Steps for Connection
161,000 Steps Challenge
Single Parents Wellbeing began with something simple – single parents walking together. What started as a small walking group to find connection has grown into a Wales-wide community offering peer-led support, wellbeing programmes and spaces where families can thrive.
This March, we are inviting you to take part in Steps for Connection – a walking and fundraising challenge that turns everyday steps into real support for single parent families.
Together, we’re aiming to walk 161,000 steps – one for every single parent family in Wales – and raise £10,000 to fund peer-led wellbeing and community support.
161,000 Steps Challenge
Date: 1st March – 31st March
Location: Wherever suits you – school runs, lunch breaks, weekends.
Entry fee: Free
Minimum sponsorship: Raise what you can. We recommend a £100 target but no matter how much you raise, you will help provide vital support to single parent families across Wales.
Join us on 21st March at Pontcanna Fields, Cardiff: Walk 10,000 steps together, top up your total, and connect over a coffee from our Raise van.
Why is this so important?
One in four families in Wales is a single parent family, yet single parents remain one of the most under-supported and overlooked communities. Even if you are not a single parent, you will know one.
Single parent families face unique pressures and challenges. At Single Parents Wellbeing, we help families find community, confidence and wellbeing support through peer-led groups, workshops, activities for children and young people.
Steps for Connection will help provide vital support and allow us to reach more families across Wales.
How to take part in the 161,000 steps challenge
Step 1) Registration is free
Choose how you want to take part – as an individual, a family or a workplace.
Step 2) Set up your fundraising page
Set up your Local Giving Page so that you can collect your donations if fundraising.
Step 3) Walk your way in March
The goal is 161,000 steps. You can split it or walk the whole distance yourself. Join our dedicated Facebook page to share your walks or experiences!
The £100 Commitment
There’s no pressure to raise a set amount – every pound makes a difference. We’re inviting 100 people to help us reach £10,000 by aiming for 100 each.
A simple pledge. A big impact.
Inclusive challenge: All movement counts. Walk, wheel or ride in whatever way works for you. Track your distance instead of steps. See our FAQs for more information.
How your fundraising can help
£25 a parent can attend a support session.
£40 provides a dedicated counsellor at a young person meet up.
£50 an anxious child can get a visit from a therapy animal.
£80 a 1:1 session for a single parent struggling with their mental health.
£100 supports a peer-led group or wellbeing workshop.
FAQs
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Inspired by the walks that first brought our community together, Steps for Connection is a Wales-wide walking challenge taking part throughout March. The challenge is to walk 161,000 steps in total - one for every single parent family in Wales. Our goal is to raise £10,000.
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Anyone! You don’t need to be a single parent to join in. Individuals, families, friends, workplaces and community groups are all welcome.
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No. The 161,000 steps can be a collective goal. You can walk the whole distance yourself over the month or share it with a group.
You can also join us on 21st March in Pontcanna Fields in Cardiff, where you can walk 10,000 steps together, top up your total, and connect over a coffee from our Raise van. Keep an eye out for more details on this.
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161,000 steps across March works out at around 5,200 steps a day, but this is only a guide. Walk what works for you – school runs, lunch breaks, dog walks and weekend strolls count.
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Steps for Connection is inclusive and open to everyone. All movement counts, whether you walk, use a wheelchair, ride a bike or take part in a way that works for you. If you’re tracking distance rather than steps, you can still take part easily. As a general guide, 1kilometre equals around 1,400 steps for women and 1,500 steps for men. You can use this as a guide to convert your distance into steps.
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No – there’s no obligation to fundraise. You can simply take part by walking and showing your support. If you’d like to raise funds, every pound makes a difference. We recommend a £100 target but no matter how much you raise, you will help provide vital support to single parent families across Wales.
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To fundraise, you can set up a Local Giving Page – here’s how.
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We’re asking for 100 people to commit to raising £100 to help us reach our £10,000 goal. There’s no pressure to do this as every pound helps and will make a difference.
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Yes. Steps for Connection is a great team challenge. Workplaces can walk together on lunch breaks, set team step goals and fundraise collectively to support single parent families.
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You can use your smartphone, watch, pedometer and download our steps tracker to record your progress through the month.
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Anywhere in Wales – or beyond! You can walk wherever it suits you - at home, at work, outdoors or indoors.
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