Babi Actif Project celebrates grant of £300k from The National Lottery
Community Fund
Snowdonia-Active’s Babi Actif project is celebrating this week, having been awarded over £300k in funding from the National Lottery Community Fund to support
its activities, which encourage carers and babies to enjoy the outdoors to improve both physical and mental health.
The project, which was nominated for Best Social Impact at the WSA Sports Industry Awards in 2023, will use the money to run popular sessions including buggy fitness, baby forest play, outdoor movement and sensory sessions, sling and buggy walks.
Babi Actif has been running since 2019, and was the idea of Snowdonia-Active’s Executive Officer, Catherine Williams. Through her own experience as a new
mother, she recognised a gap in provision and, surprised at her own lack of confidence in taking her baby outdoors, realised that new parents need support and encouragement to give their baby the best start in life.
Over the last five years the project has engaged with over 2000 parents and carers, across the six counties of North Wales; with buggy walks, pre and post natal
fitness, parenting talks, forest play, outdoor movement/sensory sessions and toddler-paced nature walks, leading not only to adults’ increased physical fitness
and babies’ developmental support, but also to improved mental health for both adults and babies. In recognition of this fact, the Babi Actif project was the winner
of the Impact in the Community Award in the Adjuda Foundation’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Wales awards this year.
This new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest
community funder in the UK, will enable these sessions to develop across the three counties of Gwynedd, Anglesey and Conwy for the next three years; reaching more
isolated communities, providing up to 15 activities a week and doubling the number of people who are able to enjoy the benefits of supported outdoor activity.
Babi Actif held a launch event to celebrate this award funding at Caban, Brynrefail on 13th December, bringing together participants and their little ones to
enjoy some nature based activities, followed by a buggy walk. 40 people (plus their babies) and special guests enjoyed the celebrations.
Participants have said:
“I will never forget the magical memories, beautiful walks and people we met. It had such a positive impact on my mental health and it was so fantastic to be outside
in nature away from phones and distractions.”
“Babi Actif sessions have been my lifelines. Without them, I feel I would have become isolated and extremely lonely.”
“The activity has encouraged socialisation and exercise which has helped improve my fitness and mental state following pregnancy. The impact this activity has is
invaluable…”
Catherine Williams said:
“We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. Now, thanks to National Lottery players we will be able to bring
the benefits of being outdoors and active to even more carers and babies. We know from participant feedback that this is invaluable to people; improving health and well-being for themselves and their baby, but also giving them the opportunity to socialise with other new parents in a positive and supportive environment, promoting
peer-to-peer parental support.”
As its final event before Christmas, Babi Actif will be hosting the Big Babi Actif Christmas Push on Friday 20th December – a fancy dress buggy walk from
Rhos on Sea to Colwyn Bay. This is the second year Babi Actif has run this event, to raise awareness and funds for Cuddles, the charity that supports Ysbyty Glan Clwyd’s
special care baby unit.
Working with new parents, the project has seen first hand what a difference the charity’s work has made to some of their participants and their families. It’s free to attend by registering here and you can donate on Babi Actif’s JustGiving page.
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