A Suffolk charity has signed a letter to the Government expressing "incredible concern" about changes to employer National Insurance (NI) contributions announced in the autumn budget.

Emmaus Suffolk, which supports people facing unemployment and homelessness, has signed the letter from Community Action Suffolk, which supports the voluntary sector, to all of the county's MPs asking the Government to consider the knock-on effect on charities of a rise in NI.

Emmaus Suffolk works across the east of the county, but is warning that the increased NI contributions will cost the charity an additional £42,000 annually.

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Claire Staddon, the charity's chief executive, said: “This is incredibly concerning, as a charity all our staff are crucial to the support we offer.

"We don’t want to get to the point where we can’t open our doors – but it is looking worrying at the moment. We feel charities need to receive compensation for these increases as many of us won’t be able to continue our work in the same way.” 

Emmaus Suffolk has also launched a Christmas Food and Families campaign in a bid to ease the strain of the changes and supporters can donate £5 or gift a hot meal to help heat the charity's wellbeing hubs this winter.