and killed by a sniper outside our house. We knew then we had to leave. But we lived in the city and had no options. When the army took over the city, they threw us out and we spent two weeks living with an uncle while our dad and brother went ahead to Kurdistan to set things up for us.
We lived there for 3 years. Everything was ok until ISIS came. Our father had died and we were a family of women so the UN advised us to come to the UK.
What was it like to arrive here? What was most challenging?
The process was well handled but the biggest barrier we have consistently faced is the language. We want to do things but can’t explain what we want or need. The translators are great but they aren’t with us all the time so it can be hard.
It's been a real culture shock, especially for mum. We're so used to being surrounded by a community of people. But we don't know anyone here. We're safe but we're lonely and we don't know how long it will take for that feeling to go away.
What kind of reaction have you had from the community here?
It’s a really different here – people are much less likely to speak to people they don’t know so although everyone seems friendly, we don’t know anyone. I don't think people understand what it’s like to pack up your entire life and move somewhere new. We don’t want to be a burden or get in the way and we just want to help the community and become part of it.
Our family was a huge part of our life and we lost so many of them in the war. Now we're just trying... to get on with life as best we can.
What kind of support have you had from the council?
We’ve had great support. The council gave us a fully furnished flat and we’ve had someone who speaks our language to explain things to us. Susan Eade, a volunteer with Elmbridge CAN has been amazing and made our lives so much easier. She comes over just to talk – which really helps our mum as she feels so lonely a lot of the time. She lost her husband and she’s in a new country which is completely alien to her. She doesn’t understand the culture or the language, so having other people and families visit makes a huge difference to her.
What’s been the biggest change for you?
The food. We can make whatever we like at home but it’s hard finding certain ingredients and it’s not the same as home – we’re adjusting but it takes time to get used to.
What more could the local community do to help you adjust to life here?
It would be great to be introduced to other families from similar cultures. Our mum really misses her grandchildren so having other families with children who will come over and socialise really makes such a big difference and we love entertaining and having people over when we can.
The man from our local council helped us find a shop where we could get Syrian food and that made a huge difference – being able to buy the bread and spices and olive oil we're used to. It’s simple things and small gestures that made a big difference.
But what we really need is more people who are willing to give up their free time and help teach us and other refugee families English. We’re trying as hard as we can but the college can only offer us one class a week and that’s not enough.
What are your hopes for the future?
We just want stability, and hopefully once we have mastered the language we will be able to start working full time, look after our mother, and build a life here. We know we can be happy here in the UK.
We had full lives, filled with family and friends. Our 5 brothers and their families were all within walking distance, so our house was always bursting with noise.
When did the Syrian conflict start affecting your life?
When the war started, our brothers were forced to enlist in the army. We lost 3 of them to the war. The other 2 now live in Germany with their families, so we’re still separated from them.
Our precious 11 year-old niece was shot and killed by a sniper outside our house. We knew then we had to leave. But we lived in the city and had no options. When the army took over the city, they threw us out and we spent two weeks living with an uncle while our dad and brother went ahead to Kurdistan to set things up for us.
We lived there for 3 years. Everything was ok until ISIS came. Our father had died and we were a family of women so the UN advised us to come to the UK.
What was it like to arrive here? What was most challenging?
The process was well handled but the biggest barrier we have consistently faced is the language. We want to do things but can’t explain what we want or need. The translators are great but they aren’t with us all the time so it can be hard.
It's been a real culture shock, especially for mum. We're so used to being surrounded by a community of people. But we don't know anyone here. We're safe but we're lonely and we don't know how long it will take for that feeling to go away.
What kind of reaction have you had from the community here?
It’s a really different here – people are much less likely to speak to people they don’t know so although everyone seems friendly, we don’t know anyone. I don't think people understand what it’s like to pack up your entire life and move somewhere new. We don’t want to be a burden or get in the way and we just want to help the community and become part of it.
Our family was a huge part of our life and we lost so many of them in the war. Now we're just trying... to get on with life as best we can.
What kind of support have you had from the council?
We’ve had great support. The council gave us a fully furnished flat and we’ve had someone who speaks our language to explain things to us. Susan Eade, a volunteer with Elmbridge CAN has been amazing and made our lives so much easier. She comes over just to talk – which really helps our mum as she feels so lonely a lot of the time. She lost her husband and she’s in a new country which is completely alien to her. She doesn’t understand the culture or the language, so having other people and families visit makes a huge difference to her.
What’s been the biggest change for you?
The food. We can make whatever we like at home but it’s hard finding certain ingredients and it’s not the same as home – we’re adjusting but it takes time to get used to.
What more could the local community do to help you adjust to life here?
It would be great to be introduced to other families from similar cultures. Our mum really misses her grandchildren so having other families with children who will come over and socialise really makes such a big difference and we love entertaining and having people over when we can.
The man from our local council helped us find a shop where we could get Syrian food and that made a huge difference – being able to buy the bread and spices and olive oil we're used to. It’s simple things and small gestures that made a big difference.
But what we really need is more people who are willing to give up their free time and help teach us and other refugee families English. We’re trying as hard as we can but the college can only offer us one class a week and that’s not enough.
What are your hopes for the future?
We just want stability, and hopefully once we have mastered the language we will be able to start working full time, look after our mother, and build a life here. We know we can be happy here in the UK.
After our chat, we sat down to a traditional Syrian lunch. Even though I couldn’t understand what they were saying, it was clear that these are incredibly strong, generous and lovely women who've been through so much in their lives – but who still want to try and make things better for themselves.
I can't imagine being forced to pack up and leave behind my entire life, culture and language. It's so brave. I left feeling inspired and wishing there was something more I could do to help.
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 families like Seham and Sultana's. That's why Elmbridge CAN is supporting the council's appeal for properties.
We're looking for a small number of private local landlords with properties to let. If you have a home to let, please get in touch and find out whether this scheme could work for you.
Together we can transform the lives of refugees.
I can't imagine being forced to pack up and leave behind my entire life, culture and language. It's so brave. I left feeling inspired and wishing there was something more I could do to help.
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 families like Seham and Sultana's. That's why Elmbridge CAN is supporting the council's appeal for properties.
We're looking for a small number of private local landlords with properties to let. If you have a home to let, please get in touch and find out whether this scheme could work for you.
Together we can transform the lives of refugees.
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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