Newtown youth film collective wins grant in Powys-wide scheme

A new youth film collective in Newtown has secured funding through a Powys-wide youth grant scheme that is putting young people in charge of shaping community projects.

The **Rekindle Youth Film Collective** has been awarded **£1,420.40** to establish a neurodivergent-friendly youth film club in the town. The project will provide relaxed and accessible screenings while also giving young people the chance to gain experience in planning, hosting, and producing creative projects such as zines or short films.

Organisers also hope to collaborate with local cinemas and expand the group’s activities over time.

The funding comes from a youth-led grant programme run by **Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO)** and supported by the Welsh Government. Uniquely, the initiative is directed entirely by young people aged between 14 and 25 – from writing the bids to making the final funding decisions.

Seventeen applications were submitted across Powys, requesting nearly £24,000 in total. Five projects were successful, sharing a fund of £6,550.

Clair Swales, PAVO’s CEO, said the scheme highlights the “powerful impact of young people driving volunteering projects that support creativity, sustainability, inclusion, intergenerational connections, and community development.”

She added: “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.”

The Rekindle Youth Film Collective joins groups in Builth Wells, Hay-on-Wye, Machynlleth, and the Dyfi Valley in receiving support through the scheme.