CREDITON for Ukraine is a group supporting refugees in the local and surrounding area and is active in organising social and other events.

The group can be contacted by emailing: [email protected] or through the Crediton Conversation Café on Mondays at Crediton Congregational Church.

The group’s most recent event, a trip to Killerton and Knighsthayes Houses to see the Christmas decorations, drew a crowd of 33 Ukrainian guests.

The trip was kindly supported by the National Trust and The White Room Creative Space, Crediton.

The new Christmas Art and Craft Fair held in December partially fundraised for the group, as Bindy Saywood from The White Room Creative Space, and organiser of the fair explained: “I asked the group whether there may be any local Ukrainian hosts and their guests who might like to get involved on the day and to help with the fundraising raffle and refreshments. 

“Several stepped forward, along with other volunteers from the community including retired GP, Pete Twomey who did a stint serving refreshments in the kitchen with his wife, Jacky.” 

Bindy added: “It was a wonderful day, with lots of artists, makers, visitors and volunteers.

“It was a great opportunity to raise money, but also awareness about some of the things going on in the Crediton area to support Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees.

“I’d like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to those who helped on the day, including Natalya for providing two huge loaves of freshly baked Ukrainian bread for the raffle.

“These were extremely popular prizes and sold a lot of tickets!  

“It was wonderful to hear that the £280 raised on the day was being used towards the cost of the coach hire for a trip to Killerton.

“Going forward, I am very happy to continue to offer use of rooms at The White Room free of charge to the group, and whenever possible to offer free or subsidised places on art and craft workshops, to Ukrainian guests and their hosts, as we did for the Christmas card printmaking workshops in December.

“It is wonderful to be part of such a strong and supportive community as exists in Crediton and myself and everyone involved with The White Room wish the new Crediton for Ukraine Group, all the volunteers, hosts and, of course, Ukrainian guests themselves, all the best for 2023.”