Spaces for charities available at Grow Ltd’s new building

Grow, which helps support adults with learning disabilities, is settling back into its newly-built site on Route des Coutanchez.

It is now hoping to create a community hub in its upstairs office space. Groups can now sign up to offices, hot desks or a charity membership for discounted rates.

‘Different charities want the training room because it’s good for an AGM, but we’ve realised throughout this process that the room everyone loves the most is actually the canteen, because it’s on the ground floor and full of light,’ said Grow manager Karen Blanchford.

‘We’re fully accessible and that is key and definitely a selling point.

‘People also like the idea that supporting us is supporting another charity and working in an environment with other charities too.’

Action for Children was one of the first charities to express interest in hiring office space and was also keen to take advantage of the kitchen to use for learning life skills with their members.

The Health Improvement Commission was the first organisation to sign up to the membership scheme, where for £300 members will receive tokens that can be exchanged for room hire.

But Wigwam has been the first resident charity, having moved into an office back in September.

When Susie Gallienne took over Wigwam five years ago, she was working out of her daughter’s old bedroom.

‘Working here is friendly, it’s quiet, it’s just the right size and it’s going to be a great community space,’ she said.

‘Running a small charity by yourself can feel quite isolated but working here with others will make a huge difference

‘Before a lot of my time was spent trying to find venues for meetings that would be quiet, or where confidential conversations couldn’t be heard, but here we have all of those facilities in one place and the parents I meet with love it.’

Wigwam supports the families of children and young people with additional needs, and since moving to Grow, it has trialled using the training room for parent and child yoga.

Interested charities and organisations can choose between permanent desk or room, a hot desk, or whatever facilities best suits its needs.

• Anyone interested should email karen@grow.gg.