As a charity we have certain legal obligations. We have to have a set of trustees who are responsible (to the Charity Commission) for overseeing that charity is run in accordance with its purposes. 

The appointment of trustees was approved by a general meeting in 2021. 

They are:

• Frances Tippet
• Bill Glen
• Janet Rogerson
• Sharon Greathead
• David Rogerson

You can find their contact details under Contacts | Trustees on the top menu.

The constitution of LRSG can be downloaded from the Charity Commission here.

An annual general meeting (AGM) is held every 12 to 14 months at which two trustees may stand down by rotation. Retiring trustees are eligible to put themselves forward to fill the vacancy as is any other active member of LRSG.

LRSG started in early 2017 in response to both the media and social media coverage of the refugee crisis in Europe - both around Calais in France and on the Greek Islands exacerbated by the various areas of conflict in the Middle East.

A group in our neighbouring town Bude had recently set up a Refugee Support Group and was aiming to resettle one or more families under the community sponsorship scheme of the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS). Various groups across Cornwall were also collecting and sending help for people trapped around Calais.

Inspired to follow these examples the group set about starting both fundraising, awareness raising, and material collections with an aim to contribute what we could towards helping with the situation in Europe, and getting refugee families resettled in Europe.

There was massive and generous support from the wider community in Launceston. The town has a proud history of helping refugees and displaced people in previous times, and a natural sympathy and generosity of spirit which was heart-warming to uncover.

By the end of 2017 we were in a position to start working directly towards resettlement in Launceston. By this time Cornwall Council had softened their original position of only taking their 'quota' of refugees around Truro, and were prepared to work with us to develop a hybrid model combining the best features of the Community and Council sponsored arms of the VPRS.

Administrative and communications problems with the Charity Commission meant that it took six months for our application for charitable status to be approved, but this was achieved by June 2018.

Our annual accounts as submitted to the charity commission and available to view here.

Launceston Refugee Support Group (LRSG) started in early 2017 - you can read about the origins and history of the group under the About | History menu.

We are formally constituted as a charity registered in the UK with charity number 1178812.

We have a board of five trustees, and four officer posts. Trustees are rotated with two standing down each year, they can stand for re-election unlimited times. Officers are formally elected at each AGM (usually in October/November) and do not have to be trustees. The constitution is available for download.

Current, as of January 2024, Officers are:

• Chair: Francis Tippet
• Secretary: Bill Glen
• Treasurer: Janet Rogerson

Business meetings are held, as and when needed, online by zoom. Notices of meetings and agendas are send out by email.

Occasional special events are organised for fundraising or general community engagement - details will be posted on the Facebook page and on the email list.