Two voluntary organisations are working together to offer better access to housing related support services in west Suffolk.

Once a month, workers from SNAP - the Support and Advice Service - will be available at the Sudbury & District Citizens Advice Bureau to provide advice on a one-to-one basis.

SNAP is a partnership of six organisations including Anglia Care Trust, Circle, Family Action, Ipswich Housing Action Group, Orwell Housing Association Ltd and Together: Working for Wellbeing.

The group offers a short-term service for people who are either homeless, at risk of homelessness or have difficulty managing their accommodation and have housing related support needs.

The aid they provide is tailored to an individual’s needs, and helps people to develop the skills to be able to live independently.

SNAP workers can also advise on a range of related areas, such as how to access education, employment or training, how to maximise income including benefits, budgeting and debt advice, dealing with rent or mortgage arrears, and health and wellbeing issues.

CAB centre manager Ann Furlonger said she was delighted to be able to offer space to SNAP in the Sudbury office, and to provide local people with “much needed” housing support. She added: “The two organisations will benefit from being able to work closely together. We can refer our regular bureau clients to SNAP and they will be able to access the help in familiar surroundings without the worry of having to go to another office.”

SNAP will be at the Sudbury CAB at Belle Vue House every third Wednesday of the month, from 9.30am to 11.30am. Advice is confidential and free to anybody over the age of 16 who has access to public funding. To book an appointment with a SNAP worker, call the bureau on 01787 374671, or drop in and an adviser will collect the necessary initial information.

Although the future of Belle Vue House is uncertain, Sudbury CAB has just been offered another lease by Babergh District Council to stay at the venue for the forseeable future.