Llyr Gruffydd MS Visits Upper Denbigh to Celebrate Community-Led Approach Transforming Opportunities to Be Active
Representatives from Grŵp Cynefin, Actif North Wales, Denbighshire County Council, HWB Dinbych and DLL (Denbighshire Leisure Ltd) welcomed Llyr Gruffydd MS to Upper Denbigh to showcase how a community-led approach is helping create more opportunities for local people to be active, connected and involved
in shaping their community.
The visit highlighted the impact of a place-based approach that puts local people at the heart of decision-making, building on the strengths, skills and assets that already exist within the community. The work in Upper Denbigh began through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with Actif North Wales working alongside Denbighshire County Council and commissioned Grŵp Cynefin as one partner to help develop a community-led approach in the area. Since then, partners have worked closely with residents through HWB Dinbych to better understand what matters most to local people and how opportunities to be active can be shaped around community needs and aspirations.
The initiative formed part of an innovative pilot approach launched in 2023 across North Wales, helping shape how partners now work alongside communities to tackle inequalities in physical activity and sport. A key example is the development of the pump track at Cae Hywel, which was informed by conversations with local young people and provides an accessible space for recreation and physical activity within the community. The visit included discussions with local partners and a tour of the area, providing an opportunity to see first-hand how community voices are helping to shape local facilities and opportunities.
Upper Denbigh is one of several communities across North Wales where Actif North Wales and its commissioning partners are working alongside residents to tackle inequalities in physical activity and sport. Across all six local authority areas, partners are supporting communities to influence decisions, shape local opportunities and help remove barriers that can prevent people from being active.
Tim Jones, Chair of the Management Board at Grŵp Cynefin said:
“This partnership is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when organisations come together with a shared purpose. The collaboration between all partners has been invaluable, bringing together expertise, commitment and a desire to make a positive difference in our communities.”
Manon Rees-O’Brien, Regional Director of Actif North Wales said:
“We’re incredibly proud of what’s been achieved in Upper Denbigh and grateful to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and local authority partners across North Wales who trusted us to pilot this approach in 2023. What began as a test of how we could work differently has transformed the way we support communities across the region. By listening first, building on local strengths and working alongside trusted community partners, we’ve seen how meaningful and sustainable change can happen when local people are at the heart of shaping the solutions. Upper Denbigh is a brilliant example of what can be achieved when communities, local organisations and public services work together around a shared ambition. The lessons learned here continue to shape how we work across North Wales, helping us create more inclusive opportunities for people to be active and thrive in their communities.”
One of the young people who led on the pump track project said:
“It feels good to see young people, using something that was made by me and my friends. It’s just like, the only way I can think of describing it is that it’s like viewing our success, and it’s just so nice to see it being used, and so nice to see people enjoying it and finding hobbies out of it.”