The Welfare Ystradgynlais is back on the silver screen following a massive £30,000 fund raising initiative to buy a new state-of-the-art projector system.

The trusty old projector ground to a halt whilst mid-film back in May and since then the charitable organisation has been desperately trying to secure sufficient funding to buy a replacement.

As a result, Swansea Valley cinema audiences can now resume their 90-year tradition of enjoying films on the big screen.

“It was a massive blow when the previous projector died on us as we’re a charitable organisation that relies on grant funding and income from ticket sales to keep going,” said marketing manager and Ystradgynlais local Becky Roberts.

“This not only caused a huge disruption to our cinema audiences with us having to postpone all our planned screenings and processing refunds, but we also had to find £30,000 sharpish to buy a brand-new projector, as ours was beyond repair.

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“ We’re truly grateful to all our customers for their patience and loyalty and especially those who asked for a credit note for a future film screening instead of a cash refund, giving us that extra bit of financial support at such a difficult time.”

The Welfare has been showing films since 1934 and more recently, following the arrival of the digital age, regularly shows concerts from around the world including screenings from The Royal Opera House and the South Bank’s National Theatre.

The cash was raised following a donation from Ystradgynlais town council, a £5,000 fundraising drive by the Friends of the Hall volunteers and £10,000 from the Margaret Davies Charity.

Meanwhile it is hoped that the new projector will be installed in the next couple of weeks.

The Welfare are currently working on their new film schedule with back to back Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick screenings, Baz Luhrmann's Elvis, Jurassic World Dominion, Minions: The Rise of Gru and Downton Abbey: New Era already on sale. Updates of further screenings will be posted on the Facebook page and website.

The Welfare screens films, and live broadcasts as well as hosting performances of music, theatre and dance plus a host of community activities.