11 projects get SPF money to improve Powys communities and buildings

Eleven projects have received Shared Prosperity Fund (Levelling Up) grants worth a total of £1.24 million in the last year to help build “resilient, healthy and safe neighbourhoods”.

The awards have been made by the Powys Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) Local Partnership Board, under its Communities and Place theme.

It is responsible for deciding how the just over £26 million in SPF money allocated to Powys for 2022-25, by the UK Government as part of its Levelling Up programme, should be spent.

The Powys SPF Local Partnership Board is supported by Powys County Council’s Economic Development and Regeneration Team.

“Our objectives under the Communities and Place theme are to strengthen our social fabric and foster a sense of local pride and belonging, and to build resilient, healthy and safe neighbourhoods,” said Cllr David Selby, the council’s Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys and Chair of the Powys SPF Local Partnership Board.

“This would ideally be achieved through investment in activities that improve physical, cultural and social ties and access to amenities, and in quality places that people want to live, work, play and learn in.”

The projects that have been successful under the Communities and Place theme are:

• Welshpool Town Hall, £50,000, to Welshpool Town Council, for a feasibility study that will look at the best way of turning it into a modern and sustainable facility.
• Powys Cultural Tourism Feasibility, £30,000, to Powys County Council’s Economic Development and Regeneration Team, to design a project that will tell stories of significant events in the county’s history.
• Wyeside Works, £14,091, to Wyeside Arts Centre, for a feasibility study to look at plans for improving the cinema, theatre and exhibition facilities at the venue in Builth Wells.
• Elan Valley Lakes – Visitor Centre, £50,000, to Welsh Water, to draw up detailed plans for an improved visitor centre.
• Community Buildings Energy Efficiency, £83,378, to Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority, for the second phase of a project delivering reduced energy bills and CO2 emissions for community buildings.
• Rebuilding Community Foundations, £78,315, to Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations, to provide support to those managing community buildings so, they can make them self-sustaining.
• Making a Difference in Powys, £553,172, to Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations, to run a small grant scheme that will support charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups.
• Pavilion Mid Wales Development Plan, £21,198, to Grand Pavilion Events, for a feasibility study to look at options for further developing the entertainment venue.
• Machynlleth Wellbeing Centre – Outdoor Health, £48,673, to Coed Lleol, for a feasibility study on developing an outdoor health programme for staff, in-patients, out-patients and the wider community.
• Caru Powys, £115,929, to Keep Wales Tidy, for schemes that will benefit people and wildlife, by preventing littering and supporting community clean-ups.
• Powys Community Growing Support, £204,910, to Social Farms and Gardens’ Wales Team, to help develop community vegetable and fruit growing sites and social enterprises across Powys.