A mid Wales trade union has donated over £2,000 “back into the local communities”.

The mid Wales branch of Unite the Union have donated to various not-for-profit organisations in Powys, including Bro Dyfi Foodbank, Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre, Powys Pets In Need, and the Llani Pantri.

Secretary for Mid Wales Unite branch Kait Duerden said: “We try and donate all year but we do a bit more of a Christmas appeal across Unite and the UK, to make sure we put some money back into local communities.

“We’ve donated to all the foodbanks in Montgomeryshire. You’ve got to keep an eye out for people in a really bad place, financially.

“When we spoke to Clive Thomas, from Bro Dyfi Foodbank, he said there are people ringing up and apologising for ringing. But it could be any of us at any time.

“I don’t like that they exist, we should have a proper social security net in place. But we have to do the best for our community.”

Clive said: “This is the second time Unite has donated to our foodbank. Donations like this are the lifeblood of foodbanks, it gives them the flexibility to supplement any shortfalls in food donations.”

Kait said people are at risk of being “pushed over the edge” by financial changes, such as the £20 Universal Credit cut.

She explained: “The £20 cut in Universal Credit has really hit people hard, we have not met an organisations that hasn’t spoken about it. It’s absolutely criminal.

“It’s made such a massive hole in their finances when every cost is going up. It will push people over the edge.

“We always support the Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre. We are very aware of the work we do, because we have Unite members there.”