Two Powys charities have launched an innovative proposal to share the same building in Llandrindod Wells.

Mid & North Powys Mind is looking to buy Impelo’s Dance Centre in the town, with the eye that both organisations will be based in the building.

Dance charity Impelo announced in December that their multi-year funding from the Arts Council of Wales had been withdrawn. As a result, they had to decrease services, reduce core staff, and temporarily close the Dance Centre, with a view to putting it up for sale on the open market.

Mid & North Powys Mind currently has its main base in Llandrindod Wells in a rented building. The building is inadequate for the mental health charity as it has no central heating and damp issues. They have been looking for a more accessible and better home for its services for many years.

The news about the Dance Centre has now sparked the proposal to purchase the building and share the space.

The centre is a large dance studio but the building has a huge amount of space which could potentially be redeveloped and utilised. There would be more than enough room for both organisations to thrive and continue to deliver their services to the community.

Co-locating would give Impelo a much-needed cash injection, rejuvenate the building itself and reduce running costs in the longer term. It would also give Mid & North Powys Mind a much more suitable venue from which to deliver its services. 

Cat Nunn, Chair of Mid & North Powys Mind said: "In the wake of this awful news about Impelo’s funding comes a rare opportunity for our two organisations to have a firm foundation for the future - a place for the community to be welcomed and for us to thrive.”

Jemma Thomas, Artistic Director and joint CEO of Impelo said: "Our dance centre serves as a weekly hub for various classes and communities, complementing our broader outreach initiatives in schools and healthcare settings while also allowing us to support dance artists in Powys.

“However, like many well-used buildings, it requires extensive renovations and is costly to maintain. The proposal from Mid & North Powys Mind presents an incredible opportunity for us to retain our studio space and continue to support our dance communities whilst co-habiting with an organisation whose values are so aligned with our own."

The project is wholly reliant on successful capital grant funding and they have now appealed to the public for their help.

If you would like to see the draft plans for the Dance Centre, they are holding an Open Day at Mid & North Powys Mind's current building (Crescent Chambers, South Crescent, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5DH) on Thursday, March 21 from 10am - 1pm.

An online survey to gather public opinion has also been launched, which can be accessed here.