I have been working directly with refugees and migrants in various projects since 2013. My role as Community Development Officer at the Refugee Council for the past five years has focused on community development, integration and employment. I have supported newcomers with language skills, acted as an interpreter and teacher of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), as well as employment, education and immigration advisor.

In recent years, migration has become a mainstream topic with many different perspectives. Sometimes it can be very polarised. However, much of the debate treats all migrants the same and does not take into account their differences or the difference in the places they are living in the UK. My focus in the last four years has been on resettled refugees in rural areas of North Yorkshire. There is little information of whether people in rural areas have different attitudes towards particular groups of migrants than people in towns and cities.

I believe our rural communities need to be cherished and invested in, and bringing in cultural diversity should be embraced as an enriching and empowering solution, not a burden. If we can foster these human relationships, and treat refugees as assets in a culture of equality, we can build thriving and prosperous communities. I believe this is crucial in a world that is changing so fast.