A NEW centre is opening in Bournemouth to support people struggling to get back to work.

Essential employment support will be offered to those visiting The Samee Project, on Christchurch Road, Pokesdown, including training and confidence boosting, to help them gain the skills needed for work and self-employment.

The project is the brainchild of Samee chief executive Sam Everard, who came up with the idea after listening to job seekers she had met during her career.

She said: "We are opening this centre, the only one in the area, to encourage people to talk to us about how they can improve themselves and bring independence back to their lives. There are no barriers to the work we do as we understand how hard it is to make that change and move on."

The new centre, which will be officially opened on Wednesday, January 25 by the Mayor of Bournemouth, Councillor Edward Jesser Coope, has received backing from unLtd, Big Lottery, The Cherries Community Fund at AFC Bournemouth and other funders.

It will be open from 10am to 2pm each day and will offer sessions on a one-to-one or group basis depending on the needs of the person. For more information visit samee.co.uk