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Suffolk multicultural charity celebrates 25 years with new book

Jon Wright/BBC Three women wearing Hijabs by a pop-up promotion bannerJon Wright/BBC
Tina Ali, Rupa Ahmed and Kohinoor Bibi say they are immensely proud to work for the charity

A charity that is celebrating 25 years of working with diverse communities in Suffolk has released a new book.

BSC Multicultural Services (BSCMS) was established by volunteers in 1998 as the Bangladeshi Support Centre.

It says it has since helped people of more than 50 nationalities.

Tina Ali, the charity's finance officer, said: "Normally we're so engrossed with the work we're doing we don't actually realise how much we are achieving."

The charity was handed the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2022 and receives funding from BBC Children in Need.

Jon Wright/BBC A large group on the stairs of Ipswich town hall holding copies of their new book.Jon Wright/BBC
The charity receives funding from BBC Children in Need to run extra homework clubs.

Kohinoor Bibi leads their work supporting family carers.

She said: "I'm a carer myself. I look after my mum who is 88 with dementia. So when I'm here at work and I talk to people, I really can relate to them."

Rupa Saleha Ahmed joined the charity two years ago after moving to Ipswich.

"Joining something with such a heritage was really daunting to begin with," she said.

"But the book has been a great way to show my family and friends what I have been doing and what I am so proud of."

According to its website, the charity, which has about 80 volunteers, typically supports people from black and minority ethnic communities with education, training, information and empowerment.

The book documents the development of the charity and includes personal reflections from the people involved.

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