Demand surges for free holiday activities in Flintshire
A community sports team is supporting thousands of children and young people across Flintshire as demand grows for free and inclusive activities.
Gwella Sports Development delivers activity programmes across the county designed to remove cost, confidence and social barriers that can prevent families from taking part.
The work is supported through funding from the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund and focuses on areas where families can face greater financial and social pressures. Using a place-based approach, the team works with residents and local organisations to shape activities around local needs.
Local organisations say demand for free holiday and community activities has continued to rise as families balance increasing household costs.
Dan Williams, Gwella Sports Development Officer, said: “Our work is about making physical activity feel positive and accessible. Whether young people love sport or have never felt it was ‘for them’, everyone deserves the physical, social and emotional benefits that being active can bring.”
Over the most recent delivery period, Gwella Sports Development recorded tens of thousands of attendances across Flintshire through free and low-barrier sessions. This included more than 34,000 attendances through community-linked secondary school sessions, nearly 3,000 through primary school provision, over 4,400 at community sessions and more than 6,000 during school holidays, including the Fit, Fed and Read programme.
The programme also provides targeted support for young people in alternative provision and has delivered more than 1,100 volunteering hours through young volunteers.
One of the team’s flagship initiatives is Fit, Fed and Read, which combines physical activity, reading opportunities and a free meal during school holidays. Parents say the support can make a significant difference.
One parent said: “Even just a free butty and knowing that you don’t have to feed your kids that one day. That’s three meals to me.”
Another parent said: “Over the holidays, there’s nothing here for the children. Otherwise, they just hang around the street.”
Alongside activity sessions, Gwella supports young people to volunteer, develop leadership skills and build confidence, while providing safe spaces and positive adult role models. The organisation has received national recognition for its work, most recently at the WLGA Sports Coaches of the Year Awards.
Michelle Thomas, Gwella Active Communities Manager, said: “The benefits of being active can be life-changing. For some young people it’s about having a safe place to be with friends; for others it opens doors to longer-term opportunities. Community sport really is for everyone.”
Residents and community groups are encouraged to look out for the Gwella team working in their local area.
Gwella operates Flintshire’s leisure, library and wellbeing services, including seven libraries and four leisure centres in Deeside, Mold, Flint and Buckley.
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