A charity which supports disadvantaged young people has confirmed that it will soon be moving out of its city centre base.

The Prince's Trust has been based at the Grade II-listed former post office in Tontine Street, Hanley since 2013, but will now leave the premises following a 'routine review'.

But the charity insists that it remains 'committed' to supporting young people in the area. The Prince's Trust, which works with vulnerable young people aged 11 to 30 who are unemployed or struggling at school, has not said whether it plans to relocate to another building in North Staffordshire.

The charity's 10-year lease on the building, which is owned by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, is due to expire in May.

A Prince's Trust spokesperson said: "Following a routine review of our property, it is now our intention to leave our existing location in Hanley. We remain committed to supporting young people in the area and working with local partners to build their confidence and skills for the future."

The charity's 10-year lease on the building on Tontine Street, Hanley, is due to expire in May (Google).

Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Jo Gideon spoke about the issue in Parliament last year, raising concerns about an important organisation moving out of the city centre and leaving another prominent building vacant. But at the time, the Prince's Trust claimed that while a review was being carried out, there were no 'definitive' plans to move.

Ms Gideon said she was disappointed with the charity's decision. She said: "I am really sorry to see them leave. When I first heard this was being considered last year, I offered to work with them to explore the options.

"The Prince's Trust base in Hanley was really important in providing support for young people in the city, so the move is regrettable and I hope that the Prince's Trust will now engage with me to identify a suitable alternative location for their services in Hanley."

The three-storey Tontine Street building, which was built in 1906, served as Hanley's main post office for 101 years, and was also used as a sorting office and telephone exchange. In 2007 the post office moved to the Potteries Shopping Centre, with the Prince's Trust taking over the building in 2013.

Regeneration expert Dave Proudlove believes the Prince's Trust decision to move out of the post office building is 'bad news' for Hanley.

He said: "It's another vacant historic building, and although it's not in as bad a condition as others, it does have its own challenges. What is concerning though is the potential for reoccupation.

"Simply sticking a board up and hoping for the best isn't going to do the job, and I'd hope that some creative thinking can go into what the solution might be for this council-owned building. In addition, it's sad to see The Prince's Trust leave the building, and I hope that they can still retain a local presence."

The city council has been approached for a comment.

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