A support group founded in Monmouthshire in 2015 in response to the mounting refugee crisis in Syria, has just been awarded charitable status.

Not for profit group iNEED was founded by Natasha Cadman and her husband Nick and operated for two years from a disused warehouse in Caldicot, with the support of Caldicot Town Council, who owned the building.

In 2017 they moved to the Old Board School in Chepstow, where they continue to receive and process donations of clothes, bedding, shoes and toiletries which are then transported overseas to Syria and parts of Europe, as well as financial support to Yemen where refugees are most in need. The group also work with refugees who have been rehomed in South Wales. In particular in Newport and Cardiff, teaching them English and welcoming some as volunteers.

Natasha said: “To receive our registered charity number is very exciting news for us and we’re hoping it will unlock further funding and give the community even more confidence in supporting our work.

“A great deal of time and effort went into this process and we would like to thank volunteer Julia Rowe for all her hard work. We’d also like to thank Mencap for allowing us to use their premises in Chepstow. It means we can continue to send support to refugees as the situation continues to worsen in some part of Syria.”

The charity is holding its annual general meeting from 7pm to 9pm on March 26th at Caldicot Library. The meeting is open to anyone who would like to attend.

To find out more about iNEED or to make a donation, contact Natasha Cadman on 07810 837462, visit www.refugeesineed.org.uk or search for iNEED Monmouth on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/INEED.MONMOUTH.NEWPORT/

Please let Natasha know if you would like to attend the AGM so we have an idea of numbers.