Abdulrahman Zakaria is one of thousands of refugees being supported by local groups around the UK.
By Shehnaz Khan & Amy ColeA refugee who fled Syria has spoken of the support from the local community after resettling in Warwickshire.
Since arriving with his family in June 2022, Abdulrahman Zakaria said local residents had helped arrange schooling and healthcare, as well as supporting him to set up his own IT business."They make the hard things easier," he said, adding that his neighbours had also been "very friendly".Across the UK, more than 1,000 refugees have been supported by community sponsorship, which involves local groups directly helping people to resettle.
Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said the scheme, which opened in 2016, had offered the "best prospect" of integration. He said the UK was one of a "few countries" that allowed local communities to help settle those "directly at risk in conflict zones" around the world.Julia Fitzsimons, from Warwickshire Circle of Friends, said the group had helped the family to integrate
Mr Zakaria had spent the previous 10 years living in Egypt while waiting for resettlement in the UK, having been referred by the UN Refugee Agency.Under the Home office scheme,