BME Suffolk Support Group which covers Bury St Edmunds to offer drop in sessions at Jobcentre Plus

A support group helping minority communities in Suffolk is launching drop-in sessions at Bury St Edmunds Jobcentre Plus.

BME Suffolk Support Group (BSSG), which has bases in Bury, Mildenhall, Beck Row and Ipswich, noticed that there was a gap in the services that the Job Centre provides and, from Monday, the group’s volunteers will help people apply for local grants or sign post them to the services they provide, such as their food pantry.

Funmi Akinriboya, project leader, said: “When the work coaches see their clients, even though they may be on Universal Credit, they might still be struggling financially. So the coaches can refer those clients to us because we partner with other organisations.

"Our group also helps people apply for food vouchers, money for school uniform or gas and electric, and benefit and employment issues. We cover areas that the Jobcentre doesn't cover.

"And our food pantry serves people from Afro-Caribbean, Portuguese or other ethnic groups. We give them traditional food."

The drop-in sessions will run every other Monday from 10am-noon.

To find out more or to get in contact search for BME Support Group on Facebook.