In this EdgeXchange, recorded in February 2026, we meet Sharon Plant alongside Rita and John Stephen, and hear their inspiring stories of welcome, resilience, and community.

Sharon serves as a Pioneer Curate in the parish of St Anne and St Paul with St Augustine in Leicester. She shares the journey of supporting a family from Iran who were seeking asylum in the UK. While their path included challenges along the way, it has led to a hopeful and uplifting outcome: the family is now settled and actively contributing to both the local church and the wider community, particularly through a flourishing allotment project.

Rita and John, based in Cornwall—an area with limited prior experience of working with refugees and people seeking asylum—have embraced their role within a Community Sponsor Scheme. They have supported a mother and her children from Afghanistan, navigating new and sometimes complex situations together.

Despite the obstacles, including the mother being a qualified midwife who is not yet able to work within the NHS, their story shines with determination and creativity.

It is a heartening example of how care, resourcefulness, and community spirit can help make even small beginnings grow into something meaningful.