A charity which has this year established The Hive, a community-led sustainability hub in the centre of Llandrindod Wells, is celebrating an award for its work.

Asiantaeth Ynni Severn Wye won the Social Enterprise/ Charity Award, sponsored by Myrick Training Services, at the drive-in Powys Business Awards in Newtown last Friday.

Organised by Mid Wales Manufacturing Group, the Powys Business Awards showcase business excellence across the county.

Dave Gittins, Severn Wye’s head of climate change and sustainability, said:

“We are stunned to win this award which is really nice for the staff who have worked so hard over the last couple of years to make The Hive a reality. The award raises the profile of what we are doing and hopefully it will allow us to grow in the future.”

Severn Wye partnered with Llandrindod Wells Town Council and Trawsnewid Llandrindod Transition to secure more than £300,000 from the Welsh Government’s Green Recovery Circular Economy Fund to buy and renovate a disused town centre building and establish The Hive.

The Hive has become home to a range of community-led sustainability projects aimed at supporting the local circular economy and meeting the needs of families experiencing in-work poverty.

The aim of the hub is to give residents the freedom and resources to support themselves, take ownership of community projects and develop and grow them to fit evolving local needs.

The renovated building on South Crescent is designed to accommodate a wide range of initiatives and enterprises that deliver social and economic benefit to Llandrindod Wells and its residents.

Since The Hive opened in March this year, a member of staff has been employed to support a rapidly expanding Baby Bank, Uniform Exchange and Library of Things, demonstrating the immediate demand for these support services.

Powys Business Awards judges said Severn Wye was an example of passion and imagination meeting practical, inclusive development and delivery of community resources to benefit local residents, businesses and the environment.

“A real ‘by the people, for the people' sustainable model which has brought people together in a positive way to help themselves and others,” they said.