The Prince’s Trust has announced that it could be cutting up to 100 jobs in order to reduce administration costs.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s World at One yesterday, the charity’s chief executive said management have entered a consultation with its 1,300 staff about the possibility of making between 50 and 100 staff redundant.

Martina Milburn (pictured) said: “Our head office has become a little too complicated and a bit too top heavy so we are basically slimming down head office and protecting our frontline delivery in order to get ourselves back to a sort of break-even budget.”

She said that the charity is looking for ways to keep its administration costs down and keep as much money as possible going directly to young people.

The cuts will be made at head office, and Milburn said the effect on its programmes will be minimal.

Last year the charity raised £57.7m but spent slightly more. Milburn says this was planned and that they still have about £20m worth of reserves.

She said: “We have the reserves in the bank to do that and the trustees took the view, along with the executive, that reserves are there for a rainy day and that for young people all around the United Kingdom it was certainly raining.”

When asked what Prince Charles, who founded the charity, felt about the cuts, Milburn said: “The prince understands basic finances and how you need to make sure that you spend as small amount as you can on administration when you are a charity.”

Staff were made aware of the decision last week and a final decision on the redundancies is expected at the end of the month.