A LEADING charity that helps young people start their own businesses has a new home, thanks to a local company.

The Prince's Trust has been offered premises at the Hereford headquarters of cider giant Bulmers.

The city's leading employer has donated the office, to be used every Wednesday from 9am to 4pm, at its Plough Lane base.

The move comes shortly after the Prince's Trust Herefordshire and Worcestershire also found a new Worcester home, on Shrub Hill Industrial Estate.

The Trust offers a variety of programmes which help young people develop their confidence, skills and job chances, improve motivation and attendance at school, overcome barriers and move forward in their lives and to start their own businesses.

Alex Lamb, area general manager with the Prince's Trust, said he was delighted with Bulmers' kind gesture.

"We have always been conscious that the needs of our clients in Herefordshire have not been met as well as they might, due to the absence of a base which was easily accessible to those who live in the county," he said.

"Although we work closely with the Careers Office and the JobCentres, we lacked a more informal setting in which we could meet and talk to those interested in our programmes."

Mr Lamb added that without Bulmers' generosity, the charity would not have been able to have a presence in Herefordshire.

"As a charity, we have to watch our costs carefully and there was simply no way our budget would stretch to running two offices, one in each county," he said.

"This opportunity is an excellent one and has come at just the right moment. We are very grateful to Bulmers for their generosity.

"Our mission is to help young people succeed and Bulmers is giving us the chance to do that locally."

Mr Lamb added Bulmers had long had a reputation for its commitment to community projects and for its concern for the welfare of local people.

Young people interested in any of the Trust's programmes can make an appointment to drop by and see the Trust's staff.

For more information, phone Alex Lamb or Anne Grosvenor on the Trust's new phone number 01905 27727.