AN ARMED forces support group is looking forward to a new era as it moves to different premises.

The Support and Management Solutions (SAMS) group was launched last year to offer support to the armed forces in the town and surrounding areas.

SAMS provides a place for them to feel welcome with its projects including a weekly Breakfast Club which meets on Wednesdays at its Mill Street barracks base.

However, after securing planning permission, the club is on the move to Duke Street.

Founded by Samantha Thompson the organisation supports groups including veterans, their families and serving personnel.

"We've outgrown our premises so we have to be out of there in six weeks," said Samantha, 42.

"We have between 50 and 60 coming every week to the Breakfast Club of different ages, some for social reasons and some because they need assistance, a lot have complex needs.

"It will make a massive difference to a lot of the guys and girls and their families as well.

"The place we are moving to will have a dry bar and cafe downstairs and upstairs will be a dedicated armed forces hub, as we get serving soldiers come and use our facilities."

Samantha, from the town centre, who has also volunteered for other organisations including Shelter, says she set the club after seeing little in terms of support for military veterans in the town.

"In the prison system there's a lot of veterans and there wasn't much in the community for them," added Samantha.

"There didn't seem to be anything locally or on a national basis. It's been massive and we've had some really good results."

The group is on the lookout for volunteers to help with the move.

"We currently have 12 volunteers who help us but when we move to Duke Street we will be looking for more volunteers and possibly paid staff to help in the dry bar and cafe and armed forces hub."