LAUNCESTON Refugee Support Group is seeking more monthly donors, as it hopes to soon receive official charity status from the Charity Commission.

The group last met at The Bell Inn on Thursday, February 22.

The support group treasurer said the group has £6,558 total in its account and that more is needed from monthly donations.

It will soon distribute 5,000 leaflets to try to encourage people to donate monthly.

Details of how to donate are available via https://lrsg.org.uk/

The aim of the group is to work towards welcoming two Syrian families to Launceston, as part of the government’s pledge to resettle some of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees in the UK. It hopes to welcome the first family by the summer.

It has been inspired by the Bude Refugee Support Group, which has already resettled one refugee family in the town, and has Home Office approval to resettle an additional family.

The Launceston group is looking at setting up a crowdfunding campaign in spring.

There is a drop-off point for donated items every Tuesday at the Central Methodist Church from 10am to 12pm, and the meeting heard these sessions are going well and regular gifts are being received from the generous people in the community.

There are plans for a jumble sale, cake stall and coffee morning, at Central Methodist Church Hall on a Saturday morning in the next couple of months.