Sport Wales has revealed details of a new funding initiative designed to help people in Wales adopt healthier lifestyles.

It is the latest in a number of UK grants programmes launched by sporting agencies looking to improve people's health – rather than simply increase sport participation numbers.

The first phase of the new Healthy and Active Fund (HAF) will see £5.4m being distributed to projects and organisations which actively promote and enable healthy activity for one or more of four groups – children, older people, people with disabilities or long-term illnesses and those living in areas of deprivation.

In total, the first phase will see 17 projects receive funding.

"Each of the 17 projects will contribute to the strengthening of community assets and enabling people to adopt healthier lifestyles," said Lord Elis-Thomas, Wales' deputy sports minister.

"These projects show new, innovative approaches to supporting people of all ages and backgrounds."

Among the projects to receive funding in the first phase are the Sporting Memories Foundation – which uses sport to reconnect isolated older people – and the "5 Ways to Wellbeing" initiative by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The Healthy and Active Fund is a partnership between the Welsh Government, Sport Wales and Public Health Wales.

The 17 projects to receive funding are:

• 'Sporting Memories'- Sporting Memories Network CIC

• 'Growing Together'- Keep Wales Tidy• 'Balanced Lives for Care Homes'- Action for Elders Trust

• 'HAPPy'- National Trust• 'Super-Agers'- Bridgend County Borough Council

• 'West Wales Let's Walk'- Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority• 'Actif Woods Wales'- Smallwoods Association - Coed Lleol

• 'Welsh Active Early Years Programme'- Early Years Wales• 'Healthy & Active Newport'- Newport Live

• 'Play Ambassadors'- Play Wales• 'Babi Actif'- Eryri-Bywiol Cyf

• 'Healthy Body - Healthy Mind Project'- Women Connect First• '5 Ways to Wellbeing'- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

• 'StreetGames'- Street Games UK Ltd• 'Opening Doors to the Outdoors'- The Outdoor Partnership

• 'Cyfellion Cerdded Cymru'- Living Streets Cymru• 'BeActive RCT'- Interlink RCT