THE secretary of the Launceston Refugee Support Group, Bill Glen, has expressed his disappointment to the town council after failing to receive a donation from them at the town council’s annual meeting last Wednesday.

Addressing outgoing mayor Margaret Young and the incoming mayor Dave Gordon, Mr Glen said: “We are disappointed and surprised we didn’t get support. There’s a family coming to Launceston in the summer, under the Government’s Home Office scheme and supported by Cornwall Council, which is in common with many of our local towns. A previous grant from the town council helped to build our reserves which are needed to support this family for up to years.

“Happily, the town youth council has seen fit to award us £300, and other local organisations and businesses have been generous in their support, including the Rotary who gave us £2,000.

“I hope the town council will join us in welcoming a refugee family to our community in the very near future, and that they will look kindly on any future application we make.”

No response was made by the town council at the meeting, but Launceston Town Council told the Post: “The town council receives a number of applications for grant funding each year and every application is considered on its merits. Each application must be properly completed and also received by an agreed deadline as failure to do so will mean that an application is not taken forward for consideration by the relevant council committee.

“This year the town council received 39 applications of which six were unsuccessful. A previous successful grant award does not automatically mean that an organisation will receive an award in following years.

“The Launceston Refugee Support Group received a grant award of £300 in 2017/18 and also received a grant of £300 from the Launceston Youth Council in 2018/19.

“It is somewhat disappointing that there is a shadow cast on an evening when grants to the value of £20,000 were given to deserving groups and organisations, celebrating the spirit of community that is the very essence of Launceston.”