The image shows a vibrant and welcoming scene outside a building. The building resembles a church with a large banner displaying the phrase "Welcoming Well". There are diverse groups of people, including men, women, and children, interacting and socializing. Some are sitting at tables enjoying food and drinks, while others are standing and chatting. The setting is lively and inclusive, reflecting a sense of community and togetherness. The background features urban elements with a mix of nature and cityscape.

After leaving the OECD one of the things I’ve been doing is volunteering with our church’s English School. And specifically I’ve been supporting the weekly classes run by Andy inside one of the hotels providing accommodation for asylum seekers.

This experience has been both humbling and incredibly impactful. It’s been such a privilege to spend Wednesday mornings with a diverse collection of people looking to the UK as the place where they want to build a new, safe, life. Our classes have ranged from 4 people to over 30 and in total I’ve met with over 100 people from more than 25 countries; all of them eager to improve their English.

You won’t be surprised that I didn’t support the anti-immigration rhetoric of the political right even before I joined my first class. But I really don’t think it would take more than a couple of mornings spent with these men, women and children for those that do to conclude that much of the way these needs are portrayed is warped and distorted. As you get to know people trapped in the limbo of asylum and learn about the obstacles people face, even after being recognised as refugees, I’m confident they’d actually become passionate advocates for wholesale renewal of our discourse and our practice.

Unfortunately, it’s going to take time to rethink our response to the needs of refugees and asylum seekers. So my prayer and hope is that a future government builds its policy from a place of compassion and grace. And that they recognise the worth of the individuals at the heart of the asylum process.

The worth of these people is my starting point.

Yes, there is a practical need. No government funded English provision is available until you’ve been in the country for six months. And that also assumes you can afford to spend the money and take the time to travel to those classes.

But I love these classes because through them we’re starting to equip people with an ability to discuss the universe and their place in it in English. And that’s not so they can stumble and struggle, but so that one day they can use the same flair and poetry as when they dreamt of their futures in the language of their hearts, before any of the circumstances that led to their seeking sanctuary here.

Undoubtedly having command of English is essential to ‘feel at home’ in the UK, and it’s one we can help with, but that is just one of many needs. So, earlier this week the Croydon Vineyard English School invited every church in Croydon (there are over 200) to a roundtable to capture and discuss what ‘welcoming well’ looks like in practice. It was a great opportunity to hear from many of the excellent organisations working to respond to those needs and I’m looking forward to seeing what God does with the seeds that were sown that morning.

What helps you to ‘feel at home’?

The event gave me an opportunity to dust off my Post-Its. We wanted to hear from the group about what it means for them to ‘feel at home’. So everyone got 2 Post-Its and time to reflect on the question: “If you were a stranger in a strange land, what would help you to feel at home?”

I then affinity sorted the Post-Its into 6 categories as a first pass at a ‘Framework for Feeling at Home’ (I might have left the OECD but perhaps the OECD will never leave me):

  • Safely and materially
  • Culturally
  • Socially
  • Spiritually
  • Purposefully
  • Geographically

We were mindful that only a few of us had ever been through this experience and conscious about the risk of patronising those who have. So we know that this is an incomplete picture and may be clumsy in some of its phrasing. It’s definitely a picture that would benefit from iteration and future feedback. But as a starting point I think it’s helpful for thinking about the extent to which these needs are met, or not and a route to prioritising some next steps.

I’ve embedded the (de-duplicated and summarised) groupings below (or here is the board on Miro). Please let me know what we’ve missed in the comments.

  1. Safely and materially at home
The image consists of sticky notes. At the top, there is a yellow sticky note labelled "Safely and Materially at Home." Below it, there are two columns of blue sticky notes with the following labels: Healthy Clothed Well fed Safe, secure roof Access to a deposit for 'somewhere to call my own' Counselled Living in peace and safety Access to the internet These notes represent different aspects of achieving a safe and materially secure home.
  1. Culturally at home
The image consists of sticky notes. At the top, there is a yellow sticky note labelled "Culturally at Home." Below it, there are two columns of sticky notes, grouped under pink subheadings. On the left side, under the pink subheading "My new, host culture," the blue sticky notes read: - Opportunity to integrate into local culture where I'm not judged for mistakes - Understanding and learning the country's culture and life's dos and don'ts - Connected with people who speak my language On the right side, under the pink subheading "My established, home culture," the blue sticky notes read: - Opportunity to integrate into local culture in a way that feels safe - A sense of belonging in my new context - Marking my national holidays and festivals - Meeting with my local diaspora - Help readily available in my language - My host community making the effort to welcome me with some knowledge and appreciation for my homeland These notes represent different aspects of feeling culturally at home in a new environment.
  1. Socially at home
The image consists of sticky notes. At the top, there is a yellow sticky note labelled "Socially at Home." Below it, there are three groups of sticky notes associated with pink subheadings. On the left side, under the pink subheading "The ability to connect with others," the blue sticky notes read: Smartphones English language classes Access to transport Access to the internet On the right, under the pink subheading "Recognised as a person, not a problem," the blue sticky notes read: Connection and community Acceptance of my culture Seen as someone beyond my circumstances Understood and welcomed Loved, not just tolerated Acknowledging the circumstances that drove our despair Shown around the place Shown patience and given the benefit of the doubt Connected to people with similar experiences or from my diaspora People interested in my personality, interests, gifts, not just equipping me for survival At the bottom, under the pink subheading "Genuinely welcome," the blue sticky notes read: A welcoming smile Someone I can go out for coffee with Someone who wants to hear my story Warmth from the people whose land I am in Invited for a meal A social life outside of organised events Friendship Kindness Invited into other people's homes Welcomed by neighbours These notes represent different aspects of feeling socially at home in a new environment.
  1. Spiritually at home
The image consists of sticky notes. At the top, there is a yellow sticky note labelled "Spiritually at Home." Below it, there are four blue sticky notes arranged in two rows. They read: Signposted to faith gatherings Being among people who share my faith Access to my religious texts in a language I understand Knowing when and where to worship These notes represent different aspects of feeling spiritually at home in a new environment.
  1. Purposefully at home
The image consists of sticky notes. At the top, there is a yellow sticky note labelled "Purposefully at Home." Below it, there are six blue sticky notes arranged in three rows. They read: Activities I can meaningfully contribute to and join in with Having my skills, talents, and gifts put to use Opportunities to volunteer and share my value Opportunities to learn new skills and receive training Opportunities to teach skills and offer training from all my expertise and experience Practical activities where I feel like I am accepted and included alongside others These notes represent different aspects of feeling purposeful and valued in a new environment.
  1. Geographically at home
The image consists of sticky notes. At the top, there is a yellow sticky note labelled "Geographically at Home." Below it, there are six blue sticky notes arranged in three rows. They read: Access to advice and direction Someone to explain to me how life works in this country Knowing my way around shops and schools Trusted information about where I am based Information about legal advice, shopping, doctors, and schools, etc. Trusted information about the system of the country These notes represent different aspects of feeling geographically at home in a new environment.