A LACK of funding has led to an important support group being forced to stop offering its services at the end of the month.

It has been announced that Swindon Racial Equality Council will close on March 31, after cash from central and local government dried up.

It is now feared that this will have implications for black and minority ethnic communities throughout Swindon who turn to the council when they are having difficulty at work or in their personal life.

It costs about £115,000 a year to keep the council, based at Faringdon House, in Faringdon Road, running – figures show it helped 6,517 people between 2010 and 2011.

Swindon REC provides advice, support and assistance to victims of racial discrimination or violence and advocacy under immigration or nationality legislation.

It also works with key partners to promote policies and practices which meet the needs of all BME communities, monitor and scrutinise local agencies with respect to compliance with racial equality legislation, and provide support to BME groups to ensure equality.

Last year, central government withdrew the Migration Impact Fund when the Conservative group came into power and at the end of the month funding from the Quality and Human Rights Commission will also come to an end.

Director of Swindon REC, Jaginder Bassi, said: “The main reason behind this is there is no funding available to us beyond that period.

“All the funding has dried up.

“Officially it will not close, that will be decided by the members, but the services will not be available.

“We’ve had funding from various sources in the past both from local and central government but that has come to an end.

“The biggest impact is that there won’t be a local organisation which is in a position to voice their concerns to local authorities.

“We have already noticed what is going on at the hospital for example [the strike by Carillion workers] and that is just the tip of the iceberg.

“We are getting more people coming to us who are facing discrimination at work.

“It has been an important service and is not only a service for the minority groups but for all residents.

“The thing now is people will be going to the citizens advice bureau because they will expect the services we provide to be picked up by somebody.”

To find out more about Swindon REC and if the closure affects you, email swindonrec@srec.fsnet.co.uk or telephone 01793 528 545.