Stronger Together Project – Empowering Young Women Through Strength
Weightlifting Wales is proud to launch ‘Stronger Together Project’, a pioneering new initiative aimed at increasing opportunities for young women and girls to engage in strength training and weightlifting. Supported by the North Wales Actif Innovation Fund, this project is focused on tackling inequality in sport and breaking down the barriers that prevent girls from getting involved in physical activity.
Despite the known benefits of strength-based training - confidence, wellbeing, resilience, many young women still face cultural, social, and practical barriers to participation. The ‘Stronger Together Project’ is here to change that. This programme creates inclusive, safe, and welcoming spaces where girls can grow stronger physically, mentally, and socially, both in and out the gym.
Objectives
This programme is more than just sport—it is about bringing people together, fostering friendship and social connection, and creating a safe, welcoming space where young women can build strength—both physically and mentally. With input from young women, local communities, and key stakeholders, the programme will be developed as a co-produced, tailored initiative that meets the real needs of its participants.
Delivery - Innovative Collaboration for Meaningful Change
‘Stronger Together’ is being delivered in close collaboration with local authorities, selected Weightlifting Wales Clubs across North Wales, as well as Bangor University. All clubs and facilitators must hold the relevant qualifications, up to date DBS, safeguarding certificate and insurance.
This unique partnership approach ensures that the programme is deeply rooted in community needs while drawing on expert research and insight. Together, we are developing and testing innovative, needs-led approaches to increase participation and unlock the full potential of weightlifting and para powerlifting as a vehicle for social change.
Through active engagement with young women, the programme is co-designed to reflect the voices of those it serves—making it responsive, relevant, and impactful.
What We Aim to Achieve
Through the North Wales Actif Innovation Fund, this project is guided by five key goals:
- Understanding Barriers – Listening to young women to better understand the specific challenges they face when it comes to being active.
- Testing Needs-Led Approaches – Piloting creative, flexible methods that respond directly to the priorities and preferences of girls in the region.
- Engaging New Partners – Working alongside community groups, educational institutions, and local organisations to co-create effective, inclusive solutions.
- Sharing Knowledge – Capturing learning and insights to influence future programmes and inform national best practices in sport and health.
- Empowering Young Women – Fostering self-belief, leadership, and resilience through strength-based training that goes far beyond the physical benefits.
More Than Weightlifting: A Movement for Empowerment
At its core, ‘Stronger Together’ is about more than just lifting weights, it’s about lifting each other. The programme creates safe, inclusive spaces where girls can grow stronger in every sense. Through this programme, they’ll build not only physical strength, but also confidence, connection, and community.
Participants will have opportunities to develop lifelong skills, build friendships, and take pride in their personal progress, all within an encouraging, judgment-free environment tailored to their needs. This is a space where young women can be themselves, try something new, and feel stronger in every way.
The programme will be delivered through licensed Weightlifting Wales clubs across North Wales, with a strong focus on community involvement. There will be opportunities for local people to get involved as volunteers, train as coaches, and become ambassadors for positive change within their own communities.
By investing in people and places, we aim to create a ripple effect—where the benefits of this programme continue long after its initial delivery. It’s about creating a legacy: stronger individuals, stronger communities, and a stronger Wales.
