Support charity looking to expand into rural areas

Mohammed Mainul Alam, Boshor Ali and Mojlum Khan spoke about their work at a recent open day

A charity that supports people from minority communities says changing demographics mean its services are needed in more rural areas.

BSC Multicultural Services (BSCMS) was started by volunteers in 1998 to help the Bangladeshi community in Ipswich.

The award-winning charity now has people from 65 different nationalities accessing its services.

Funding and development manager, Mojlum Khan, said: "Increasingly Suffolk is a diverse county. It's not always possible to go to Newmarket or Lowestoft regularly, so that can lead to social isolation or marginalisation."

Crowds at the 2024 One Big Multicultural Festival which is held annually in Alexandra Park in Ipswich

Mr Khan said that although minority ethnic communities were smaller in towns outside of Ipswich, it was important BSCMS provided support for them.

"We've got two choices here - either we engage with them and get them on board and work proactively with them, or they go into their shells and then we have a bigger problem and investing more money to resolve those issues.

"So we, as a community, have to decide which direction."

Changing identities across Suffolk

According to the UK census, this is how people across Suffolk identify their nationality:

Ipswich had a population of 139,600 in 2021

12.5% declared a non-UK identity (8.1% in 2011)

East Suffolk had a population of 246,100 in 2021

3.2% declared a non-UK identity (2.6% in 2011)

West Suffolk had a population of 179,900 in 2021

12.8% declared a non-UK identity (10.7% in 2011)

Babergh had a population of 92,300 in 2021

2.9% declared a non-UK identity (2.4% in 2011)

Mid Suffolk had a population of 102,700 in 2021

2.9% declared a non-UK identity (2.1% in 2011)

Shez Hopkins from Level Two in Felixstowe said it was of benefit to both organisations to have closer links

One organisation which is looking to expand its partnership with BSCMS is the Level Two Youth Project, based in Felixstowe.

Project manager Shez Hopkins said: "We've done quite a lot with them over the years, but more in the background facilitating opportunities to get their young carers and adult carers out in the community for trips.

"Now we really want to be encouraging them to come up and use our services as well.

"I think there is lots to learn on both sides about different cultures and how we can work together respectfully and collaboratively so it's a benefit to both."

19 Tower Street was previously home to the Citizen's Advice Bureau, alongside BSCMS and other smaller charities

BSCMS are based at 19 Tower St in Ipswich, a building which also hosts other smaller organisations like Outreach Youth, and Future Female Society.

They recently invested in refurbishing their offices and parts of the communal areas, spending around £25,000.

Speaking at an open day to celebrate the work, local councillors from the main three parties all spoke of how important the charity was.

Carol Jones, Labour, said: "They bring people together and give you faith in human beings and their ability to work together with respect, kindness and love."

Inga Lockington, Liberal Democrats, said: "I wish we could take what they're saying and shout it from the Cornhill, because that's the message we need to hear in today's world.

"It doesn't matter what you look like, it doesn't matter where you come from, what matters is if you care for the community where you live."

Nadia Cenci, Conservative, said: "I think they're one of the most important organisations for community cohesion in Ipswich.

"We have got it right [in Ipswich] and they are the biggest part of that."

Labour's Carol Jones, Liberal Democrat Inga Lockington and Conservative Nadia Cenci all spoke of how much they valued BSCMS