Scheme encourages Flintshire community to get active

Actif North Wales has a simple mission statement – to encourage everyone in the region to be more active and lead healthier and happier lives, and thanks to funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), several organisations throughout Flintshire are benefiting from the programme.

OHolywell-based duo St James’ Church and Kim Inspire, North East Wales (NEW) MIND, and Shotton’s Care and Repair, have all received important support as they look to positively impact the lives of people in the community.

Project coordinator Andrew Tower has distributed more than £17,000 in funding as Actif North Wales bids to inspire a powerful collective voice as a result of working together towards a common goal of getting people moving.

He said: “The programme is focused on understanding the barriers facing communities in Flintshire when it comes to being active.

“Rather than starting something completely new, an emphasis has been made with regards to looking at the strengths already in place and building on these.”

St James’ Church is utilising the funding received to create a new sensory and healing garden within their currently largely unused green space.

This will be created by some of the facility’s 70 volunteers and residents at the Clock House, a care home for adults with special needs.

Ian Williams, St James’ Church project coordinator, said: “It’s brilliant to have been awarded a pot of money to further build on the exciting development in Holywell.

“We have worked hard to shape the inside of the building into a welcoming space for all members of the community, so to be able to improve the outside space is fantastic.

“As a wellbeing centre that allows access to support groups and revision hubs, as well as a café, it is important to open up the grounds with a garden that will allow extra space for tables and chairs and include plants and flowers.

“History is important to us, and something to keep in mind as we work with the community to shape the centre into what it needs.

“For example, using the funding we’d like to create a physic garden, which is a herb garden with medicinal plants, that would have been grown by monks.

“We wouldn’t be using the plants in the same way now, but it is a nod to the past.”

It is a similar story for NEW MIND as the charity expands its Walk and Talk sessions into Buckley and Holywell.
With the goal of helping people recover from mental health problems and stay emotionally well, the programme has been in operation at Wepre Park in Connah’s Quay.

Extending the initiative’s reach means more of the community can spend time outdoors, helping improve mood, physical health, confidence, and self-esteem, as well as aid individuals make connections.

Walk and Talk, which is typically around two miles in distance and approximately an hour in length, has been boosted by the UKSPF funding.

Natasha Wait, business development and income generation manager at NEW MIND, said: “The money we’ve received will enable us to train 10 volunteers as a result of being able to access a trainer.

“We need two volunteers per session, so these are crucial to us, and the training will allow each person to be educated in mental health and first aid.

“Every individual trained will help our continuity as we’ve found that in recent years some people have struggled to continue. Now, we’ve been able to turn three volunteers into paid members of staff.”

Processes and procedures have also been improved thanks to the funding. Natasha, who has been acting interim CEO, continued: “We’ve been able to secure three new tablets to use for the sessions.

“There are forms to fill in, such as risk assessments, medical information, and media consent. These have been done by paper, but now we can electronically manage it all.

“It will mean that volunteers don’t have to get people to sign paper documents at the wettest times of year and it will also significantly improve our GDPR.”

Councillor Chris Dolphin, Flintshire County Council cabinet member for economy, environment, and climate, added: “The Actif North Wales programme is important to so many people in our community, and to be able to assist those running the various schemes, is wonderful.

“The benefits of moving more are there for all to see, and I can’t wait to find out more about the impact that the campaign has on Flintshire and the wider region.”