Seventeen organisations have received UK Shared Prosperity Fund (Levelling Up) backed grants, totalling more than £420,000, to help them improve Powys communities.

The awards from the Making a Difference in Powys Fund were made by Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO), on behalf of the Powys Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) Local Partnership.

The projects that have received funding include one that will create art and deliver art events in association with the 2024 Urdd National Eisteddfod, which will be hosted in Meifod, and another to set up and promote heritage trails in Ystradgynlais linked to the renowned Jewish artist and refugee Josef Herman, who found sanctuary in the town after fleeing his native Poland.

There is also money for a scheme in Newtown that teaches people how to grow their own food and cook on a budget, in response to the cost-of-living crisis, and for plans to create a community garden at Crickhowell that will increase biodiversity.

“I’m delighted that we have been able to support so many charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups, which are all working hard to make Powys a better place to live and visit, with these UK Shared Prosperity Fund backed grants,” said Clair Swales, PAVO’s Chief Executive Officer. “Those that were successful did well to get through a highly competitive bidding process, that left the multi-agency panel assessing them with plenty to ponder.

“I’m now looking forward to seeing the progress made by each of the successful projects over the next 12 months, under the guidance of PAVO’s development officers.”

The successful projects are:

Deall y Dail (Understand the Leaves), £61,765, to Llais y Goedwig, to help get volunteers involved in woodland improvement work across Powys.
Better Together, £48,769, to Qube, for community skills work in Llanfyllin.
Celebrating the Treasures of Montgomery, £33,778, to Menter Iaith Maldwyn, to create art and deliver art events associated with the 2024 Urdd National Eisteddfod at Meifod.
Lifemusic Training and Musical Activities, £27,883, to ‘artbeat Brecon, to bring its training and music sessions to a care home in the town.
Our Plot, £27,673, to Peak Cymru, to design and develop a community garden with young people, at Yr Hen Ysgol, Crickhowell, with the aim of increasing biodiversity.
Flora Cultura, £27,673, to Flora Cultura, to run gardening activities and associated crafts with a social group at Bronllys Hospital, with the aim of improving wellbeing.
Architectural Feasibility Study for The Welfare, Ystradgynlais, £25,000, to Ystradgynlais Miners Welfare and Community Hall Trust Ltd,to look at what needs to be done to secure the building’s long-term future.
Cwm Clyd – unlocking its potential, £25,000, to Elan Valley Trust, for a feasibility study on the best use for its refurbished buildings.
Designing Three Cocks Nature and Play Areas, £24,180, to Three Cocks Matters Community Group, to review the village’s green spaces and play areas with the aim of encouraging socialising, local pride and wellbeing.
Bridging the Gap, £21,647, to The Judge’s Lodging Trust, to help with marketing and boost volunteering at the Presteigne museum.
Cerfluino (Sculpting) Vyrnwy, £19,313, to Arts Connection, to deliver community art projects at Lake Vyrnwy.
Community Outreach Access, £18,435, to Citizens Advice Powys, to help it reach residents in remote areas.
Growing Food Together, £18,069, to Cultivate, to teach people how to grow fruit and vegetables, and how to cook on a budget, at the cooperative’s site in Newtown, in response to the cost-of-living crisis.
The Goodwill Festival: Celebrating the Welsh and KwaZulu Natal Shared Heritage, £15,644, to the Friends of the Royal Welsh Museum, to support a four-day Zulu festival in Brecon in July 2024.
Crown and Anchor Regeneration, £10,000, to LLANI Ltd, to scope options for turning the former pub into a community resource.
Josef Herman Foundation Heritage Trail and Website Development, £9,800, to the Josef Herman Foundation, to develop and promote heritage trails around Ystradgynlais.
Rhayader Town Champion – engaging the community, £5,832, to Rhayader Town Council and Rhayader 2000 Ltd, to assess the need for a town champion.

The Powys SPF Local Partnership is supported by Powys County Council’s Regeneration Team and receives its funding from the UK Government, as part of its Levelling Up programme.

Cllr David Selby, the council’s Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys and Chair of the Powys SPF Local Partnership Board, said: “These grants are helping address the priorities for investment identified under the Communities and Place theme of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in Powys: Communities and Place, Community Transport, Cultural Heritage and Tourism, Climate Action, Cost of Living and Connecting Communities (digitally or otherwise). They are also helping us achieve our aim of creating a stronger, fairer and greener Powys with schemes throughout the county.”