FIFTEEN people have lost their jobs following The Prince’s Trust’s shock decision to abandon its operation at the Pembrokeshire Adventure Centre, in Pembroke Dock.

As well as providing a range of adventure activities like powerboating, canoeing and sailing, this unique centre also helped disadvantaged young people get into training, education and employment.

But after 11 years in the building, the charity has now handed it back to site owners Pembrokeshire County council.

“Despite our best efforts, the centre has become too expensive to run and, as a charity, we need to prioritise our work helping disadvantaged young people into jobs and training,” said a spokesman for the trust.

“Eleven members of staff have been made redundant. Four other members of staff were on fixed term contacts which have now ended.”

The spokesman added: “Prince’s Trust programmes will continue to run in Wales and we plan to help around 3,000 young people in the country this year.

“We want to grow our support for disadvantaged young people in Wales and are currently seeking support from the public and private sector in order to expand our work.

“We would be happy to speak to any potential funders who want to hear more about how our programmes support unemployed young people into work or training.”

Maudie Hughes, chief executive of Pembrokeshire Tourism, said the news was "a blow to the county, not just in terms of the jobs that will be lost there, but also the wealth of opportunities afforded to visitors and locals alike".

"The activities on offer at the centre provided a range of learning opportunities for young people, as well as team building activities for corporate clients and this will leave a gap in the local marketplace," she said.

A spokesman for Pembrokeshire County Council said the trust will leave the centre at the end of January, and a report about the property’s future is likely to go before Cabinet next month.