IT IS described as a "lifeline" for elderly people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds in Southampton – and now it is under threat.

For at least 20 years members of the West Indian community and other ethnic backgrounds have been socialising, getting health and legal advice and more at the Black Heritage Association in Northumberland Road where it is based.

Now the chairman of the association which is based at St Alban's Resource Centre fears for its future as funding cuts begin to take effect.

After the council stopped funding the lease of the building two years ago, the community will now have to find £15,000 in order to purchase the lease.

For Beverley Dowdell, chairman of the association, she fears what will happen to its regular members, many of whom are frail and in their 70s or 80s.

As well as finding the cash to purchase the lease, Beverley has until June 15 to submit a business plan but would like to secure the funding in order to convince the council that they should get the lease.

She said the association “needs a champion” in order to guarantee its future.

She said: “All the money has dried up. We’ve been told we need an initial fund of £15,000. This is basically what we’re trying to get.

"This place is a home, it’s a fulcrum for us. We get people who come here and talk to us, it’s not just for members of the Black Heritage Association, its for members of the community to come and share.

“Everybody who comes here appreciates it, and appreciates the value of this place. Everybody who comes here says they enjoy coming here.”

She added: “We won’t have anywhere else to go if we don’t secure this building.”

With nowhere in Southampton dedicated to the history of West Indian migrants into the city, Don John, founding member of Black History Month said the members were "walking history books".

He said: "It is the last vestige of a black presence in that area and not only does it contain valuable information relating to Southampton's black history but that history is embodied in the physical presence of its members who range from 70 years of age to 94.

With the association occupying one floor of the converted Victorian house, Beverley hopes to be able to get control of the entire property, but is happy to let other communities use it too.

Beverley, a former nurse, said she also needs help putting together the business plan.

She said: “I need every help I can get. We’ve started the business plan, we haven’t been sitting back and folding our arms, we have been working hard. I’d like to put together a professional business plan. I fear we in a competition for this building.

“If we had a bigger building that would be nice but this is what we’ve got. We have to make the best of the situation.

“We have got £2,500 in the pot with donations from group and we have had a few more people who have made pledges.”

Anyone who can help the association is asked to contact Beverley on 023 8036 6488 or 07765 656057.