We’re finalists!
Single Parents Wellbeing (SPW) has been shortlisted in the Health and Wellbeing category for its Mental Health Manifesto – Action for Our Future project, which works with young people aged 10 to 24 living in single parent households to co-design what they need to build positive pathways towards a mentally healthy future.
In its final year, between September 2025 and June 2026, the project delivered 106 sessions, while across its four-year lifetime, Action for Our Future delivered 322 events and had more than 2,400 engagements with young people. Throughout the project, young people were given opportunities to connect, share their experiences and have a genuine say in shaping the support available to them.
Our young people led at the inaugural Summit in March 2026
Putting young people at the heart of the project
At the heart of the project is ensuring young people from single parent families feel heard, represented and able to influence the support available to them.
When the SPW team noticed that young people often felt uncomfortable talking about their home lives because of perceived stigma around different family set-ups, they developed the What Does My Family Look Like? pilot.
The project invited 107 young people to celebrate the diversity of single parent households through their own artwork, which was unveiled at Wonderfest Swansea. Following the success of the pilot, the project is now being rolled out across Swansea, with ambitions to take it across Wales.
What Does My Family Look Like workshop in action
This approach was also central to the project’s flagship Summit, where those involved spent six months developing the event from the ground up, before taking on roles including running registration, hosting sessions, introducing the Children’s Commissioner for Wales and gathering live feedback from the audience.
Amy Holland, co-founder of Single Parents Wellbeing, said:
“We’re incredibly proud to be recognised in the Health and Wellbeing category, particularly for a project that has been shaped so much by the young people themselves.
“We know that children and young people from single parent families can sometimes feel different or find it difficult to talk about their family set-up. Action for Our Future is about giving them the space and confidence to tell us what they need, rather than adults deciding that for them.
“For us, wellbeing is about so much more than providing support when someone is struggling. It’s about connection, belonging, feeling represented and knowing that your voice matters. This nomination is a wonderful recognition of the young people, families, volunteers and team who have made that possible.”
Young people involved in the project have also spoken about the impact it has had on them. One said:
“I loved the Summit, I still can’t believe I actually spoke in front of 100 people. That was a huge achievement for me, I never thought I could do that. It was definitely a highlight.”
Another said:
“MHM has been the only thing that has helped me... and I want it to continue.”
Founded by single parents, for single parent families, Single Parents Wellbeing works across Wales to reduce loneliness and isolation and create opportunities for families to connect, belong and thrive.
The organisation supports thousands of single parent families through its community, wellbeing programmes, events, volunteering opportunities and work with children and young people.
The Welsh Charity Awards celebrate the contribution of charities, community groups, not-for-profits and volunteers across Wales. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in Cardiff on 15 October 2026.
Fingers Crossed!