Lambeth resident Mark Ormerod is an active member of the congregation at St John’s Waterloo and, for the last four years, he has hosted people seeking sanctuary through the charity Refugees at Home. Mark spoke to us about opening his home, the experiences he’s had, and the role faith played in his decision.
Deciding to host
I live on my own in a two-bedroom flat in central London and, while family and friends often come to stay, it does seem a bit of a waste to not make any use of it. The war in Ukraine was a real trigger, and it made me think I should be doing something.
I later went to a talk at Westminster Abbey, and the speaker went through the numbers of refugees from completely different countries – not just Ukraine – and it weighed on me that there was a huge demand. He said that if anyone was interested, they should get in touch with an organisation called Refugees at Home.
Support from Refugees at Home
The support Refugees at Home offer is really good. The main reassurance for me was just knowing that there were people that I could talk to if there were any concerns or anything went wrong, or if the guest didn’t come back. It’s helpful to know that you are not on your own.
Before hosting, one of the charity’s Home Visitors came to talk to me, and I was able to discuss the few concerns I had. They were very reassuring!
Hosting experiences
All my guests have been young men in their 20s, and they were out pretty much all day. They would either come back and make a little meal or they’d had something already. They generally just stayed for a week or two, and then I never saw them again.
However, one guest ended up staying for over a year and we got to know each other a lot better; we had Christmas dinner, and sometimes he’d cook Eritrean food and we’d eat it together. He’d never been to a classical music concert before so I took him to one at St John’s! We’ve kept in touch ever since.
Connection to Christian faith
Hosting meshes with St Matthew’s gospel 25:35-40 in which Christ says ‘I was a stranger and you took me in’ and when asked when he was taken in, he replies: ‘In as much as you have done it for the least of my brethren, you have done it for me’. I’m not necessarily hosting as a Christian activity, but there is definitely an overlap.
While my Eritrean guest was staying, he went to his church every day and did some voluntary pastoral work there.
He was observant and would always say grace before a meal, which I never do, so, I had to keep remembering not to snatch up my knife and fork!
St Johns Waterloo
About a year ago, St John’s Waterloo ran a series of after-service talks about social justice. Along with another host, I spoke at one about getting involved with Refugees at Home. It raised awareness and there was a feature in the church’s monthly newsletter.
The church is very active in the local community, particularly when it comes to helping people sleeping rough. We are part of the Robes Project which is a scheme involving seven churches that take it in turn to be a night shelter each day of the week. There’s a whole group of volunteers who set up beds & tables, cook, and keep guests company.
St John’s also organises Room For You which is a weekly drop-in for anyone, including people experiencing homelessness. It hosts a whole series of sessions and events such as English language classes and yoga. The St John’s Churchyard has also had resonance for the homeless community for a long time. In particular, there is a Mosaic Bench which is dedicated to homeless people who have lived and passed away in the area.
Clearly, supporting homeless people and new arrivals is very much part of our history and part of our present.
Why host
The best thing about hosting is that you are doing something tangibly useful. You’ve done something which has helped another person, and you’ve got something out of it as well. You do get this connection with other cultures and people. The knock-on effect to friends and family has been interesting; it gets other people thinking. People are interested, some are slightly alarmed, some in my circle of friends think it’s a strange thing to do.
I think particularly when you’re retired and have more time on your hands, having a purpose is quite important.
Advice for people thinking about hosting
Don’t be afraid. It’s a rewarding experience and not one to get too worried about in my experiences.
If you’ve got the facilities and the desire to help then whatever worries you might have, don’t let it hold you back! Try it out. Do a short placement and see how it goes. You could get a lot from it. Not only are you helping someone, but you’ve got someone from a completely different culture, world, experience in your home. It’s just so interesting and rewarding.
There is a great need, and if we can, we should all try and do what we can to meet these needs.
About Refugees at Home
Refugees at Home is the UK’s largest independent hosting charity, matching refugees and people seeking asylum with people willing to open their home and help them rebuild their lives. This year, they’re celebrating their 10th anniversary and in that time they’ve placed 7,500 guests with hosts across the UK.
If you’re interested in hosting, or want to find out more, visit refugeesathome.org.uk.
