How Grand Union helps to find homes for Syrian refugee families

Since January 2014 the UK has resettled over 20,000 Syrian refugees through the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. As a housing provider, it’s our duty to provide homes that people can call their own, where they can feel safe and put down roots. That’s why we’ve been working with Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) and the King’s Arms Project, a not-for-profit organisation that provides housing and support for the homeless, to find new homes in Bedfordshire for refugee families fleeing conflict in their home country.

Since 2016, King’s Arms Project has supported 84 people in 19 families, with 16 of these families moving into Grand Union properties. Aileen Evans, Grand Union’s chief executive and former CIH president, said: “Everyone deserves a safe place to call their home, and through this partnership, we’ve been able to provide that to these families. I can’t begin to imagine what some of these families have been through, so I’m proud that as an organisation we’ve been able to play our part.”

Grand Union started working on rehousing the refugees back in 2017 when CBC approached us to support the project. While finding homes for the families is crucial, so is the support work provided by the King’s Arms Project. Hannah Joy, refugee and migrant services manager there said: “Our role is to ensure the families moving to the region have everything they need to feel at home and to settle into the area. Our aim is to help empower people for independence and integration, we do this by helping people to access housing, finances, education, training, healthcare, and English classes."

Basel and his family live in a Grand Union home and it’s made a massive difference to them. Basel said: “Frankly, everything is fantastic. We feel safe and we feel very settled now. The house is perfect for our needs. It’s new and clean, and it’s perfect for my family.
“One thing I like is that our neighbours are really nice and we get on well. The area is nice, the people are kind, and the area is quiet. We feel very comfortable here. We have started to make friends through my son’s school, meeting other parents. We go to each other houses and see each other.”

Another Grand Union customer, 27-year-old Dema, came to the UK in 2017 from Syria. Almost 10 years ago she lost her leg when a bomb hit her house and since then she’s overcome enormous personal and physical challenges. After settling into her new home she set her sights on her dream – to run again. Now, after raising over £11,500 via a gofundme donations page, she’s been able to achieve that dream by buying a specialist running prosthetic.

In a delighted post on her Instagram account, Dema said: “I’m so thankful for everyone who has been part of this journey. I want to thank everyone for all you have given me, of support, and for believing in me. All the words of thanks can’t describe my feelings.”
You can read more about Dema’s story here.

There are so many other inspiring stories that show everyone’s hard work, including the families themselves, is paying off. Hannah Joy added: “We are very proud that one of the young women who we helped to resettle in the region in 2017 has learned English and is now working for us as part of our ESOL Team. We’re also working with someone who is looking to start his own business. He dreams of setting up a food truck selling Syrian cuisine.”