AN iconic Powys arts hub is encouraging supporters to make donations whenever they shop online.

Builth Wells’ Wyeside Arts Centre has created a page on easyfundraising.org.uk where people who visit and support the popular venue can help support it financially during the course of their normal day. Easyfundraising turns your everyday online shop into free donations for your favourite cause. You can raise funds for Wyeside at almost 5,000 retailers globally – whether it’s buying items off Amazon or eBay, your shopping at Sainsburys or at M&S or booking.com.

Just start your online shopping first at easyfundraising, then shop as normal. Their extensive list of retailers will then make a small donation to say thank you.

“Please support Wyeside Arts Centre on easyfundraising this year, you can raise FREE donations when you shop online,” said Wyeside in a post on their Facebook page.

“It's simple and only takes two minutes to sign up. This will make a big difference to us.”

It seems like funding for arts venues and projects in Powys has been a constant struggle in recent decades, with the threat of closure regularly hanging over Wyeside in recent years.

Just last week fresh fears were raised about continued cuts to funding for arts and culture in Powys could eventually see the county's biggest venues close.

Powys County Council plans to cut £62,738 from funding for commissioned art services next year. It matches the sum cut from the budget this year – making a total of £125,476 over two years.

This will affect four arts venues in Powys, including Wyeside, as well as Newtown’s Hafren Theatre, an art gallery and a community dance organisation.

The news was announced by the council’s economy, residents and communities scrutiny committee on January 31. The committee is now expected to feed back their view on the draft budget to be discussed again by the Independent/Conservative cabinet later this month.

Introducing their cause on their easyfundraising page, Wyeside said in a statement: “Perched on the bank of the picturesque river Wye in the town of Builth, Wyeside Arts Centre is a presenting venue for live and visual arts, cinema, and satellite broadcasts.

“We have two auditoriums, a gallery, meeting space, bar and foyer. We even hold community events and workshops. We are an independently run charity, which means we are a not-for-profit organisation and any profit we make goes straight back into funding our diverse programme.”

Since launching in 2005, easyfundraising has become the UK’s biggest charity shopping fundraising site, helping thousands of good causes raise money simply by shopping online. Its community of over two million loyal supporters has so far raised over £35 million for various projects and groups.

To contribute to the Wyeside fundraising drive, visit https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/wyeside/. Alternatively, to find out the latest new from Wyeside, visit their website at https://www.wyeside.co.uk/.