ASHLEY Banjo MBE and his Diversity dance group have pledged £10,000 to help support Southend’s most vulnerable residents through a soup kitchen and food bank.

The former Britain’s Got Talent winners say they are more than happy to help out at a time when “so many are finding life such a struggle”.

The group, which has recently opened a dance studio Kings Road United Reformed Church, in Westcliff, will handover £10,000 to the One Love Project.

Bosses of the charity, which includes the One Love Soup Kitchen and One Love Food Bank, say they hope to expand their facilities and services to help more people in Southend.

Mr Banjo MBE, who grew up in Wickford, said: “So many are finding life such a struggle financially and emotionally and we hope our donation will help The One Love Project continue to help others.

“We have exciting plans for Southend in the longer term, and this is the first step towards us working more with the local community.”

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The dance troop, which won Britain’s Got Talent in 2009, troop heard about the charity through their contacts at the church - a regular supporter of The One Love Project.

Leah Darby, head of operations for The One Love Project, said: “Everyone who comes through our doors has a particular reason for seeking us out and deserves respect: it may be a mother facing crisis because of job loss, poverty or illness, someone with mental health problems who is living rough or someone on a low wage who is struggling to make ends meet and needs a bit of extra food.

“We are so grateful to Diversity, our supporters at the Westcliff United Reformed Church and to our volunteer helpers and everyone who donates food, clothing or their time.

“The funds are being put towards our expansion fund, which will support the longevity of the work and the services The One Love Project provide to the community of Southend.

“At the moment, we are only able to provide services three times a week to two different cohorts of people.

“In the future we will be looking to seek additional facilities/ premises which would allow The One Love Project to expand the number of services and opening times, to ensure we are meeting as many needs as possible.”