While waiting for their children to finish dance lessons, parents can attend fitness classes just next door.

StepUp Learning and Dance centre at Safra Yishun was recognised for its efforts to promote family-friendly programmes at the biennial We Welcome Families Awards organised by the Businesses for Families Council on Thursday.

Its director, Mr Wilson Ng, 33, was also one of the six winners of the Champion Awards, a new category which recognises individuals or teams who are instrumental in driving pro-family initiatives in their organisations, at the ceremony.

Held at the Fairmont Hotel, the We Welcome Families Awards recognises businesses with outstanding family-friendly practices for their customers. These include facilities and features such as nursing rooms, non-slip flooring, and wheelchair-friendly lifts, or programmes to foster family bonding.

Other categories include the Excellence Awards and Achiever Awards. There were 53 winners in these two categories this year, an increase from the 37 previously. Winners were determined by public voting and a judging panel.

Acting Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing, who was the guest of honour, said: "We want Singapore to become a better place for families. Policies alone can't make this happen. It is only possible if different communities - businesses, government, individuals - adopt a 'families-first' mindset in their approach."