Free Wheelers has massively impacted my life. It helps me to be the best version of me, a healthy, strong role model to my daughters. I would have been a bit intimidated to give it a go a few years ago but if I can do it, so can you.
Nicola Needs
Every week in Pontypool Park, parents meet instructor Alex Jones to be put through their paces with an interval session or a 5k run. Babies and toddlers aren’t left at home with other family members – they’re safely strapped in as mini-members of the club.
And once the hour’s up that week, it’s back to the leisure centre for a coffee and a chat. It’s a community of like-minded people who completely understand what you’re going through – the sleepless nights, teething troubles and feeding worries. They even entertain each other’s little ones during interval sessions.
How National Lottery funding made it possible
Just 57% of women in Wales took part in sport or physical activity in the last four weeks, compared with 64% of men (National Survey for Wales 2022-23.) This gap shows why it’s important to create more opportunities for women to get active.
And that’s exactly what Breeze is doing. Breeze is built for women and led by women. Creating opportunities where women can be with other like-minded women means they can feel safe and comfortable taking part in sport.
Why the project works
Thanks to £1,500 of The National Lottery funding distributed by Sport Wales, Free Wheelers has been able to:
- Pay for maintenance of existing equipment to keep everything in top condition.
- Train Alex as a volunteer run leader to help local parents challenge themselves safely.
- Buy six new running buggies, removing cost barriers for parents.
The project set up by Pontypool and District Runners club gives mums (and dads) the chance to take part in exercise, without having to worry about childcare.
Free Wheelers has become a lifeline to many parents. Carving out some time in their week to think about themselves, they can invest in their own health and wellbeing, while showing their children first-hand that being active is fun and important.
