South Downs Refugee Project has applied to the Home Office to sponsor the settlement of a  refugee family in our village. Whilst we await determination of our application, we’ll take a look at  other aspects of the refugee situation. Today Alison shares her experience of  working with the charity Refugees at Home 


Anyone can become a refugee, face war or persecution – whether they be doctors or  farmers, teachers or students, parents or children. They are ordinary people fleeing  extraordinary circumstances. 

I’m sure you must have felt compassion for the people you saw on our screens trying to flee  Afghanistan in the Summer. And thought, but for the grace of God . . . . 

A group of us in Hassocks have come together and formed the South Downs Refugee Project  because we couldn’t bear to think of people like us, risking their lives, having to flee their  homes through no fault of their own. We wanted to do something, however small, to express  our solidarity with our fellow human beings. The project has really taken off, and we’re very  excited about being able to welcome a refugee family hopefully some time in 2022. 

That’s not the only way we can support refugees though. My family has been signed up to  the Refugees at Home scheme now for about four years. The scheme is about connecting refugees and asylum seekers in need with welcoming hosts. 

Refugees at Home has helped thousands of refugees and asylum seekers to avoid destitution  and homelessness. They match guests with hosts who would like to offer a safe, welcoming  place to stay, for the length of time that they can manage. Many of the guests go on to receive  Refugee status and eventually to find work and a place of their own. 

Their vision is a society where every refugee and asylum seeker facing homelessness has a safe  place to stay and a chance to rebuild their life.

That’s my vision too, so I was keen to find out more about the scheme, and then to join up in  2017. Since then we have hosted four people, some for as short a time as three weeks, others  for nine months! I know we are very lucky to have spare bedrooms in our house since the  children have grown up, and this scheme felt like a way of using that space for good. 

We have stayed in touch with all our guests – they feel like part of our family now. Friends ask  me how I can trust people I don’t know to live in our home, and I say we soon get to know  them, they have been through such terrible times and just want to be helpful and fit in. You  receive information about each guest, and lots of help and support from the team at Refugees  at Home. And you only have to host for as long as you want – nine months is by no means the  norm, but in that case we just wanted to support our guest as much as we could. 

How does it work?  

Hosts speak to one of the scheme’s volunteer home visitors to make sure hosting is a good fit  for their household and provide two references. 

Most guests are referred by refugee support agencies such as the Red Cross, Refugee Council,  or a more local charity. A named caseworker from this charity supports the guest throughout  their time in a host’s household and helps to promote a positive placement. 

Refugees at Home matches hosts and guests, supports hosts throughout the placement and  arranges guests’ move on. 

Hosts offer placements for as long as their circumstances permit. 

Can you host or know someone who might be interested?  

You can get in touch by email on: info@refugeesathome.org, call on: 0300 365 4724, or apply  here: www.refugeesathome.org 

Facebook @refugeesathome 

Twitter @RefugeesAtHome 

Insta @refugeesahome


Alison Mohammed is Secretary of South Downs Refugee Project