A MENTAL health charity wants to buy the home of an under-threat dance charity, in a move that would see the two Powys organisations co-habit.

Mid and North Powys Mind could become the saviour of Impelo – which announced last month it was closing its dance centre in Llandrindod Wells at the end of March, while projects and programmes are to be paused for six months.

Impelo, which provides community outreach classes throughout Powys, said the difficult decision had been made following the loss of multi-year funding, amplified by the escalating cost of living situation.

However, while Impelo search for funds to stay open, Mind are on the lookout for a new home in the spa town, with their current rented premises described as “wholly inadequate”, with central heating and damp causing issues.

Mind says it would like to purchase the Impelo dance centre, located on Arlais Road, in exchange for being allowed to move in.

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Draft plans for the dance centre were on show at an open day being held at Mind’s South Crescent HQ on Thursday.

“In the wake of this awful news about Impelo’s funding comes a rare opportunity for our two organisations to have a firm foundation for the future, a place for the community to be welcomed and for us to thrive,” said Cat Nunn, chair of Mid and North Powys Mind.

“It’s exciting to imagine a building in Llandrindod where these two charities could call home.”

Jemma Thomas, artistic director and joint CEO of Impelo, said: “Our dance centre serves as a weekly hub for various classes and communities, complementing our broader outreach initiatives in schools and healthcare settings while also allowing us to support dance artists in Powys.

“However, like many well-used buildings, it requires extensive renovations and is costly to maintain.

“The proposal from Mid and North Powys Mind presents an incredible opportunity for us to retain our studio space and continue to support our dance communities, while co-habiting with an organisation whose values are so aligned with our own.”

Impelo announced in December that their multi-year funding from the Arts Council of Wales (ACW) was being withdrawn – with multiple organisations and venues across Wales also hit.

Damian Kerlin, chair of Impelo’s board of trustees, claimed the impact of cuts across artforms on those living in Powys amounted to a reduction in investment of almost £250,000.

County Times: Jemma Thomas, artistic director and joint CEO of Impelo, taking a class with youngsters. Jemma Thomas, artistic director and joint CEO of Impelo, taking a class with youngsters.

As a result, the much-loved dance charity has been forced to decrease services, reduce core staff and temporarily close the dance centre, with a view to putting it up for sale.

“Mid and North Powys Mind currently has its main base in Llandrindod Wells in a rented building that is wholly inadequate,” said Mary Griffiths, joint CEO of Mind.

“It has no central heating and damp issues. We have been looking for a more accessible and better home for many years.

“Impelo seek to transform lives through heartfelt, co-created movement programmes and workshops, and Mid and North Powys Mind’s mission is improving mental wellbeing for people in mid and north Powys.

“The devastating news about the dance centre has sparked an innovative proposal – Mid and North Powys Mind would like to buy the dance centre building and co-locate with Impelo, so both organisations are based from the same building.

“The main draw to the centre itself is its large dance studio but the building has a huge amount of space just waiting to be re-developed and utilised – plenty of room for both organisations to thrive and continue to deliver incredible programmes for their communities.

“Co-locating would give Impelo a much-needed cash injection, rejuvenate the building itself and reduce running costs in the longer term. 

“It would also give Mind a much more suitable venue from which to deliver its services.”

This project will be wholly reliant on successful funding, and both parties are adamant they need all the help they can get from the local community.

Monday’s statement comes with an online survey to gather people’s opinions, which you can fill in at https://shorturl.at/ST289.

If you would like any more information, get in touch with either organisation.