Stafford's Hub receives royal seal of approval from the Duke of Kent

His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent opened The Hub, in Eastgate Street yesterday, unveiling a plaque and signed the visitor's book.

Prince Edward also toured the new building, meeting tenants and service users as well as having lunch with the tenants and representatives from Staffordshire County Council and Stafford Borough Council.

Upon unveiling the plaque yesterday, The Duke said: "I am very happy to come and visit this organisation.

"I don't think I have ever been to a similar organisation anywhere in the country. I do congratulate you all and I am very happy to unveil this plaque."

The Hub, which has been leased by the county council to local organisation VAST, offers office space, meeting room hire and a 'hot desking' suite facility to local voluntary sector organisations operating in the Stafford area.

One of the organisations using the new building is New Directions Support which provides day activities for adults with learning difficulties.

Warren Low, their chief officer, said: "A lot of what we do is around community integration so to have a building like this in the heart of the community is absolutely wonderful for us because right outside the front door you have Stafford, with all the amenities. Its been a real godsend to us.

"It's a unique building absolutely. It's a great project that VAST and the county council have done and we've been very lucky to get our organisation off the ground and develop using that resource.

"It was a great day. It took a lot of preparation but it was really good and its been a honor to have him come here."

Councillor Mike Lawrence, the cabinet member for children and community safety at Staffordshire County Council, who was also in attendance at the official opening, added: "The voluntary and community sector play an important role in helping improve the lives of people in Staffordshire and it's vital that we support these organisations to deliver the best services possible.

"Having VAST at the heart of the voluntary sector in Staffordshire means that organisations will get the support they need. The new hub in the middle of Stafford is great news for our local communities and has given VAST an excellent base from which to deliver their services."