AN ABERYSTWYTH group which “led the way” in helping resettle Syrian refugees has celebrated achieving charity status.

Aberaid held a ‘Get Together’ at the Morlan Centre in Aberystwyth on Saturday, 14 October, where it was announced that the group’s application for charity status had been successful, just two years after it was formed in response to the refugee crisis in Europe in the summer of 2015.

Over the last 12 months, the group has been focusing on the Community Sponsorship Programme, a new initiative from the Home Office which gives communities the ability to sponsor a refugee family to come to the UK.

Following Ceredigion County Council Cabinet approval last week, Aberaid will be responsible for providing housing for the refugee family, as well as helping them integrate, access medical and social services, arrange English tuition and support them towards employment and self-sufficiency.

All individuals arriving under this scheme have had thorough background checks.

The new charity’s inaugural general meeting took place after the Get Together, and seven members were elected as trustees.

Ceredigion MP Ben Lake said: “It is a great pleasure for me to be here today to mark the significant milestone of Aberaid achieving charity status.

“What we see with Aberaid is the community coming together to do the right thing.

“In many ways the communities of Aberystwyth and Ceredigion have led the way in offering the hand of friendship to those fleeing the conflict in Syria.”

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