A GROUP set up just over year ago to support and represent the Pakistani community in Redditch will struggle to carry on after a bid for £15,000 failed to get past the starting blocks, writes Becky Procter.

Last year, Redditch Pakistani Community Forum applied to Redditch Council's voluntary sector panel for the grant but last week members were told they were too late with their application.

Forum secretary Perwaiz Khawaja said they had not been informed the application had been submitted too late for several months.

Councillor Antonia Pulsford, who sits on the voluntary sector panel, said: "If they did not make the deadline then that's it. We can't make exceptions for anyone, we have to do it by the book."

The news comes after the forum, which recently gained charitable status, appointed two part-time support workers for the Pakistani community.

Young Pakistani women are to be targeted by the workers who will provide them with the opportunity to further their talents and learn new skills.

And a drop-in session for women will take place every Friday at the forum headquarters in Community House, Easemore Road.

The sessions will run from 10am to 2pm.