Moving house

Guidance on how to support families that are considering moving to a different area in the UK

After arrival, some families might express an interest in moving elsewhere in the UK. There could be many reasons for this; they may have relatives or friends elsewhere, they might wish to live somewhere more or less quiet than where they currently are, or where there is a larger population of people who speak the same language as them. This resource is designed to give you advice on how to approach this conversation with the family you support should they express this wish.

It is essential that if the family you support express the wish to relocate that you address this with impartiality; it is not a reflection on the group’s support or the work you have done. Of course, it is a disappointment but the best advice we have is to encourage the family members to explore the options they have. You may choose to do this with them, or signpost them on how they can research what this will mean for them. We have provided a template below, including translations, of areas to research prior to a move that you may wish to make available to the family.

In our experience, exploring what a move will involve often is overwhelming for a family, and it is advisable to break this down into manageable goals over the course of the year of your support so that they feel more able and prepared to move. We have provided downloads on this page in a number of languages to go through with the family to discover the steps of moving. If you would like to use these and require word versions, please email us. 

Should a family decide to move, there is no guarantee or expectation that support will be offered by a Local Authority or any other Community Sponsorship group in the new area, and it might be the case that the family will need to find support and access help independently. There is no denying this is a difficult situation, and the family may wish to move but not have the capacity or resource to do so, leading them to feel that there is no option for them. Remember that working toward an end goal takes time and is made of small steps. 

Some families who have been resettled through either Local Authority resettlement schemes or the Community Sponsorship scheme have decided to leave the resettlement programme and move area. It can be a common conversation in the early days of resettlement as families adjust to life in the UK. In our training, we talk to groups about the stages of resettlement and how accepting the limitations of life in the UK can lead to disappointment and dissatisfaction. Some Local Authorities and resettlement agencies have not been notified that a family will move and have found out only once this has already taken place. If your group is supporting a family who decide to move, please do notify the Home Office Community Sponsorship team, who may be able to see if there is any support which the family’s new Local Authority can provide. It is also worth noting that a Local Authority may only be able to provide support that is within it’s statutory obligation to do so, and not be in a position to provide any further support beyond that. The family should be made aware that the wraparound support your group has provided them is not something they may be able to receive in the area they have chosen to move to.

Impact on your group

• If the family decided to relocate outside of your area, you would not need to source ongoing accommodation or support. The family would be voluntarily leaving the resettlement programme, which means that they may not be able to access support in their new area.
• If the family have decided to move, please do alert the Home Office Community Sponsorship team via [email protected]
• As you will have secured a property for 24 months for this family, there may be financial or legal implications on breaking a tenancy part-way through. You should explore what impact that might have on your group, and ensure the family understands if this has any impact on them (for example, paying an early termination of tenancy fee).
• You are not required to fund or support a move elsewhere in the UK for the family. If you do decide to offer some support to the family to facilitate their move, then please do make clear to the family what you will and will not support with.

Talking to the family

• Take time to understand why they would like to move, explore this with each adult family member and ensure they are able to express their opinion and each be clear on how this will impact them. Whilst this is something for them to  decide as a family unit, do ensure that everyone has all of the information you can provide to help them reach an informed decision as a family.
• Don’t place pressure on the family to make a decision one way or another. You are likely to have a view of what would be in their best interests, but do remain impartial.
• Acknowledge that this is not an easy decision to make and assure them that you are not offended or see this as a reflection on the support you have offered to their family
• Do not promise or commit to something you cannot influence or control, and make sure that you discuss what you can offer as a group with your Lead Sponsor and as a team should a move go ahead, and stay consistent as a group on these parameters.

You won’t be the first Community Sponsorship group who has this conversation, and if you do need assistance or support, Reset are here to help.