WEST FIFE charity Hyperclub is on the move again for the third time in a year.

The charity, which has helped children and adults with learning difficulties for the past nine years, has decided to leave its hub at Ballast Bank Community Centre in Inverkeithing.

Founder Suzanne Connelly believes they're paying over the odds for the hire of the Fife Council-owned building and could find bigger and better premises elsewhere.

The Hyperclub, which was founded in 2012, has been desperate to expand their much-needed services and have gone through heartbreak in the bid to find premises.

At the start of the year, they were due to move into a building on Lathalmond Industrial Estate but had to vacate with too many problems for it to be useable.

Last summer, they were going to join up with the Yes-U-Are Partnership at the Erskine Building in Dunfermline town centre but they soon realised that it wasn't a suitable location.

Before that, they had tried to purchase the Rosyth Resource Centre but their application was rejected by Fife Council.

"We're really devastated and upset about how we have been treated," Suzanne said.

"We've just come to the conclusion that we're not going to even ask for Fife Council's help any more.

"We've run this for nine years and the public know how much it benefits the community, bearing in mind that we only started this because we didn't feel there were these services for disabled people in the first place.

"I think it's extortionate what we are paying for Ballast Bank even though there are constant problems with it.

"We're just so fed up of being let down."

The Hyperclub had appealed for people to help fit out the Lathamond building and many tradesmen had donated materials but the charity said a lot of the material was ruined because of a leaky roof and the building was inundated with vermin.

Suzanne added: "We waited and waited but we couldn't take out service users in there. It was disgusting.

"So we're back to the drawing board at the moment.

"We obviously can't provide our normal activities so it gives us some time to keep looking.

"Meanwhile, we've got some funding from the National Lottery to provide food parcels and sensory packs as we have over 70 clients needing additional support through this horrible period.

"Again, we asked the council for help just to use their premises to make up the packs but didn't get it so we reached out to the community who always support us brilliantly.

"Hillfield Swifts also saved their day with their contributions.

"We've had so many beautiful messages and we're just glad the public is appreciative."

Hyperclub is now appealing for anyone with the use of a building to come forward to help.

"We've got time to get it right because of COVID-19," Suzanne added.

"We're hoping someone will come forward. I know it's not the best time but we've got to keep supporting the people we look after."

Fife Council community manager Alastair Mutch commented: “We have worked with Hyperclub for the past three years to help them find premises that best meet their needs and budget.

"The group pays the same hourly rate at Ballast Bank Centre as other community organisations and is not charged commercial rates.

"We’ve looked at a number of different locations including council-owned and privately-owned buildings assisting them with their search for suitable premises.

“We were not aware of the club’s decision not to continue to use the centre but we are happy to continue to support them in any way we can and wish them well for the future.”