This working paper is based on research conducted during my time as a student in the MSc Migration Studies programme 2023-2024. It investigates the experiences of sponsors in the UK’s Community Sponsorship Scheme (CSS) for resettled refugees. Understanding these experiences is essential for ensuring the continued participation of sponsors and the long-term viability of CSS and similar refugee sponsorship programmes. Despite the increasing prominence of community sponsorship, there is limited research on CSS in the UK, particularly on the sponsor experience. This study addresses this gap by drawing on in-depth interviews with sponsors to explore their motivations, challenges, and rewards. This research utilises Derrida’s notion of ‘hostipitality’ to explore the tensions inherent within CSS. The research ultimately finds that the sponsor journey is multifaceted, characterised by a complex interplay of motivations, emotions, rewards, and challenges. By examining these experiences through the lens of Derrida’s hostipitality, the study offers insights into the tensions and complexities inherent within CSS, especially as it operates within the UK’s hostile environment. These findings hold value for informing policy and programmatic improvements to improve the sponsorship experience and secure the long-term flourishing of community sponsorship schemes – in the UK and beyond.
About the author
Kirsten Boyd: kirboyd3@gmail.com