Conceptualizing community sponsorship: values in action

One way to try to understand the values at work in community sponsorship is to ask the simple question ‘Why does someone want to sponsor refugees?’ Refugee integration, particularly in a welfare state context in the UK, is generally thought to be the responsibility of governments, both national and local. What makes individuals or groups decide or suggest that they could sponsor refugee newcomers?

One category of answer would be in the personal realm: the refugee or family to be sponsored are related to, or known to, those sponsoring them. In some sponsorship situations in Canada, for example, the sponsored refugee can be identified by the private sponsors - and might be a relative of the sponsor, or of someone already in their community. In that case, ‘Why sponsor?’ might be relatively easily answered as it is a direct way to assist a known individual or family.

However, in the UK, the refugees who are recipients of community sponsorship are identified by the government in collaboration with UNHCR (similar to the Blended Visa-Office Referred Program in Canada). The person or family being sponsored is therefore unknown to the sponsors and they are randomly matched. The reason to sponsor refugees is therefore based on broader, humanitarian values.

Another category of answer would be to expand programs by putting in financial or in-kind support (e.g. housing) for more refugee arrivals than those for whom the government has said it is prepared to pay. Sponsors, in the UK context, commit to provide housing for the first two years in terms of managing the relationship between the refugee tenant and the private landlord. The housing is actually paid for through housing benefits, however, and the actual financial commitment of the sponsors is relatively limited. Furthermore, sponsored refugees have been part of the overall caseload, not an addition to it, although changes to the UK resettlement program announced on June 18, 2019 mean that sponsorship places will, as of 2020, be over and above the government program numbers (UK government 2019).

Indeed, the main role of sponsors in the UK is that of facilitators - a bridge offering guidance as well as some material assistance in the earliest days, and in some ways mentors, with a changing relationship over the course of time, as the refugees start to both integrate in wider society and become increasingly independent. Sponsors must be registered charities, and have permission from their local authorities to engage with the refugees, who will be housed in proximity to their sponsoring organization (ERN+ 2017).

A third category of answer to the question ‘Why sponsor’ could be more pertinent, namely as an expression of commitment, values, and, in essences, of political approach to the thorny issues of immigration and protection. Perhaps the strongest underlying motives for sponsorship in the UK are involvement, and the expression of support for refugee arrivals - an expression which may be targeted not only at the refugees, but also at the UK government and at those people in society who oppose refugee arrivals, and/ or engage in far right and racist politics.

One recognized sponsorship organization, Migrants Organize, based in London says on their website:

One of the core benefits we see with community sponsorship is how it creates a strong network of allies, friends and neighbors to support newly arrived refugees who would otherwise be marginalized and isolated - from simple things like helping the family register with the GP and navigate public transport, to being a friendly face to chat with over a coffee. It is about having a community network invested in supporting them toward independence and to break down the loneliness and isolation often experienced by newly arrived refugees.

(Migrants Organize 2019)

Of the values claimed to be British values, the key elements here seem to be individual freedom (the liberty to choose to assist a newcomer, and the freedom of that individual or family to accept that help, or indicate where they are ready to do certain things alone), and tolerance. The toleration of newcomers, of their diversity, of their difficulties in adjusting, and of the whole group of helpers is key to making a success of the sponsorship, and central among the values being upheld through deeds and passed on to those receiving the assistance.

In setting out the Community Sponsorship Program, the government referred to UK values (using that term, not British values) only to explain that opposition to those values, or tolerance of such opposition, would be reason for refusing an organization the right or opportunity to sponsor refugees (UK Government 2018):

If we consider that your organization or the lead sponsor are not fit and proper to assume the responsibility of resettling a vulnerable family, we may refuse your application or revoke your approval. Reasons for this include, but are not limited to: the provision of false or inaccurate information; vocal or active opposition to fundamental UK values (or tolerance of such opposition) including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, universal human rights, gender equality, equality of opportunity, mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs, freedom of speech; criminal convictions; immigration offences; or other illegal activity.

Those organizations that have sponsored refugees are primarily faith-based (Christian) or part of the Refugees Welcome movement, and are following through on their strongly held values (Howden 2016). One question is whether their actions can help spread those values, and particularly tolerance, more deeply across the British population.