Public attitudes to refugee sponsorship in the UK

This report presents findings from a qualitative study of public attitudes towards refugee sponsorship in the UK, based on 30 interviews conducted in both diverse and less-diverse communities across the West Midlands and the Southwest of England. The research explored levels of awareness, understanding and support among people not directly involved in sponsorship schemes. Overall awareness of sponsorship was limited and uneven. Homes for Ukraine was relatively well recognised, whereas Community Sponsorship and Communities for Afghans were largely unfamiliar to participants. Where sponsorship was recognised, understanding was often partial and shaped by media narratives and wider debates on immigration and asylum. While attitudes towards refugees were generally sympathetic and support for sponsorship was expressed, concerns emerged around fairness, local capacity and pressures on public services and housing. Participants emphasised the need for clearer communication, greater transparency about how schemes operate, and visible support for host communities.

The findings indicate that public support for refugee sponsorship is present but conditional. Sustained expansion of sponsorship-based resettlement in the UK will depend on building confidence in the fairness, capacity and effective delivery of these schemes.