How Upbeat Warmly Welcomes Refugee Families

Refugee Integration Worker, Elliot, wonders about welcome as he wanders around a supermarket in preparation for the arrival of a new family seeking refuge in the UK.

Vases always seem difficult to find — at least where I shop. Foil is sometimes out of stock. Clothes pegs can be found in Aisle 7, tissues and paper goods in Aisle 16. Shampoo sometimes, but not always with a matching conditioner. Buying eight toothbrushes is cheaper than buying five.

These are some of the things that I have learned whilst shopping for toiletries and household goods for new arrivals that Upbeat is responsible for resettling. When steering the overflowing trolley I wonder about the new family. How are they doing? Where are they now? Will they like the liquid soap I selected? Will they share my opinion about the pack of four tea towels? Would they prefer scourers to J Cloths to do the washing up? Is floral-scented, brightly packaged anti-bacterial spray available in their country of origin?

Keys will be gathered. Sometimes these don’t work, so that needs to be sorted. The new property will be checked. Does the heating work? Are there locks on the windows? What day are the bins collected? An extensive checklist will be worked through and notes passed on to the housing provider.

Toiletries and household items will be stored away. Another big shop: this time for food. Cans, chilled, frozen, fresh food will be bought, transported and neatly stacked away in fridges, freezers and kitchen cupboards.

The family will arrive, tired and weary from the journey in yet another location. This isn’t the life they have chosen, they don’t know the neighbours. Physically they step over the threshold but mentally their thoughts are still in another country, their home, with their friends, colleagues and family members.

Fresh flowers carefully arranged in an odd new vase welcome them to their new accommodation: the next phase of their lives.

Elliot Cooper — Tutor & Refugee Integration Worker

Our dedicated team of Refugee Integration Workers work hard to welcome those who’ve fled war-torn countries as they rebuild their lives in the UK. To hear updates and join us on the journey, you can sign up to our mailing list at upbeatcommunities.org/supporter-signup