Young people across Powys are taking the lead in shaping their communities through a youth-led grant scheme, funded by the Welsh Government and managed by the Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO).

The scheme opened for applications in June 2025, receiving 17 bids from young people aged 14 to 25, requesting a total of £23,960.

After a competitive selection process, five projects supporting volunteering were awarded grants, sharing £6,550 in funding.

Decisions were made entirely by a panel of young people, also aged 14 to 25, ensuring that youth voices guided every step of the process.

The successful projects are:

• Builth Pottery HWB / MOCA Cymru Social Enterprise - £1,500. Funding will support creative, therapeutic pottery workshops for young people in rural Mid Powys. Participants’ work will be showcased in a public exhibition.

• Hay Theatre CIC - £1,400. This project will enable young people to gain hands-on experience in costume and set design, props, technical roles, and creative workshops with the HayDay Dementia Café to support the Hay Senior Youth Theatre production of Towards Zero by Agatha Christie.

• The Re-gen Union Project (part of The Blackthorne Trust) - £1,495.77. Young people will learn practical skills in composting, sowing, animal care, and soil health while growing food for themselves, local food banks, and their communities. An educational exhibition will share their work and promote sustainability in local schools and youth clubs.

• Rekindle Youth Film Collective - £1,420.40. Funding will help establish a neurodivergent-friendly youth film club in Newtown offering relaxed, accessible screenings. Participants will develop skills in planning, hosting, and producing creative projects such as zines or short films, with opportunities to collaborate with local cinemas and expand the club’s activities.

• Dyfi Valley Explorers - £733.83. The grant will support the transformation of an old tractor trailer into a shepherd’s hut using traditional construction techniques and stained-glass art. The hut will provide accessible overnight accommodation at the local Scout campsite for young people with additional needs and adult volunteers.

Clair Swales, PAVO CEO, said: “This youth-led initiative demonstrates the powerful impact of young people driving volunteering projects that support creativity, sustainability, inclusion, intergenerational connections, and community development across Powys.

“The lack of activities for children and young adults, alongside the risk of young people leaving the area, is a growing concern in the county. This initiative shows what’s possible when we listen to young people and work with them on projects they want to see in their communities.”