Each summer, the Green Man Festival brings music, arts and visitors from far and wide to the Glan Usk Estate near Crickhowell. However, its contribution to Wales extends well beyond the festival weekend.
Game of Thrones actor Iwan Rheon is the official Ambassador for the Green Man Trust, pictured here with children visiting the Brecon Swap Shop and Community Hub
Green Man has long used its platform to nurture artistic talent, address inequality and encourage action on climate change. In 2014, festival founder Fiona Stewart established the Green Man Trust, a charity dedicated to developing this work and supporting communities throughout Wales.
The challenges facing rural Wales are considerable. One in three children lives in poverty, average wages remain low and a shortage of opportunities can leave young people feeling they must move away. An ageing population and limited public investment in culture place further pressure on communities. The Trust responds through community grants, artist development, training, science initiatives and environmental projects.
Since 2014, its work has supported 13,737 people and provided training for 2,094 individuals. It has invested £2.46 million in projects, including 324 science initiatives, helped 6,309 artists and donated more than £254,000 to community causes.
Some of its most valuable work is taking place close to home. The Trust has supported the Brecon Swap Shop and Community Hub, which opened in 2024 to help tackle poverty and social isolation. The stigma-free space enables people to access everyday essentials without money or judgement.
The Hub has since grown into an important community meeting place. As well as distributing fresh food and providing a community fridge, it hosts drop-in sessions with housing advisers, health workers and Family Liaison Officers.
Children can enjoy a safe and welcoming environment, while older residents benefit from friendship and connection. Bearing the mural slogan “Powys for the People”, the project has already inspired similar initiatives elsewhere in the region.
The Trust has also supported The Honeypot Children’s Charity, the UK’s only organisation providing consistent, long-term respite for young carers aged between five and 12. Over the past three years, Green Man Trust funding has helped children from Powys receive residential respite breaks that would otherwise have been unavailable to them.
For those of us living near Green Man’s home at Glan Usk, it is encouraging to see the festival using its success to create benefits throughout Powys and beyond. It demonstrates how a major cultural event can remain firmly connected to its neighbours and help build stronger, kinder communities.
Applications for the Trust’s Community Grants will open in early 2027. Visit: www.greenmantrust.org.uk to find out more.
