Three trustees have been appointed to a new charity launching next month to continue the work of a popular community services hub in Llandrindod Wells. Local residents Zoe Jones, Lesley Blower and Hilary Macauley have volunteered to become trustees to help secure the future of The Hive, which provides a space for important services that have no other base in the town.
The Hive also provides families with crucial items at no cost or for a nominal rental fee through a school uniform exchange, a baby bank of donated clothes and equipment and a ‘library of things’.
Energy experts Severn Wye have run The Hive since its inception in 2021 as the ‘Llandrindod Wells Working Together’ project, originally funded by The National Lottery Community Fund. Two employees now work with local volunteers and diverse local partner organisations to help families who are finding it hard to make ends meet while juggling the demands of work and family life.
When current project funding from The National Lottery Community Fund runs out at the end of September, The Hive will become a separate charity. Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO) has played a lead role with The Hive team and Severn Wye throughout the process of establishing and registering the new charity.
Manager Jane Powell and project co-ordinator Julia Lingham-Wood will continue to be the familiar faces running The Hive day-to-day, supported by local volunteers and led by the new board of trustees.
The change to a new charity also coincides with the relocation of Llandrindod Wells Town Council’s offices to The Hive’s premises at Temple Chambers, South Crescent. The Council will host The Hive project team and volunteers rent-free for two years to make sure it can continue to provide services from the building. As part of the Council’s relocation, The Hive is being refurbished and will open its doors again on Monday 6 October 2025.
Severn Wye’s Director for Wales Dave Gittins said:
‘We’re very grateful to PAVO, Llandrindod Wells Town Council and Powys County Council for their support and their enthusiasm to maintain the services The Hive provides. The team – including local volunteers – has been committed to supporting the families and residents of Llandrindod Wells for four years, and I’m grateful for everyone’s hard work, especially during these last few months. The Hive will continue to offer much-needed services that are really valued by local families.’
The Hive’s manager, Jane Powell, said:
‘The whole team is delighted that The Hive can continue to thrive as a new, independent charity. Local people can be confident that we’ll continue to be here to support them – not least with warmer clothes now that the seasons are changing. It’s business as usual.’
As well as supporting The Hive, Llandrindod Wells Town Council will continue to make community space available during office hours and is developing new schemes to further benefit residents. Local groups and businesses will also be able to hire office space on the upper floors of Temple Chambers.
Image: L-R, Trustee Hilary Macauley, Hive manager Jane Powell, Hive project co-ordinator Julia Lingham-Wood, trustee Lesley Blower, and trustee Zoe Jones
