Dr Marisol Reyes

Dr Marisol Reyes

Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology
Research Fellow
Institute for Research into Superdiversity

Contact details

Email
m.reyes@bham.ac.uk
Twitter
@DrMarisolReyes1
View my research portal
Address
Muirhead Tower
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Dr Marisol Reyes has been the research leader of the Community Sponsorship Scheme (CSS) directed by Professor Jenny Phillimore since 2017. The scheme was implemented by the British government to enable community groups to take on the role of supporting resettled refugees in the UK. 

Marisol has focused her research on the motivations and experience of the sponsorship organisers and volunteers around the resettlement plan before the sponsored families arrive. It also includes the experiences of hospitality provided to the families once they are in residence, assessing the support that they have received and their challenges of integration in the wider community. Currently she is working on coordinating a Special Issue for an academic journal with articles on Community Sponsorship and Complementary Pathways programmes in the world.

Qualifications

  • PhD Political Behaviour, Government Department, University of Essex, United Kingdom (2007)
  • Master Degree in Latin American Studies, Edmund A Walsh School of Foreign Policy, Georgetown University, United States (2003).
  • BA (Hons) International Relations (First Class) National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico (1991)

Biography

At the Institute for Research into Superdiversity (IRiS) I worked as research fellow in the evaluation of the UK Community Sponsorship Scheme (CSS) directed by Professor Jenny Phillimore from 2018 to 2021. I focused on assessing the support provided to the families once they were in residence, as well as the impact of the scheme in the host communities. Recent research includes policy recommendations for the Community-sponsorship models in six European countries and a toolkit for the UK ‘Homes for Ukraine’. 

Research

Interconnected

Research interests:

  • Community Sponsorship models in the UK and Europe
  • Humanitarian Corridors in Europe
  • UK Homes for Ukraine
  • Private hospitality
  • Homestay Contact Theory

Current projects:

  • Special Issue entitled ‘Community Sponsorship and complementary pathways: global movements for resettling refugees driven by local actors.
  • Comparative study between the UK and Poland on homestay hospitality towards Ukrainians.
  • Monitoring the development of Community Sponsorship and Complementary Pathways in Europe.

Other activities

Volunteer in the Asylum Guide Programme with the charity Brushstrokes in Smethwick

Member of the Network of Mexican Academics in the UK

Publications

Journals and Articles 

Reyes-Soto, M. (2023). It’s About the Power of Little People’: the UK Community Sponsorship Scheme, a New Space for Solidarity, Civic Engagement and Activism. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 1-17. 

Soni, A., Reyes Soto, M., & Lynch, P. (2021). A review of the factors affecting children with disabilities successful transition to early childhood care and primary education in sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 1476718X211035428. 

Phillimore, J., Reyes-Soto, M., D’Avino, G., & Nicholls, N. (2021). “I have Felt so Much Joy”: The Role of Emotions in Community Sponsorship of Refugees. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 1-11. 

Reports

Reyes-Soto, M and Phillimore, J (2021) Community Sponsorship Scheme: Supporting Refugees and Volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/documents/college-social-sciences/social-policy/iris/2021/supporting-refugees-and-volunteers-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-general-report.pdf 

Knowledge Brief

Reyes-Soto, M. (2022). Recruiting, developing, and Sustaining Sponsors Groups, Knowledge Brief, University of Ottawa Refugee Hub. https://refugeehub.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Recruiting-Developing-and-Sustaining-Sponsor-Groups.pdf 

Policy Briefs

Reyes-Soto, M and D’Avino, G (2023). Policy Recommendations for Enhancing Community Sponsorship Programmes in Europe: Key lessons from cross-country evaluations. ICMCE Europe-Share Network. https://www.share-network.eu/articles-and-resources/pb2 

Toolkit

Reyes-Soto, M and D’Avino, G (2023) Homes for Ukraine: A toolkit for hosts and guests. Institute for Research into Superdiversity. Social Sciences Birmingham. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/superdiversity-institute/community-sponsorship-evaluation/toolkit.aspx

View all publications in research portal