SOME Young Farmers’ Clubs could be forced to fold if county council support worth thousands of pounds is withdrawn, it has been claimed.

Powys council is proposing to cut funding it provides to the county’s three county federations by 50% over the next three years from April next year.

The cash is in part used to support paid officials, employed by the council, to run federation offices in Brecknock, Radnor and Montgomeryshire.

Carol Brown, the county organiser for the Brecknock Federation, said she fears for some of its smaller clubs if they could no longer rely on the administrative support of the paid staff.

She said: "Some of the clubs are very small and have very young membership and this would put them under pressure and it could mean some of the clubs would not be able to continue.

"At some of the clubs the average age is low as they lose a lot of the senior members these days as so many go away to university and don’t come back."

The council’s proposals would reduce the funding support available to YFC federations from April next year and the funding would again reduce the following April.

From 2019 the YFC federations would have to compete with other organisations for a share of funding made available by the county council.

The council is still in discussions with staff and the YFCs over the future of the full time staff.

Ms Brown said there are 400 members in clubs affiliated to the Brecknock Federation who typically pay a membership fee of around £20 a year. The federation also raises funds from its annual drama festival and summer rally.

Adam Rees, the Radnor YFC county chairman and a member of Howey YFC, said: "The YFC supports 1,500 young people between the ages of 10 to 26 across Powys.

"With funding reduced next year the YFC will still be there to promote skills for life for young people in rural areas. It isn’t just about people who farm. The YFC is for everybody members are from the town and countryside and doesn’t just promote farming but skills for life for young people throughout Powys. We have to look on it as a challenge."

The funding reductions are part of a £150,000 cut to funding for youth services in Powys council’s budget.

Councillor Graham Brown, the cabinet member responsible, has told the council it is "working closely" with the YFCs over the cuts to their funding.