What inspired me… Asia Hart-Eason
My name is Asia. I’m based in Glasgow,and I’m connected with the Refugee Sponsorship Ibrox, which has been around since 2021. I got involved just a few months after the group formed and joined at the fundraising stage.
“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.
“It feels like my life has started again”
Rana is a single mother to two girls. They fled Syria after her daughter’s school was bombed. Two years ago, she was resettled in Liverpool through Community Sponsorship. Here she tells us about the kindness of the people in Liverpool and her ambitions to become a nurse.
“I’ll never be able to put into words just how happy I was in that moment at the airport.”
Mamoun was resettled in Devon with his wife Amneh and their 5 children after fleeing Syria. He explains the impact that resettlement has had on his family and the joy of reuniting with his brother.
“I’m so proud of the communities across Devon that have come together to welcome refugees”
When the Community Sponsorship programme was launched, it enabled people in the UK to sponsor refugees for the first time. Several communities in Devon mobilised really quickly. Back then we were in uncharted territory – the scheme was brand new. But at Devon County Council we quickly recognised that the benefits of Community Sponsorship could be huge – not only for sponsored refugees, but also for the communities themselves.
“By the time we got home, messages of support were waiting in our inboxes.”
Kirkby Stephen – or ‘Kirkby’ as it’s known by the locals – is a small, thriving market town on the edge of the Cumbrian Dales. Retired teacher Mike has lived and worked here for 36 years. An outdoors enthusiast who has white-water kayaked all over the world, Mike is currently taking on a new challenge: setting up a Community Sponsorship project. We spoke to Mike about how he and his team have got the whole town on board.
“I realised that it’s always good to have somebody here for you.”
Aged just 21, Mohammad has moved from Lebanon to work for the NHS. When he first arrived in the UK, he wasn’t sure how Reset’s Neighbours for Newcomers volunteers would be able to support him. But then he turned to them in a moment of crisis.
“It was the first time we ever saw something like this.”
Amira, Rashed and their three daughters arrived in Northern Ireland in September 2019, where they were welcomed by the Small World Community Sponsorship group. With Christmas just a couple of weeks away we thought we would talk to Amira about her first Christmas in the UK. She shares her surprise at her daughters’ star turns and why she thinks getting involved in each other’s festivities is so important.
“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.
“Well, now you have sons”
