Sarah Bamford of Communicate in the Bridge premises it uses to help young people experiencing communication-related problems in their working life. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0905712)

A CHARITY’S future is uncertain because it does not have a permanent lease on its shop.

Communicate, which helps young people with mild social and communication disorders to find employment, currently runs a charity shop on the Bridge let to it by the Channel Island’s Co-operative Society. But because the company is proposing to redevelop Leale’s Yard, it is not known when or if Communicate will have to leave the former Bridge Motor Shop premises.

Trustee Sarah Bamford said it would be best if the charity could have its own premises.

‘We don’t operate the same way as other charity shops,’ she said. ‘We don’t open the shop to raise money for the charity, we do it for the young people with communication difficulties to be able to start work in the shop.’

Communicate was set up two years ago and is now registered as a limited by guarantee company. It employs people with communication difficulties who are struggling to find a job or have experienced problems in the workplace.

Employees are paid for the hours they put in and have appraisals and training.

The shop is just one of three aspects of the organisation. It also hosts a youth club in Brock Road on Tuesdays and provides job coaching, training and support for those in employment.