Actif Denbighshire Project Shortlisted for Prestigious TPAS Cymru Good Practice Award 2025

A ground-breaking community wellbeing initiative led by Actif Gogledd Cymru Denbighshire has been shortlisted for the ‘Engaging Tenants in Environmental Initiatives/Projects’ category at the TPAS Cymru Good Practice Awards 2025.

The shortlisted project, Thriving Partnerships, Transforming Communities, is a great example of how a sense of place, community-led collaboration can drive meaningful change. Through strong partnerships and engagement with tenants and the community in both Clawdd Poncen and Upper Denbigh, the initiative has successfully tackled physical inactivity, social isolation, and health inequalities.

Actif North Wales and Denbighshire County Council’s Community Resilience Team worked together to appoint the two project Co-ordinators - one in partnership with Grŵp Cynefin’s HWB Dinbych and the second with the Council’s Countryside Services and the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape Team. This enabled the project to work collaboratively with existing and new partners from the beginning, whilst adding value to existing work streams in these areas.

The Nature for Health team and HWB Dinbych delivered on the ground improvements which has supported the work of Actif in this programme of works. Working closely with local people and partners, these co-ordinators built a clear picture of what the community strengths were but also the barriers to wellbeing, resulting in collaborative actions.

Key Achievements Include:

In Corwen:

• The Nature for Health team transformed underused green spaces into community hubs, including a pump track, communal gardens, and exercise facilities.
• Enhancing active travel routes and hosting health outreach services.
• Partnering with local groups like Mudiad Meithrin and local sports clubs to deliver inclusive activities.

In Upper Denbigh:

• Delivering holiday programmes around Cae Hywel that provided food and active play for children.
• Partnering with Denbigh Harriers to run accessible fitness initiatives including a shoe swap and Couch to 5k.
• Empowering local youths to lead the “Bumps and Jumps” biking project, a grassroots campaign for safe cycling spaces.

This strengths-based approach - “starting with what’s strong, not what’s wrong” - enabled progress often without significant funding, instead harnessing pooled resources and strong local relationships.

Councillor Rhys Thomas, Lead Member for Housing and Communities said:

“The success of the Actif Denbighshire project is rooted in partnership, highlighted by the two Actif co-ordinators for each area being employed by different organisations, reflecting trust, and an understanding of the unique strengths of each community.

“We’re thrilled to be shortlisted and proud to showcase the power of community-led transformation.

“The nomination celebrates the project’s innovative model as one that could be replicated in other communities across Wales.”

Project Partners:

• Denbighshire County Council – Housing, Youth Services, Community Resilience, Countryside Services
• Actif Gogledd Cymru
• Grŵp Cynefin Hwb Dinbych
• Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape – Nature for Health Programme
• Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) Public Health Team
• Denbighshire Leisure Ltd. (DLL) Community Sport Team

The nomination celebrates the project’s innovative model as one that could be replicated in other communities across Wales.

These projects were funded by the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund via Actif Gogledd Cymru and the Nature for Health programme.

Video Highlights:

Clawdd Poncen Project
Upper Denbigh Project