“Refugees at Home do is make it possible to respond in the way you instinctively want to when you see people in need”
Huw is the Director of Education at the Diocese of Sheffield. In 2021, he and his wife signed up to host with us and to date, they’ve welcomed thirteen guests into their home.
With everything going on recently in this country and the current climate, there are a lot of people who just want to do something, and hosting enables you to make it clear to people who have come from terrible situations that they are safe and in a home that is welcoming.
When you see people in sleeping bags huddled in doorways it’s only natural to want to help but there’s a question about how you go about doing it, and if it’s safe. What Refugees at Home do is make it possible to respond in the way you instinctively want to when you see people in need – and it’s a privilege to be a part of it.
I’m a real homebody and I like my privacy, so at first, I had some anxiety about hosting; mainly the commitment, how long it would last for, and things like that. That’s where Refugees at Home is such a fantastic organisation, because I was able to talk these things through with somebody beforehand.
That’s a huge asset for any hosts who may feel uncertain or awkward. The team provide regular check-ins and follow up and support you, and there’s just a lovely atmosphere with hosting. They create a great climate for doing it.
There have been times where we asked someone where they were staying before and they mentioned a particular bit of wasteland nearby and you think: ‘My God! If you weren’t here, you’d still be there right now!’
In the UK there are so many facets of life that can be difficult for guests; how to use buses, how to get in touch with the council. All this foundational stuff that you’re able to help with if needed.
We’ve had the opportunity to meet with some amazing people and it’s a real education into the challenges refugees are facing and how much they have to offer.
There have been so many memorable moments. One couple told us they were expecting a baby and now we’ve got a little family that we’re in touch with. One time we discovered that one of our guests was translating the New Testament into his own language and finished doing it with us. I’ve also had some of the most amazing food from around the world – you do have to learn to say ‘I can’t eat another thing!’
I’ve had my worries, but it ends up working really well and we’ve formed some lasting friendships with people who we just wouldn’t meet in any other way.
